I was just asked this week, what our greatest lesson was that we are taking out of this adoption journey.... hummmmm... the thing that came to mind first was the lesson of patience... I would like to hope that all this waiting will help us be really patient parents to Sheldine & Neffy. And for all those parents out there, I am sure you can relate... parenting takes patience...
Another thing I've learned is how to even greater lean on the Lord... He truly is our source of everything! Without the Lord in our lives and at the center of this journey... we would have been so lost. The Lord has surrounded us with such a wonderful support system... blessed us financially and grounded us in our relationship with Him in ways we never expected.
And yet another thing I've learned during this adoption journey, is how much I really do love my husband. I've learned what an incrediable person he is... and have seen into the future to what kind of Dad he will be to our daughters. I am so blessed to have such an amazing person to share this life with.... and for those that know our "history"... that is a wonderful revalation and a testimony to God's grace and mercy!
AND THEN... as I shared some of these things with the person that challanged me by this question... they shared something with me... that really changed some of my thinking... When we know without a doubt we are walking in God's will for our lives... but things are not panning out how we expect...or as quickly as we think they should... or as we face heartbreaks on that path God has us on... we need to rejoice! Walk in joy... knowing that God is doing things that we can not see... or understand... and might never understand this side of heaven... this was such an eye opening statement to me... we know without a doubt that Sheldine & Nephtalie will come home someday... and that God will complete the good work he began... but this road has had many heartaches and heartbreakes... have we always rejoiced?... Nope...we have failed in that department at times... we are so grateful and thankful that God chose us to be the parents of these two amazing little girls... this has been the hardest journey either me or Darren has been on... but God has never left us... never forsaken us... and we need to change our heart attitude and just rejoice in where He has us... open ourselves up to what He's teaching us... and know that He's got this! So...today... I walk in joy... my arms hurt ... I want to hold my girls again... I want to have them home with us where we KNOW they belong... but I do not want that outside of God's perfect will and perfect timing...
