Family – Page 5 – Casting A Stone

Help the Williams Family Adopt #5

Posted on November 14, 2016November 14, 2016 by Tammy

Looking back at some old family photos….when there were only four of us and before adoption rocked our world. Wow, what we would have missed if we had kept our world small!

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Asking for help is humbling. So you can imagine what a blessing it has been to have folks contacting us wondering how they can help us as we adopt #5. How do we have such a great community?! We are totally blessed. Many people don’t feel called to adopt, but are able to give and pray for a family who does. Thank you – from the bottom of our hearts. We could not do it without you.

We are about half-way through the adoption process and are hoping to be matched to our new son or daughter soon. Even though we live in Asia, we have to go through the adoption process like any other American couple. You would think there would be some perks of already being here, but nope. I take that back – travel to meet our child might be cheaper and we won’t be dealing with jetlag and getting to know our new child. That is a win!

What can you do to help?

1. Pray for God’s direction for our family at this pivotal point in adding #5. It is overwhelming to look at files and “choose” your child. Pray for wisdom and God’s clear direction. Not so ironically our family is memorizing the hymn “He Leadeth Me” by Joseph H. Gilmore as part of our homeschooling. Perfect timing Perfect words.

2. Give towards our adoption. Adopt Together has graciously offered to gather funds for our adoption. You can designate funds to our family through Adopt Together and they will send your gifts to our adoption agency to go towards our next fees. Your gift will be tax deductible. You will get a receipt immediately if you donate using a credit card or a PayPal account. If you donate by check, you will get a receipt at the end of the year. You can donate here.

3. One more way you can help….share our story. Point others to our blog or to our story on the Adopt Together website.

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Adoption is expensive. Some have asked why? Here is approximately where it all goes:

Agency Application:    $1000
Children’s House International (our U.S. Agency):    $6,550
Home study:    $3,000
Translation/Document/Dossier Expenses:    $1,770
China Program Fees:    $2,660
China Orphanage Fees:    $5,600
Visa Fees for Child:    $400
Travel in China:    $3,000
Flying Child Home:    $800
In-Country Costs:    $3,000
Post-Adoption Report:    $500
Re-Adoption in U.S.:    $3,000

Approximate Total: $30,000

One way God has confirmed in our hearts that this is the time for us to add #5 has been through His provision. In the past 6 months as fees have come up to start us on this journey, the funds have been there – extra teaching jobs for Hubby, generous gifts from friends and family who had no idea there was a need, and the support from another adoptive family who felt led to give to us. We stand amazed. Actually, it is one of the blessings of adoption – seeing how God cares for His children and provides to set them in families. We are looking forward to seeing how He provides for us in the coming months as we finish this journey.

Thanks again for standing with us. We will keep you posted on our journey.

**Photo Credit — Ben Hall — B’s Photography**

Hope

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Tammy

We might see it every time we walk through town, but it still takes my breath away. Beggars. Men with missing limbs painting with water on dusty sidewalks and women sitting with babies in their laps rocking back and forth – they all break my heart. I see my son in them. I see the birthmothers of my children in them. How can I not?

How do I deal? Well, we have gotten into the habit of carrying extra food like yogurt or rolls and small money to pass out. The children are quick to help me. It isn’t perfect. And really, it eases my conscience more than it helps, but I keep telling myself that it is something.

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Recently we went through the center of town headed to a western restaurant as a treat. We were celebrating another visa in our passport! Now that friends, is worthy of some fried chicken and fries at KFC! As we came up the steps headed for the door, Little Monkey pulled at my sleeve.

We both saw the young mother at the same time. She was sitting on the sidewalk clutching an infant wrapped in so many layers I wondered if he was able to move. The mother’s head was bent down to the ground. She didn’t make eye contact with anyone hurrying past even when a few small bills were dropped into her metal bowl.

Then my daughter….

My sweet, sensitive daughter who has an old soul and thinks way beyond her years, she stopped me in my tracks. “Mom, giving her a dollar won’t help her keep her baby. Please let’s buy her a meal.”

That woman on the street – I am sure she had never had fried chicken in her life, but she ate it that day….along with fries, soup and a soft drink. I wept as we bought her the meal knowing even that would not be enough. Mostly, I bought it for my daughter, for her birthmother and for hope.

I hope for a time when mothers and children will not be vulnerable. I hope for all children to have families and for the sick to be healed. I hope for a second coming when all things will be made new. Come Lord Jesus come.

Miracle Soup

Posted on September 30, 2016September 30, 2016 by Tammy

My mother-in-law has shared stories with me on how she managed a home with four kids on a budget. One thing she did – freezing left overs in a carton. Once the carton was full she would pull it out and make soup. You never knew what fun soup creation would result.

