Feeling chewed up......

 Perfect picture for the post right?  ;)

 Hello Matthew......

 So sometimes it can feel like life is constantly throwing things at you.  Looking on the last couple of years for us....has definitely felt that way!  Ok let's be honest the last several years!!! :)

 So more recently with moving, having to deal with multiple rentals in our move, losing a lot of money through that, finding a home, having job issues on multiple levels, so many changes, becoming a true stay at home mom, adopting another child, having marriage struggles, trying all this time to stay afloat.  Readjustments after readjustments........

 Figuring out a job that we absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!  Whew!!!!  Now we get to do what we love and feel so passionately about YEA!!!!!  Love our clients!!!  Love praying for their children with them, walking the road with them, love it all!!!!  YEA for Christian Adoption Consultants!!!!

 Readjusting our lives again from a lot of other "stuff" from this past year.  Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.....knowing we are getting there- FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!! 

 Then this news that we have to wait.....even longer to adopt this cutie pie that we love sooo very much.  UGH!  It was a blow!  It hurt!  We were upset that because people just didn't do their job- we suffer! 

Awwww.......the only GREAT NEWS is- through all that we go through in our lives.....there is ONE CONSTANT!!!!!  HE IS THE REASON WE DO WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!! 

 These beautiful children are in our family because HE ORDAINED IT!  He saw their need for us and our need for them and in HIS infinite wisdom He put us together.  There are hurts in each of us, and we are all totally imperfect, but GOD put us together to heal.  As well as to help each other on our way through this crazy life! 

There is a movie in the "Love Comes Softly Series" that says something along the lines of - it's not that I am worried about hardships coming, but that when they do come that you are willing to work with me as a team to get through them. 

 That is what it is about!!!!  That is where the "secret" is.  Actually it isn't a secret or a magic wand at all.  Instead it is total surrender.  Surrender is not a word anyone wants to hear.  MAYBE ME MOST OF ALL!  I don't enjoy not being in control.  No really....I know that is hard for you to believe ;).  I want to know how the story turns out.  I want to know how to deal with "this and that" right now.  I want to do my paperwork and be done with this already.  I want to know! 

 HA!  But that is not surrender is it?  NOPE!  It is so very very hard to let go and know that no matter what God is with you.  There is nothing that happens that is a surprise to Him.  There is nothing that happens that we have to be afraid, "Oh dear that will be too much for God to handle."  It just doesn't happen. 

This whole date change in and of itself is not the end of the planet.  The changes our family goes through are not the end of the planet.  God knows our hearts!  He has given us our needs and many of our wants as well.  There have been many times we thought were too hard, too much, and worries that threatened to overtake us. 

God is still working on us.  We are not perfect.  That is the point.  Even when we feel chewed up God says....don't worry I will still be God and you will still be my child.  Whew! 

I received some encouragement from one of our clients and I have to say- PRAISE GOD!  I needed that!  It wasn't that I couldn't get through without it, but you know....it helps to have someone understand!  I know so many of you pray for our family and WOW!!!!  Just thinking about it, and knowing that is more a picture of God's Family that I can begin to describe!!!!! 

That is why we keep on going.  We keep trusting, praying, reading His Word, celebrating with our church family, keep serving in whatever ways we can, keep giving, keep praising, keep on knowing that these are our Spiritual Acts of Worship. 

I want to encourage you today!  I may not know all of you and what you are going through right now, but I know a Savior who wants to share in all you are going through.  Matthew 11:28-30  ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”