This is the place where we are have documented the road we have walked in order to adopt our four children from Brazil and the road we are now on as a family. We are keenly aware that adopting is not just a process we've chosen to go through, but part of God's plan for us and for our children. May He be glorified through the process and through our family!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Beautiful diversity ...or... Amazed by Grace

  

Since just before Christmas, 2008, we have been reaching out to our friends and family members from near and far and asking them to pray for our family and for our far-off children.  We have been asking our friends and family to send us a little symbol of the love and prayers they have offered the Lord on our behalf.  Nearly every day since then, we have received little envelopes, bags, packages, folders with little squares of material and messages of love and support.  These we have carefully cataloged, stored, and thanked the Lord for.  

This little project has done our hearts a world of good.  Keeping our hands busy helps to keep our hearts from breaking with the knowledge that our beloved ones are far from us.  The time spent working on the project is also time spent in prayer for our future family and our children where they now live.  Knowing that we are building something tangible that will someday soon wrap around the bodies of our dear ones makes it feel like we are mothering and fathering them already.  The diversity of the patches brings us joy as we think about the diversity in our future family.  Working on this quilt together and with our houseguest, SuJeong has given us time to enjoy the moments we are given together and be thankful for the life we have even before our children are in it.  Most of all, touching and feeling the symbols of so much prayer on our behalf is a humbling experience.  What sustains us?  God's own hand and nothing else.  What will bring us together as a family?  The power of God and his Will for us.  

There is more to come.  (In fact, 8 new squares came while we were taking these pictures.)




1 comment:

Rachelle D Alspaugh said...

What an amazing story for both of them to wrap themselves in for many years to come! I know what you mean--hearing and knowing all the prayers that go out for you is a very humbling experience.