I kinda feel like this blog post is a bunch of tid-bits from the month of September. Not really sure what the end result of this post will be, but want to save these precious moments and share them. Mostly so I won’t forget.

We have celebrated an anniversary this month, Little Man’s 6th birthday, family day for both of our youngest kiddos and some milestones for our upcoming adoption. It has been a big month.

My baby is 6 years old! We had fun celebrating him with gifts, chocolate cupcakes, and his first ever birthday party. So much fun to plan a Dragon Training Camp that ended with a piñata (created and painted with much love by two older sisters) that was fought with a sword. Nothing like watching a bunch of kids swinging a wooden sword while your husband holds a piñata from a broom handle in the living room. Fun times. We may also have launched stuffed sheep across our living room at the book shelves and made our own version of corn hole…or feed the dragons. The whole thing was a hoot.

I was having so much fun celebrating our big, 6 year old, funny, first grade guy…not one tear. Then a couple of days later he lost his first tooth! I must admit, that is when I lost it. He is six. He is missing a tooth. My baby is all grown up. Sniff. Sniff.

Maybe that is why I was savoring our “Family Day Celebration” with more vigor and focus. Little Monkey has been in our family for 6 years this month – Little Man for 4 years. On the outside it seemed that we celebrated by going to a huge ball pit/playground. We then ate our favorite Chinese meal out – Hot Pot. Fun times. Good food. But, as I watched Soccer Dude carry little Man to the top point of the playground, I delighted. When I had a little in my arms for a few moments of rest, I savored the warmth of my space in time. I felt the joy and the miracle of my family that afternoon. I wanted to hold on and take in the moment. Not to keep the kids from growing up, I have longed since learned there is no trick for that. I just wanted to remember – never forget – our family that was brought together through pain, sorrow, redemption, joy and a lot of paperwork.

I felt the miracle of it.

I truly feel that every adoption is a miracle and as I watch our children grow and blossom, shaped by adoption (not just my younger two, but all four of my children…heck, me too) I am filled with awe and thankfulness.

We are on a journey that will take another miracle. I see the miracles our first two adoption were and I expect nothing less this time around.

We have completed all of our paperwork to submit to China for our next miracle. It is being authenticated and soon will be on its way from our adoption agency in the US to our side of the ocean. The next step….to be matched with the child God has for us.

Would you pray with us? We know that Father has a child in mind for us….and He will confirm who the next Williams will be during this next step. This will be part of the story of the miracle of our family. It will be miraculous, life changing, and we are praying hard.

Thank you for standing with us, following our journey and praying. Can’t wait to share our next miracle with you.

17 years and counting

Posted on September 3, 2016September 4, 2016 by Tammy

We had been living out of suitcases for at least 5 weeks by the time we hit Ohio. The kids were fighting in the van and I was nervous about the friends we were about to see in our state of mind. That is when Hubby pulled onto Brice Road. We looked at each other and smiled ignoring the chaos. At a church called Brice 17 years ago, that is where it all began.

We have moved 8 times, finished degrees, experienced two births and three adoptions, lived in 3 countries, learned two languages, and worked countless different jobs since that hot day in September. I had no idea what I was getting into!

That is exactly what I was thinking as I asked our kids to tumble out of the van to take photos on the steps of the church. We have a photo of our young selves all dressed up in a tux and white dress on those very steps. I still am amazed that at 24 I made a good decision like marrying this redhead. The grace of God. That is all I can say. I have been thankful for and marveled at that decision every year since.

Here’s the thing. I would do it again. Not because it has been easy. It hasn’t. Good but not easy. We now have tasted and seen sick, poor, bad, sad and a bit of ugly. But, there is something about choosing to do life with the same person. I never doubt who is going to be by my side during each season. He keeps on choosing me and I choose him.

Our new photo on those steps – we for sure are not as pretty. Those capri pants were wrinkled from travel and I had been sweating over my peacemaking efforts as momma to my crew. I am pretty sure I wasn’t wearing any make-up and I no longer can count the gray hair in somebodies chin strip. But, I think I will treasure this photo more. It shows us 17 years into this thing called marriage. I know what I am getting into now. I held his hand, gazed into his eyes and said yes again. It grossed out my teenagers and did all of our hearts some good.

We have come a long way in 17 years. I wonder what the next 17 might hold and am thankful that this redhead will be by my side. Choosing him one ~~year~~ day at a time.

Out of this world

Posted on August 27, 2016August 27, 2016 by Tammy

Little Man has his new leg and it literally is out of this world! It fits great, looks cool, and he is walking more than ever. We are so thankful for the folks at Shriners hospital for all they do to help our guy live to his full potential. They bend over backwards to helps us crazy people who live half way around the world and travel in for medical care. We are blessed to have them as our medical team. In their great care for our guy and setting up what he will need next, his doctors let us know that he probably will need another surgery next summer. It shouldn’t be as big of a deal as his bone reduction last summer, but due to his super growth, bone spurs are something we will have to look forward to. We are keeping that in the back of our minds, and thinking that we may have another summer stateside in the near future.

