A Goosebump God Moment

I just read my previous post on Sept.3rd and I can not even believe how much has happened since then. God is so awesome in His timing. Sometimes we sit for what seems like eternity waiting & listening....hearing nothing. Other times He just sends us on a rocket to the next place in our lives. We move so fast that we do not even realize how far He carried us until He sets us down and we catch our breath. That is what I am doing today. Catching my breath and trying to figure out how in less than 2 weeks we have done so much. My body feels the fatigue of it all but man, what a ride. Tony & I are so energized from the momentum and pray we can keep up.

The last post I prayed for my faith to conquer my fear. Within days the Lord directed my research & the click of my mouse back to the Philippine adoption program. His guidance narrowed down my search and the next thing I knew I was on the phone with the most upbeat, positive director of an adoption program I have ever spoke to. After a brief conversation on where we have been in our adoption journey, Anna's Forever Families and my hopes for our future it was obvious to me that Holston United Methodist Home for Children was the direction we were to start. So last week we officially started the process by filling out the application for HHC's
Philippine adoption program. As I was writing out the application I stopped as I signed my name and I saw the goosebumps raise on my arms as I signed the date. September 8, 2009. Amazing God how amazing You are! 3 years to the date that our dossier was sent to China that resulted in our precious Anna's adoption. September 8, 2006 was our DTC. Again, what a beautiful sign....He sends me messages almost daily in just the same way. They are my Goosebump God Moments. Thank you heavenly Father for just showing me your Light when I think my path is too dark. So we are back in the saddle again. Every time I say that I hear that corny music that plays in the movie Sleepless in Seattle as Tom Hanks calls for the first time to ask someone out after the death of his wife. That correlation seem appropriate too, huh? So we are applying for an older child between 2 to 6 years of age without special needs or minuet special needs, either sex. Looks like around a two year wait if that is God's will. I know without a doubt this is His time not mine. I praise Him for His perfection in the details!

So we meet tomorrow with Mariam's Promise here in Nashville for our intake interview. They will be our local home study agency. We go in at 9 to just go over what lays ahead. It is funny that today I am so just at peace with the whole idea ....it was like a huge jump then, O.K. that was pretty easy-what's next? We have no idea how we are going to do this. Tony & I both have complete trust that God is going to provide. When we sent in the first application fee we prayed that for every check from now on we write we only see the glory of God and not feel the panic of where we will get the money for the next check. Amazingly enough in response to that prayer we just received another very generous donation to Anna's Forever Families. Now understand that is not our money for our adoption but was to me another beautiful message of God's happiness in our faith to adopt again. With this generous donation we have the security of funds to make grants more available after this quarter. It also give us a buffer to fund raise. We know that the holiday season is approaching but we really want to get a fund raiser organized for after the first of the year. This makes that very possible. Thank you Jesus! Just like our contributor said in his donation..."It feels so good to do good for someone else." This is big! Real big! Thank you for those of you who are promoting our cause by passing the word....keep up the good work! This assistance organization is for all special needs adoptions not just international. There are a ton of families out there adopting domestically and we want them to know we exist too. I will start contacting agencies and church adoption ministries starting next month so we know we will see more applicants with our announcement. Every grant helps a family and that gives another "Anna" a secure, loving home. I get teary every time I think of how that glorifies my Maker and makes my Anna's ripple effect continue. Real good stuff!! Amen!?!

So that is my update for the last week or so. We are doing good. So many wonderful things happening all at the same time and I am just really focusing on embracing each one and giving it it's just attention. Through praise, petition and thanksgiving.....such thanksgiving. I feel Anna's love all around and see her smile with every step we take. God bless!

In His Hands and Service,
Jo

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.