So I began thinking of the all the things we've been through and seen in the last year.
365
- the number of days we've been the #peterspartyoffive
- the number of nights we've tucked a blonde-hair, blue-eyed girl in bed and listened to her pray for "no bad dreams"
- the number of days I've had a daughter and been able to brush her hair and attempt hair bows, pony-tails and braids.
- the number of times we have failed at parenting a traumatized child
- the number of times of God has reminded us that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
- the number of times we've heard "This is not my real family."
- the number of times God has reminded us that LOVE makes a family, not flesh and bone
- the number of times we've heard "I hate you." or "I don't like you, not even one little bit."
- the number of times God has whispered "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3
- the number of mornings we have had to put our "YES" back on the table
- the number of times God has shown us "His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22-23
- the number of emergency calls and texts I've made when we've been in the midst of an out-of-control fit of rage, asking faithful friends to pray for us to make it through
- the number of times God has been faithful to his promise of "Call to me and I will answer you...." Jeremiah 33:3
- the number of days we've prayed for God to heal the broken heart of a nine year old girl.
- the number of times that God has reminded us that "I know the plans I have for KB, plans to prosper her, not to harm her, to give her a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Adoption is hard.
It's hard on the child, who had to lose so much, in order to gain a new family.
It's hard on the ones who desperately try to love a child, who is terrified of letting someone into their lives again, for fear of experiencing more rejection or abandonment.
It's hard on the friends and family members, who want to be able to "fix it" but cannot.
While the past 365 days for us can be summarized by that one word, HARD. We know that God remains faithful to his promises, like Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
As we look toward tomorrow, day 366, and beyond. We cling to the hope in God's word that Steven Curtis Chapman sings of in his song, Glorious Unfolding.
Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
God’s plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding
Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
God’s plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding
Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)
Praying for the day we see the Glorious Unfolding of God's story in her life!
God always writes the BEST stories, and her's is not over yet.
