Adoption and Faith

Having a blog not only means you open up parts of your life for all to see but you also have the opportunity to meet wonderful ladies through other blogs. Some who God truly uses to minister to your heart through their lives and experiences. That is what happened when I came across Danielle's blog months ago. Her words spoke so deeply to me, encouraging me on my adoption journey. Recently I have had so many emotions going through my mind and heart that I simply have not had the words. I decided to reach out to Danielle and ask her if she would do a guest post on my blog. I didn't give her much detail, just that I would love for her to do a post on adoption and faith. What she has written below is beautiful and I hope will touch your heart as it has mine.

Right now I am sitting here watching two beautiful, sweet, intelligent, God loving young ladies fold their laundry.

Last night they slept over their best friends' house.

This past month, they started their third year of school (second and a half...to be exact).

This summer they traveled with us to El Paso to visit my in-laws.

This past spring break they came with us to visit my home town, NYC...and ate their weight in pizza.

This past Christmas, they squealed with joy as they opened their new skateboards sent by Abuelitos.

In September of last year, they were both baptized, by their amazing father.

Last summer they went to Charleston with their Abuelitos for 4 days.

In May and June of 2010, they had birthday parties with friends from school....over 20 friends each that is!

In January of 2010 they saw snow for the first time.

In December of 2009, they celebrated their first Christmas...complete with red and yellow flamed guitars.

In October of 2009 they met their cousins, and their Tio and Tia for the first time.

In September of 2009 they boarded a plane...a plane that would take them to a whole new world, a whole new family, and a whole new life.

That day on that plane...they had no idea what had transpired for months before.

Three different court dates, countless moments of heartbreak...and countless moments of rejoicing. Hours of prayers, from hundreds of people....thousands of dollars given and borrowed. Three showers, and one beautiful room. A mamma's doubts..... and a father's frustration. Feelings of complete helplessness, and despair. Great hope at the ring of every phone. So many tears, both happy and sad. So much confusion. So much faith being built, in both us and them.

They had no idea then, and maybe they will never fully understand. But that time in my life is marked by the deepest need for God I have ever experienced. It wasn't the desperate crisis type of need that is really potent, but often quite short. It was a daily, aching in the pit of my stomach that lasted for two years until we were able to bring them home. It was a daily communication with the Father whom I had questioned at every turn. It was a daily fight for my faith...one I couldn't win, but that He won for me.

My prayer for Sarah and all those out there in that phase of their lives, is that God would daily increase their faith in Him. That He would use this time in their lives as a marker of his faithfulness and grace. That He would redeem the broken pieces of their belief, and draw them closer to Him.

Danielle is a child of God, the wife of an amazing man, the mother of two sweet young ladies from Ethiopia, the friend of some God loving women, a sister, a teacher, a wanna-be writer, a lover of Coke, Carrie Underwood, House, David Cook, The Voice, Starbucks and a woman in the process of sanctification, covered in grace, and saved by the work of Jesus Christ. You can read more from her family, faith and day to day life at This Life I Live.