I heard this word on another blog where the women was making reference to all the times she saw God's hand in her life. I certainly don't believe in a coincidence so I love this word! Over the past three months I've had a ton of God-incidences and I'd love to write them down so I can remember them!
The first and most specific and vivid happened back on January 11th. God put me at the right place at the right time! A few weeks before was when I first came across a blog called "Our Hearts are in Ethiopia". Neil and I started following it as they had just gotten back with their first baby boy. My best friend Kate was the mother's roomate in college for one year and I had met her at least once a loooooooong time ago. But I still felt connected knowing someone mutual =) Through her blog I learned that Ethiopia adoption was growing and becoming more common. I went to a ton of blogs from theirs to read a lot of people's stories. I was growing fascinated by the country and loving these dark brown eyes I was seeing over and over again. On January 10th I remember thinking "We could be these people! We could really adopt from Ethiopia." Wondering what kind of community they had in San Antonio, I searched but didn't find much of anything.
Ok.... now onto Jan 11th. Claire had her first swim lesson that day and as I was getting Claire ready for her lesson (in the wrong area mind you), I overheard a woman telling one of the coaches that they were going to be missing lessons. They were traveling to Ethiopia to pick up their daughter they just adopted. WHAT?! Did I hear her correctly? So once I got Claire in the right place, I told the lady that I didn't mean to listen but heard she was adopting from Ethiopia. We talked about their story for a little bit. They started their process adopting from Taiwan but switched about a year ago. She was in a rush to get out so she gave me her email, blog site and phone number. I've been following their blog ever since and I've never seen her at lessons again. So cool.... God really encouraged me through this meeting with a total stranger that I felt oddly connected to. They are now back with Evie and adjusting with having three kiddos under the age of 5.
Well, because the earthquake in Haiti happened that week, there was a TON of adoption talk all around the media. Every time I turned the TV or radio on they were wondering what was happening to all the kids. I saw a special on Oprah, GMA and a 20 minute segment on Dr. Phil - that's a huge amount of time to discuss adoption in Haiti. All this kept coming at me for about three weeks and every time I learned something new. Something else to consider or pray about.
Jan. 26th I started corresponding with Sara Matheny when I found out they were wanting to start the adoption process too! I was so excited to know someone personally who was going through things now and to exchange some research. They were looking at two of the agencies I was really looking into and even considering Ethiopia. Sara and her hubby Philip went to church with us way back BC (Before Claire). They were just expecting their first so I guess that was almost 5 years ago.
I've been so overwhelmed with reading and asking for agency packets from everywhere trying to see which one is the best for us. It's so hard. I feel pulled to different ones for different reasons. AGCI is one that I feel emotionally tied to because it is the agency that "Our Hearts" used and it was my first agency to really learn about. They have a wonderful program from what I read and they have been so good about following up with me with a phone call and now with two emails seeing if we need help or have questions. I like that. So... Feb. 22nd I went to work. I walked into the choir room and Dianna said "First of all, we are all God's children...." Yes, she said that in a public school =) She was having on of her heart to hearts with the 7th graders. Basicly telling them we are all equal. And as I'm trying to get everything ready for lessons and wave my first student down to come to me, she said "I hope you adopt this idea...." It caught my ear and I thought how weird is that? I don't know what it all means but I know God works through people. I'm not basing any decision off of it but I do find it interesting and a fun story!
There are other little things here and there. A song that comes on the radio. A new campaign on KLOVE about meeting the needs of the oppressed. Mostly it's something that I read on another blog... I could go on and on.
I love it when I see His hand and prints all over our lives and I especially love sharing what He is doing in our hearts. Just the past week I feel like we've probably made the decision to go with Ethiopian adoption we just haven't officially made it so! We just speak as if that's what's going to happen! I'm getting so excited!
