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| God took an ordinary family |
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| and proved to them through impossible situations |
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| that He is in the midst of every storm we face, and the outcome will be orchestrated in such a way that only He could get the praise. Impossible Situation: something out of my control that happens to someone I love and there is nothing I can do to change the situation. All I can do is watch and bring comfort. And pray. (operative word being, pray) And when I don't know how to pray, He hears the soft crying of my soul, a cry no one can hear and I can't even put into words. |
Here is our story:
A foreign government agency made a decision that took her out of reach, but not out of our hearts. So we waited. For a year. Months later, a foreign government agency made another decision that would force us to jeopardize my husband's small business and 11 employees. With angry hot tears, I said we couldn't do it. But still she remained in my heart. For another year.
Bleary eyed, I almost mistook the important email as a mass mail out. It was for me. It was a miracle, and answered prayer. We could proceed with the adoption - the door was open. At that exact moment in the middle of the night, however, the only door that consumed my days and nights and energy was at the hospital, with my younger brother's name beside it. I was watching his life slowly ebb away from his 48 year old 6'5" frame as doctors helplessly told us the ups and downs of subdural hematomas and brain shifts.
The news brought hope to a dark place, but I was in no place to begin the paper chasing of an adoption. So I waited. After four weeks of the neuro floor, ICU, sleepless nights and hospital chairs and taking precious care of a precious man, he astounded doctors and we moved to rehab. There, I watched him learn to do everything again, and I watched more healing come to the astonishment of the medical staff. Four weeks later, that man of faith walked from the wheel chair to my Dad's truck to come to my house. He went everywhere with us, and to rehab and to doctor's appointments. My favorite scene is when the neurologist entered, and looked perplexed as he scanned the little room.
"You're not using a walker? No cane?" Nope. He was walking tall. The day came when he packed his bags, climbed into my Dad's truck and headed out to pick up his life where he left it four months prior.
Our adoption journey began, with full knowledge that all our credit cards and 2nd mortgage had been maxed out with the first adoption. There were no "reserves" to draw from - and this adoption would have to be paid for as we had the available funds. That was our plan, not God's. A friend from our agency's adoption support group also cared deeply for our little girl. She entered the Macy's Million Dollar Make Over and promised that if she won, she would pay the fees for our daughter to come home. She won. She kept her promise.
Enter a family crisis, stage right. An appendix surgery turns into a pelvic abscess. My 10 year old son spent 2 weeks in the hospital in serious trouble and body wrenching pain. Major surgery. Incredible pain. Long nights. Angels hovered. I know they were there, especially at night. I saw God again, intervening where man could do nothing. He came home and recovered over the following 6 weeks.
With the next turn in the adoption road came in an unexpected phone call. An officer from my own government agency questioned me and made a sweeping decision based on one line on one piece of paper out the stack of paper work in front of her. We were not approved. My worst fear of not being enough was realized. I begged for an exception, for understanding. Pleading, I told her I would do anything. She said she would talk with her supervisor. For the next agonizing 24 hours, I cried and cried out to God for favor from man. The supervisor said yes.
As we waited for court, my heroic retired military grandfather who would stop strangers in Walmart to tell them about his adopted great grandchildren, tragically fell...His health plummeted. This is the man that prayed faithfully for his family and showed up for every family event. Now, he needed us. It was an honor to help him those last few months of his life. The sadness that remains is deep - how I loved him.
Along the way in our adoption journey were other events: a broken foot, a pool accident, a college graduation, a high school graduation, children making life changing commitments to Christ and as always my challenge of home schooling and my husband's faithful hard work to keep his logging company up and going strong.
To conclude:
My grandfather is home with his Lord, and strong and with those he missed so much. My brother is tackling huge mechanical engineering projects, caring for his son and engaged to the friend who never left his side through his sickness. The judge in Court said, "Final," and that's forever and her last name is ours and she can come home.
God was there when the situations were impossible for man. That's the reason I can call my brother, and post pictures of Mercy-Brian, and help my 11 year old son paint a mural. The God that took my impossible and brought forth the miraculous is your God, too. Hold onto Him in dark times. Keep believing in the midst of impossible times. He is the reason you stand. He will hold you hand and bring you through.
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| Three years and 100 miracles later, she is ours. |
"I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you."
Isaiah 42:6
""Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name;
you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you..."
Isaiah 43:1-2
"Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you
with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
