Other Plans...

God told Abraham that he would be the Father of many nations. 
                Abraham is.

God told Sarah she would be a mother… at 90.
                She was.

God told Mary she would give birth to the Messiah of the world.
                She did.

When God says something – He pretty much means it.  When He repeats it, or uses the word “therefore” - you better listen up because He’s not playing games. “Therefore” usually precedes an instruction.   And my experience with listening to instruction has shown me that He’s not going to let me sleep until I start to listen… and act. 

The dirty truth… I’m a great listener… but I’m kind of lazy.  So, when He says “do this” I tend to wait for clarity… several times.   Then, when I can’t sleepwalk through another day, I usually give in and move to action. 

Here’s the LONG story on what He’s been up to…

2000 – Lukas was born… adorable baby #1.

2002 – Ashley was born… adorable baby #2.

2003 – As Chad’s humvee drives through Iraq, he spots a little girl that stole his heart.  He decided that one day he would do something to make a difference for a little girl like her… a little girl whose world was being destroyed day by day. 

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 – Tried to have another baby…

2009 – Finally figured it out!  Adorable baby #3 was on the way!               
         … 3 months later… she realized that Heaven was much better than Earth and headed back.
               
Once it was safe to talk about growing our family again, Chad and I decided that we would like to try again, but knowing how long it took (and the fact that I’m not getting any younger), we decided that we would give it one year.  If we weren’t pregnant by September of 2010, we would start to look into adoption.

During the year, my high school small group focused our hearts and minds on an organization called Invisible Children.  The footage we watched and stories we read just broke our hearts.  That’s when the whispers started.   I couldn’t find peace with the fact that these precious little children were wandering the streets alone all day, searching for a safe spot to sleep at night, and hiding from adults that should have been protecting them… but instead kidnapped them and forced them to kill.  It’s wrong.  Everything about Joseph Koney and the Child Soldiers in Uganda is wrong.  I wanted to rush over there and adopt as many little African babies as they would let me.  Just let me protect them.  Allow me to love them.... but do it later… “because right now I’m trying to follow MY plan.”

The whispers were beginning to stir in my heart over the year, but I would never have imagined the plan God had prepared for our family.  I was sure that when the year was up, I would either be holding a baby or heading to Uganda.

But God had other plans, doesn’t He always???