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Barren but Blessed – Trusting God with the Rest
Today Is a Day Worth Celebrating
We celebrate a lot in our house. With four children, there’s always a birthday right around the corner, but on top of those, we’ve been known to celebrate potty success, OT goals being met and our favorite, Adopt-a-versaries.
Adopt-a-versary is a word I created to recognize the anniversary of each of my children’s adoption days. Many people call this day the Gotcha Day and regardless of the name, it’s a day worth celebrating!
June 28, 2013 marked the final (I think!) adoption for our home. Our youngest came to us almost exactly two years earlier and our life went from hectic to sheer chaos. She was a long-awaited addition as we knew of her existence for many months before we actually got to hold her in our arms. From the moment she arrived, she was smiles and unrestrained love.
We prayed for and over her for months prior to her arrival. I debated, begged and pleaded with God unsure if I could handle another child. He comforted me and eased my fears. He prepared my heart for my soon to be family of six and He reminded me that He has a far greater plan than I could imagine. I gave Him control. After all, with three children already, I didn’t have time to take the reins!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Jeremiah 29:11 is my life motto. I hold tightly to it when I’m feeling overwhelmed, uncertain or straight up scared. Jeremiah 29:11 can be your lifeline, too. God has plans for us! Plans to prosper and not harm us. Plans for hope and a future. Honestly, what more do we need than prosperity, safety, hope and a future? Nothing! With God, and His promise, we have everything. It’s an absolutely beautiful and calming realization.
Four years ago when I walked out of the courtroom with four children under the age of three, many people thought I was crazy. Many people, including myself, wondered how I would do it. Emotions flowed freely and I felt blessed, ecstatic, loved and full. Satan wanted me to feel stressed, scared and overwhelmed, but I leaned solidly on the knowledge that God has plans for me and my family.
Today, I celebrate my baby – a spunky, planning, flipping, cartwheeling, baby-loving daughter of the King. Today, I celebrate obedience, believing in God’s promise and love. The beautiful, soul-filling love of a God who makes the perfect plans, heals broken hearts and has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined and far more than I deserve.
Today is a day worth celebrating.
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