Last weekend the lady from our home study agency came to our house for our "home visits. " I was a little nervous mainly because I didn't know what to expect or what questions she might ask. It's like someone interviewing us to see if we are/would be good parents. I didn't have to do that for my first two kids. =) Is my house clean enough? Will my children behave themselves while she's here? Will she ask me a question I won't know the answer to? Will I say the wrong thing? Will the weather clear so the plane can land? This is a sampling of the many thoughts in my mind in the days and hours leading up to the visits. Again and again, the Lord had to remind me that He's in complete control of this situation and the entire adoption process. We simply (and sometimes not so simply) need to trust Him. If He has ordained this adoption, as we believe He has, His sovereignty will intercede in every detail of the process. Every situation and every detail is Father-filtered through His loving and powerful hands. I can rest and trust. The visits went as well as we believe they could have, and the lady was very kind and easy to talk to. It's so much more enjoyable to trust in my Heavenly Father than to worry. I'm sure I'll be reminded of that truth many times in the coming months.
Tomorrow is our town's Christmas bazaar in the school gym. The thought came to me earlier this week that we should set up a table for fundraising. Tim thought it was a good idea as well, so I started putting ideas together. Some of the ladies from church are going to bake lots of goodies to sell. I really appreciate their willingness and eagerness to help out. Also, we're going to try to start selling our "Simply Love" t-shirts. We have the mock-ups for 2 of the 3 designs now. The 3rd one has the shape of Bulgaria on it with the "Simply Love" slogan on it. We're the first family to ask for the country of Bulgaria, so they're starting from scratch on that one (they have 23 or so other countries already set up that have been used for fundraising). It's kind of cool to be the first family to ask for Bulgaria on the shirt-- we get to name the design too! There will be a few other odds and ends as well, but that's mainly it. I'm kind of unsure of how the t-shirts will go over. I think they're awesome, but that doesn't mean everyone else will. Either they will be a hit or a total flop. We'll see. We have them up for pre-sale in our "store" tab as well, if you'd like to buy one for the cause! Here's another area where the Lord is teaching me. It's easy for me to get caught up in the fundraising for this adoption then get discouraged when I don't see anything happening. First of all, I need to remember that the Lord has already provided for $5000 of the needs, so another $30K is not too hard for Him. Fundraising is a good thing, but at the same time my dependence needs to be on the Lord to provide (not on all the things I can sell or the skill of my marketing abilities, which are not good anyways). He will bring in the funds
when and
how He sees fit. If He chooses to use my fundraising efforts, great! If I don't make a dime off the fundraising efforts, that's great too, because it just means we get to watch Him bring it in in more amazing ways than we could ask or think. God will provide. He always has, and it's not going to change now even with an astronomical amount, humanly speaking, that's needed. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine. Our needs are miniscule compared to His resources (Philippians 4:19). I can rest in that.
I love Malachi 3:10. If we are obedient and faithful in giving back to the Lord a portion of what He has given to us, and not hold back because we have a need, the Lord will bless and take care of our needs...
"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will
not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing
until there is no more need."
One of my favorite quotes on God's provision... "My God is limitless in His provision; He is too generous to ever withhold anything that I need."
