Reflections of a Year Gone By

It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than a week away, and the New Year is rapidly approaching. We're trying to soak up every last second of Christmas around here as we know it will be behind us all too soon.

I've had more than one person mention to me that we've had a rough year. It's funny, but I'm always a little taken back by the statement. I'm not hurt or insulted. It just kind of surprises me. But as I reflect on 2014, I can see where someone might get that idea.

The first four months were relatively uneventful. Then Patrick started off May by falling off a ladder which resulted in two broken feet and surgery on one foot, but he was back on his feet (pun totally intended) in about eight weeks time. While it was inconvenient and certainly messed up some of our plans, it could've been much, much worse. God protected Patrick and has healed him.

In July, we received "the call" that all adoptive families anxiously anticipate. In August, we were blessed to meet the most precious little girl and fell madly in love. In September, our hearts were broken, and we found out that we would not be bringing this sweet girl home to live with us. What we went through was awful. The grief was indeed gut wrenching, but we went through it. Yes, there are times when I find myself thinking about the what ifs and what should've and could've beens, but mostly, I feel peace. If I could do it all over again, I'd still get on that plane and fly all the way to Bulgaria to meet that precious baby girl. If somehow our being there helped her parents to realize that they did want to have her and raise her, then I'm thankful for that. God has been faithful. He always is.

In October, my grandfather passed from his earthly life to Heaven. I miss him every single day, but I wouldn't ask him to come back for the world. He lived a full life here on this earth and he left behind a beautiful legacy. He was richly blessed. We are richly blessed. The best way to show honor and love for him is for us to live our lives to the fullest.

There have been other "rough" moments in 2014. But the beautiful moments have far outweighed the rough ones. I'm glad we don't have the ability to go back and change things. Not because I wouldn't but because I would, and in doing that, I think I would learn far less about myself and who God is and as a result, miss out on many blessings.

Having said all that, I'll now say this. I have very specific prayer requests for 2015. Some are big. Some are small. Some are obvious and shared by many. . . I pray for the health, protection, and well being of my family and friends. Some I keep in my heart and trust to God alone. The biggest, and the one I'm going to ask that you join with me in praying is that in 2015 we do get to bring our daughter home. I'm asking you to join us in prayer that we receive a referral, and that this time it leads to a finalization of the adoption and a little girl living in our home. I'm asking that you pray that God will prepare our hearts to meet the needs of this little girl . . . to be the family she needs . . . to be the family that needs her.

About a week ago I came across this scripture,

25 “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 26 No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days." 

Exodus 23:25-26(NKJV)

Like so many scriptures, I've read it before, but it felt like I was reading it for the first time. If you know me, you know I'm a pretty literal, black and white kind of person. As I read, I found myself thinking, "God this doesn't apply to me. I'm not physically pregnant. I'm just adopting." (Just . . . yes, I know) As always, He responded, not in audible words, but in words spoken to my heart. I may not be physically pregnant, but never the less, I am (we are) pregnant. Losing our little girl was a miscarriage. It was a still birth. It was the loss of a child that still lives on this earth (and please know as I say that, I am in no way demeaning or lessening those that have suffered the heart break of miscarriage or the loss of a child from this earth . . . my heart hurts for each of you). For a time, following the loss of the referral, I thought we'd never have a daughter. I felt like the dream and the promise had been stolen from us. I thought that from this point on, we'd be barren. But as always He. Is. Faithful. So I'm standing on this scripture, and I'm asking each of you to stand with us. 

Enjoy these last few days of the Christmas season. Take the time to soak it up and cherish your loved ones, and take the time to thank God for sending His son. It may sound cliche and trite to so many, but He really is the reason for the the season.