Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday.  In comparison with other major holidays, its focus remains simple - a time to give thanks, a time to connect with loved ones.  In our family, we try to find new ways to show our gratitude every year. We started a tradition a few years back of writing our blessings on a table cloth.  We take it out every year and add more for which we are grateful.  (Note, if you want to do this make sure you have plastic or cardboard underneath the cloth.  Permanent marker that bleeds through the table cloth onto your mother-in-law's table doesn't go over so well.)

One year we wrote down what we were thankful for on leaves made out of paper, and then placed the leaves on a branch we found in the yard.  M was 4 years old and it was the first time she sounded words out in writing.  She was thankful for "BORBE" (translation - Barbie).  Nice, huh? Last year the children made turkeys out of pine cones - each tail feather listed a blessing.  This year we are making a paper chain - each link lists a reason to give thanks.  I gave M and C an assignment - each day they needed to come up with one new thing they were grateful for and add it to the chain.  I thought they'd get tired of it after the first day or two, but they been so excited to do this each day that instead of listing one, they've listed multiple things they're grateful for every day.  In the past week they've spent hours thinking about and writing about the blessings in their lives.  Here's one thing that our 5-year-old wrote that completely melted my heart:

In case you can't read the phonetically spelled message, here's the translation:
"I'm thankful for my new sister."

Our chain is now 7 feet long and growing.  We'll take it to Grandma & Papa's farm this week and more blessings will be added.  Our lives are so rich with blessing.  My life is blessed with the sound of laughter and tears of children.  I'm blessed with a husband who works diligently to support our family.  I'm blessed with a loving family.  I'm blessed with friends who challenge me, sharpen me, and laugh with me.  I'm blessed with Christian brothers and sisters who encourage me and lift me up in prayer.  I'm blessed with the ding of the washer - what a blessing to have clothes to wash and a family that wears them.  I'm blessed by God's faithfulness - he answers prayer and draws us closer to Himself.  There are so many reasons to give thanks.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

At Work in the Wait

It's been a while since I've posted.  We've been busy filling out paperwork, getting documents for the affidavit notarized and preparing our home for an additional member.  We've been sorting and packing and getting immunizations and letters from employers and gathering up activities for the plane ride and communicating with pediatricians and all sorts of other things in addition to "regular life."  So far we have four pieces of luggage packed and a stack of paperwork about 5 inches high that we'll be taking overseas.  

While all of that has kept us busy the truth is, I haven't been writing because I've been scared - I've been scared that I'll say too much or that I'll say the wrong thing.  Out of respect for the child we're hoping to adopt we are limited in what we can share.  What I can say is this - we have a referral for a sweet five year old girl.    Waiting to meet this child is extraordinarily challenging.  If you've ever been 9 + months pregnant, you might know what I mean.  It's a lot like that, except that she's not snuggled up safe and warm in her mother's care.

Though waiting can be tough and some days are harder than others, I trust in the Lord's perfect timing.  He is sovereign and He's at work in the wait.  He's preparing our hearts and hers for this transition.  I've noticed this pattern -  just when it seems the waiting and wondering has worn me too thin, He sends a word of refreshment, a word of hope, a word of promise.  He has done this over and over and over again - not just throughout the adoption process, but throughout my entire life.  But these promises are not exclusively for me.  They're for all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus.  If you haven't already, would you please come and rest in the Sovereignty and Promise of the Lord.