Isaiah 48:17

This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.


As I've mentioned before, one of the most exciting things for me about adopting children is being able to have the honor and privilege of witnessing God's plan unfold for our children and for us. Maybe some day I will document here the unique stories both Steele and Adia have.

In one of my recent posts, you may have glazed over the fact that our agency is now doing adoptions of children from Ethiopia. Don't worry if you did - because I pretty much brushed over that fact too. Until I got a little nudge to visit their web site last night. And it seems the Lord may have just rung the bell of a new door in our lives.

Now, can I just tell you how much I love my husband and love being married to him? You see, I wasn't one bit hesitant to share with him this morning about this little leap my heart felt last night as I read the pages of the web site. I know that we are in complete agreement about all of this (we agree about pretty much all things, actually - except for maybe where the kids' dirty clothes should go after they play outside but that's a different topic.... we all have those topics don't we? Keeps us humble...) Anyway - here's what we agree on:

• God is the One who plans our family, not us. So it is not up to us to push open doors.... or to close them based on our own fears or inability.

Umm.... I was going to write more but that pretty much sums it up. What it means is that even when I told Justin how much it would cost, he didn't freak out. He knows that God makes a way for His plans to happen - He could give us the money through some long lost rich relative if He wanted.... or He could give us the diligence and wisdom to save the money ourselves.... He could give us the knowledge and blessing of applying for and receiving grants etc. etc. Justin also didn't say to me, "Well, we really should pray about this more." He knows what God's word says about caring for the orphan and the widow. We agree that we're pretty sure if we stood before the Lord and asked Him if we should adopt a child that He probably wouldn't say "no." Pretty sure about that one. "Um, Lord. So tell me - what do you really think about us taking a baby from a poverty-stricken land with no mama or papa to care for him into our home and giving Him a new hope and a new heritage of faith? The truth, here, God."

You get the picture. I'm not trying, in any way, to make light of it. My point is that if the question is there in your heart, "Should I?" You probably should.

We love our adoption agency. We don't and haven't had any desire to go to another agency. We whole-heartedly support the manner in which YWAM's agency is placing children for adoption and taking care of birth mothers. This is part of what makes this Ethiopia thing so cool. New doors are being opened right in front of us. Why not just jump into what God is already doing?

And we are going to pray - not "should we?" But when? how? Lead us Lord. For your glory. We wait with joyful anticipation at what You will do. We are satisfied with Your plans alone.

So would you, my bloggy friends, join with us in these prayers? That you might have the joy and privilege, with us, of watching God's plans unfold before our very eyes.