Signs

Have you ever had God just hit you over the head with something? When I was home over Christmas, my sisters and I had a conversation that was rather disheartening to me. I won't share the content but I will say that it really saddened me in regards to my adopting the little girl (or someone else) that I mentioned in the last post. On my way back to Springfield on Friday night (I really hate driving in fog and the whole drive was pea soup central), God hit me over the head with: it doesn't matter what others think are you going to follow me? God has clearly shown me that adoption is what He wants me to continue to pursue, so why should what anyone thinks have any bearing on my following God's wishes. How often do I, or anyone else for that matter, look for signs from God that we are to do something or not do something when He has clearly said in His word what we are and are not to do. That is not an original thought but paraphrased from a message by Ken Davis, on a Focus on the Family broadcast, I heard coming home on Friday night. See what I mean about God hitting me over the head. I have been stalling going forward with what needs to be done regarding adoption (becoming a licensed foster parent in Illinois is the first step) and if I truly want to follow God as I claim then I can't stall any more. So, all that to say, please pray for me as I make some phone calls tomorrow morning to find out how to move this process forward. God is far more gracious to me than I can begin to count. Aren't you glad God doesn't kick us out of the fold when we screw up? I know I sure am.

Random Things and Merry Christmas

This school year has been so hectic. I have 11 students from 16 to 20, the 20 year old just transferred to adult placement and 2 weeks later I got an 18 year old to replace him. I am renting a house and will hopefully be moving to a smaller rented house by the first of February.
I continue to be interested in adoption and hope to move forward with that over this break. Two great adoption sites I've found that will really make you think especially about how special needs kids are treated in other countries: reecesrainbow.com and showhope.org. I would adopt several of the kids from the reece's rainbow site in a second if I could but right now that just isn't possible. God has really put on my heart a little girl here in Illinois with some pretty severe disabilities but the moment I saw her I couldn't get her out of my head or my heart. I have been doing a lot of reading of late and adoption both from the spiritual and the practical side seem to be the focus right now. God has been so patient and forgiving to each of us, how can we not share that with children in need. I will be driving down to spend Christmas with my family this afternoon and hopefully to spend some time exploring favorite haunts in St. Louis too while I am there. I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. What a wonderful gift we have been given to celebrate on Christmas.