Delectable Thought

It's still here... But much, much smaller. We are very close to being finished with our document collection. Actually we're waiting on ONE little document called a passport. (Not really a little document at all, right?) Life has been steadily moving along. And we're always thinking of our boy across the world knowing that one day (hopefully soon) he'll be with us. In the meantime, we'll keep waiting to eat those last few bites of Elephant and trust that God's timing is indeed the best timing.

That's life, isn't it? Timing. Pork has to be cooked a certain amount of time or it's dry and tough. Children have to wait a certain amount of time to do "big people" things. Big people have to wait a certain amount of time to have a day off, or get a promotion. You have to wait in the drive-thru line or at a buffet or at the bank or in the grocery line. As many babies and children have come home from Ethiopia to their forever families, it's made me anxious for our own homecoming. But--this is most likely still a ways away. We're still on the paper chase--documents and money. But all in due time. When I'm anxious for something to occur or for God to do something, I'm reminded of Abraham and Sarah. They waited  A LONG time for the fulfillment of God's covenant to Abraham. God has called us to seek out a little child far away and to make him (or her) a part of our family here. He is faithful and I can rest in His timing...

That's what adopting is... A BIG FAT PAPER CHASE. But a worthwhile one. It actually helps with the waiting--chasing papers. If you keep up with us on Facebook then you probably heard about our first home visit with our homestudy provider. Let me just say...Toddlers are unpredictable. John Owen definitely stole the show and probably gave the kind woman a reason to scratch her head wondering about those crazy Thurmans! He walked into the kitchen with batteries in his mouth, something that he's never done. Then he decided to show off how he could stand up on the ottoman. Of course then he had to prove to us all that he really could scream loud enough for our friends in Europe to hear him. But then he redeemed himself when he proceeded to show her every room in our house as if he were a real estate agent. (It's amazing how observant he is.) All in all our home visit went well. It made me more excited to be on this journey And...gave me even more paperwor...

There's an elephant in the room---our whole house actually. It's so large that it's saturated every part of our life. We wake up thinking about it. Go about our daily routines---thinking about it. We go to sleep thinking and sometimes even dreaming about it. Our elephant---what is it? Somewhere there's a boy, maybe he's entered this world already, maybe he hasn't. I do know that He is a thought in our Lord's mind because HE has placed this little boy in our hearts. This boy is living or will be living in Ethiopia. A place so far away from here it takes 24 hours to get there. It's a different place than here. Life is...different. Regardless, there's a little boy there And he's ours. We just have to go get him. But that's easier said than done. There's a little paperwork(or elephant)---well, A LOT (and I mean A LOT) of paperwork to complete and check and double check and triple check. Because everything has to b...

Today I'm choosing to remember all that God has done. But first I will lament. (Humor Me) Today is the official due date for Ella Grace Thurman. But there will be no delivery today. There will be no newborn cries. No pink and white dress. No polka dots or balloons announcing her  arrival. I will get no epidural. I will not push or be prepped for another c-section. There will be no congratulations. John Owen will not wear an "I'm the Big Brother" shirt. There will be no wrinkled pink skin Or eyes to wonder at their color. Today will just  be---silent. BUT (And I wish I could proclaim this "but") I will lament no longer. Someone said (today actually) that when we obey God, we see Him. Today I remember the supernatural, large, incredible, indescribable GRACE OF GOD I experienced during my pregnancy with my daughter. Today I rejoice at the greatness of God At His reality At His realness At His mercy At His truth At His kindness At His glory I received a k...

I follow several pastors on Twitter. Recently I have read many posts and blogs that mention hurting people. People with brain tumors. Children with brain tumors. Others with cancer or hurting. I've wept for them. I've prayed for them. I've wanted to call each one of them and say, "I've been to the valley of the shadow of death and I've found His Grace is More than sufficient." But you know...there are hurting people all around us. One of my greatest sins is being so caught up in myself and my life and my routine that I miss opportunities to share the burdens of others. I hope if you're reading this and you're hurting that you see God's grace in my life--even if it's just through my words. I hope you can also see that NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING else matters except Glorifying Him. I hope you can know Him--really know Him. Because He is indescribable.

Today was a BSF day for me (and John Owen). This is what I came away with (I have to say it was MUCH needed). The speaker asked us a question: Do we see God first or our struggle first? That's quite the nugget! I understood in the moment she asked that questions, that most days I see my struggle, my pain, my sorrow first and then I later look to God. You see, when I choose to see God first--my Afflictions are Eclipsed by His Glory! And that is something to be excited about!