Tomorrow marks 3 months since the judge signed our adoption decree and we became a family.

3 months.

July 4 – October 4.

I have been thinking about what I want to share about these last 3 months. The emotions? The struggles? The joy? The progress?

Yes. I do want to share all of that. But really, when I boil it all down I am left with the essential ingredient. I want to share about what God has done.

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5

The things He has planned for us.

God has a plan for each and every one of us.

I think about His plan for me.

He planned for me to walk the road of cancer and loss with 2 amazing women whom I am privileged to call dear friends.

He planned for me to become a mother of six.

He planned for me to adopt children from Ethiopia.

He planned for me to spend my summer in Africa.

Do you know that if you had asked me just 3 years ago about my plans, not even one of those things would have been on my list? And not even one of those things would have been something I would have willingly chosen for myself.

And now, I could not imagine my life any other way.

Yes, there is pain in every item on that list. There is hardship and tears and struggle. But there is also joy. Comfort. Peace that passes understanding. Grace for each new day.

I remember listening to a missionary speak once, years ago, about his fears regarding stepping out into the unknown. Don’t we too often let fear stop us from doing something that we know we ought to do? I know I do. But this missionary said something that I think of often…..

The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will for your life.

If we would just trust that God is bigger than us, that He knows better than us, and that He has only our best interests in mind….then maybe we would be willing to obey Him just a little more often.

I also think about His plan for my children.

He planned this time as a refining fire for my oldest son. Joel is being shaped and molded into a young man right before my very eyes. Do you think that this year is going to mark him forever? I know it is. His heart is being softened towards the things of heaven in very real ways.

He planned on giving Hannah the challenge of seeing others through His eyes. Through eyes of love and compassion. I know it is hard for her (and for all of us) to look beyond the behavior to see the heart, but she is slowly learning how. And one day, she will realize that God had planned for her to have 2 amazing sisters to love.

He planned for Leah to be my daughter. Although she doesn’t understand it now, she will one day appreciate the opportunity to be just that – a daughter. Not a caretaker. Not a mother. Not a young girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. God planned for her to be my daughter. And His. A daughter of the Most High.

He planned for Naomi to find the peace that her sensitive heart desires. He saw her tender spirit and He protected her. He delivered her. And He re-united her with her sister. That was His plan all along.

He planned for Micah to be Scott’s son. Have you seen the way that boy hangs on Scott? His shoulders, his back, wrapped around his legs…it is like Micah is glued to Scott’s side. He gave Micah an earthly role model of his Heavenly Father.

He planned for Levi to have room to laugh. My Levi is full of joy. Laughter trickles out of him all day long. God gave my boy a reason to laugh again. He provided him joy in his heart overflowing. He made him our baby.

And this is just the beginning. Oh, do I eagerly anticipate watching God’s plan unfold in our family and in the lives of my children. But no matter what His plan looks like, I know this….

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

3 months down….the rest of our lives to go!

 

 

Blessings!

Natalie