Adoption Day - x 2!

Yes, you read it right...

We had TWO amazing adoption days over here!

Our awe-inspiring God never ceases to amaze me

and blessed us beyond compare

by allowing us to become

a forever family for two of our treasures.

And although pictures don't show all the chaos

that insued over a two-day period,

they certainly give you a glimpse!

Waiting to be called up for Madelyn's court time...

In the courtroom

Picture with the judge after it is final!

Post-adoption picture with all of Maddy's workers

(Her law-guardian, Allelie - Her caseworker, Trish - 

Our Harvest of Hope worker, Sherrie)

Waiting for Gariella's court time with her sister, Saige!

I'm waiting, but not sure for what... :o)

 

Gabi's post-adoption picture with the same judge!

  

 Our adoption celebration at the Atlantic City Aquarium

 

 Waiting for service to start with our church family.

We could not be more blessed!

We loved celebrating adoption with all who came

and pray that hearts and homes will be opened

to see Jesus' heart for the orphan.

(I will give some really amazing testimonies from the days in another post!)

 

James 1:27

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

   

The Road Not Taken...

Lately, I have been quite introspective...

Looking at what I have become

Looking where I need to grow

Looking at priorities.

Quite melancholy - 

and anyone who knows me 

knows this is not me.

Maybe it's the stress level

of all the responsibilities...

Maybe it's all the emotions

surrounding the closeness

(I can almost taste it!)

of two of our treasure's adoptions...

I don't really know.

But this level-headed gal is very emotional these days.

I'm even hearing whisperings of my mother

who loved literature and all the fine arts.

 (Well technically it is Robert Frost in my head)

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I always loved the poem

as it speaks the truth about our decisions.

Decisions that we make everyday

big and small

That lead to who we are and where we are.

This makes me pause.

Am I making the daily decisions as I stand at the two roads in the wood?

Am I choosing the road less traveled?

Am I looking back and wondering "what if...?" I had taken the other road?

Am I honestly praying before I make these decisions?

Am I letting them be made for me?

Are they being made with selfish desires or with God on my mind?

The less traveled road.

I am having that time in my world

when I look around and see everyone just hustling about. 

Let's face it  - the busy-ness is just going to get worse.

Maybe, just maybe - 
we are called to a different life.
A life of giving - not out of our excess
but out of our need.

Maybe we are called to serve - 
not out of our spare time,
but selflessly giving time that we don't have.

Maybe :o)

And yes, out here on the less traveled road can get lonely.
But even at the end of the day, I am so blessed to be here.
Serving, giving, learning, growing-

All for His glory!