Ethiopia Bound!!!

As i write, it still is not real that Lance and I will be getting on a plane in 3 days to meet our daughter. There is so much excitement and so much to do. Trying to not get caught up in all of the tasks and spend some precious time as a family. Had a great weekend with the family going to the zoo and most importantly eating at the Varsity after!!! nothing like a chili cheese dog and onion rings to do you right.

We will be leaving on Wednesday afternoon and arriving in Addis Ababa Thursday evening. Thursday my discipleship group prayed over me and this morning some other special people did the same including my brother. What peace it has brought knowing that we are bathed in prayer and knowing the love and support that are here with us. It was a precious time just reflecting on How far God has brought us and that He has been leading us every step of the way. Please join us and pray for safe travels, children as we are away, a smooth court hearing that we will pass, and lance's back as he is having some pain that is reoccuring post surgery. Praying that his back will be able to sustain the long flight.

So Im thinking what will it be like to see our daughter for the first time and hold and kiss her? Will she be afraid, will she smile, will she think who are these crazy looking white people?! Im sure all of this will occur and i will be taking every moment in because no matter what God has already bound our heart with hers. God had this meeting planned before the foundations of the earth and it will be full of surprise and joy.

Last thought of the night. As they were praying over us this morning, God revealed something to me. It was a sweet reminding of his love. As we read in Ephesians that he has adopted us when we come to Christ, we are adopted as children of God and are a part of his family. I have reflected on that so many times, however, i was reminded of looking back on this journey of our adoption of Ally. We have persued her and saught after her with such a love and desire to bring her home and how we long for her to call us ma ma and daddy. How we long for her to be a part of our family and we long to share hope.
Wow God! This is just a glimpse of how you persued me, saught me, loved me and called me to yourself. You loved me with a redeeming love and you called me into your family because you longed for me to call you Father. You longed to bring me out of brokeness and out of darkness and to offer me hope.You did not snap your finger and make it happen even though you have the power, you loved me and brought me to yourself over time by showing me yourself, by revealing yourself and causing me to fall in love with you. The joy looking back at the process of when i finally surrendered my heart and was adopted into your family. Thank you for giving me just a glimpse. Realizing that our love for Ally gives us a small glimpse of the redeeming love you have for your own children. Thank you that once i was lost but now I am found. I am your child and you are my Father.