Once Little Man was running on a new leg we were able to check a few other things off our to do list this summer. Dental appointments down. Eye exams and new glasses. Soccer Dude’s follow-up and a minor outpatient surgery is done. Lots of grilling, a bit of camping. Many lovely visits with friends and family in the memory books. Another year of homeschool supplies loaded into suitcases. The grand finale was two days of travel. We are now home and can I just say….there is nothing like sleeping in my own bed!

It has been a busy summer! Now we are ready to settle back into our day to day lives. We are taking the next week to rest and get over jet lag then we will start at it again. Hubby can’t rest for to long – He has a trip scheduled for Thursday to look at the new campus in our city. His university is moving! It might prove to be a crazy fall with many new twists and turns as the university gets settled in their new location. We will keep you posted as it develops.

Thanks for lifting us up this summer. We are so blessed to have the support of so many! Blessed.

Breaking News. 4 +1 = 5

Posted on July 23, 2016 by Tammy

We have news. News that probably won’t surprise any of you, but news that might be shocking all the same.

I have gone over and over how to write this blog post – sharing our decision. Some cute photo perhaps? A snappy saying? In truth, this long-in-coming decision can’t be summed up in a cute phrase or a witty blog post. So, I will just blurt it out.

We are going to adopt again.

Yup. Five kids.

It is kinda crazy. We know it.

Something that is even more crazy? Children are growing up without parents. I know them. They are my students. Often, my students will plead with me, asking me if I would please adopt them. I really don’t think I can explain how my heart hurts for each of those kids who long for a family of their own. It is so very hard to say, “No.”

You see, when you teach at an orphanage…you face the need. There are not enough families and there are so many amazing kids waiting, hoping, praying. We can’t adopt them all. But, we feel that by God’s grace we are able to be the family for one more. We will grieve that we just can’t care for them all, but we will do all we can for one. We know we are able to love and care for one more.

We are facing the need I see on a daily basis and choosing to do what we can. The true crazy part…we will be blessed for it. I know that is truth. As a result of our two adopted kids, my life is so much fuller, brighter, happier, and filled with more slobbery cheek kisses. As a dear friend of mine (who has adopted 8 times!) once said, “We are just gluttons for blessing.” Amen.

I never set out to have a large family, though my high school Sunday school teacher might argue otherwise. I did once say I wanted 13 children and a station wagon. No husband. I am so thankful God hasn’t made all of that a reality.

There are moments – like today when we were shopping for jeans for our current four children and it took two extra strength tylenol, a half a gallon of sweet tea and the entire afternoon to get the job done, I wonder what kind of crazy woman I am. And when I think about adding another child to the mix for next year, well, sanity may be a bit overrated. Just keepin’ it real.

Then there are moments – like holding a small hand, reading a book, snuggling in bed, saying evening prayers, playing ping pong, and talking about the joys and pains of growing up – so many moments that I will not trade for anything.

We have never regretted adding any of our four kiddos to our family. We won’t regret #5. And at the end of our lives, we won’t look back and regret providing a home and a family for one more kiddo – even if it means stress and craziness and pressure in the short run.

I can’t wait to look #5 in the face and say, “Yes!” I can’t wait to tell them, ” We are now your family. No matter what life throws at you we will all be in your corner, walking with you, cheering for you, grieving with you. We are yours, and you are ours.” Oh, what a moment that will be!

So, we would really appreciate you praying for our family as we step out in faith to adopt again. We have just completed our home study and we are facing much more paperwork and a lot of fees. Please pray for God’s provision and strength as we wait, as well as His will as we seek being matched with the child He has for us. We will keep you posted as God unfolds another story of His miracles and grace in our family.

that is a wrap.

Posted on June 4, 2016June 4, 2016 by Tammy

The day that seemed so far away last August….it has arrived. We have wrapped up our school year and celebrated with some of our favorite Chinese food, hot pot. We survived. Another year of homeschooling in the books and I do believe that we all are a bit smarter. At least, I am smarter. That is something to celebrate! (My 5th time through Kindergarten was the charm. I think I might have passed this time!)

Here is a peek at what we accomplished and how much our kiddos have grown.

Little Man: Our Kindergarten graduate (kinda)

Age: 5

We started Kindergarten with this kiddo because he was dying to do school with the other kids and frankly we homeschool so we have the freedom to start when the kids want to learn. Another layer of honesty, he is a busy kid. Giving him things to learn keeps him busy with the rest of us. Win. Win. Now – what to do next fall? My grand plan had been two years of Kindergarten, then he informed me that he had passed kindergarten and sure hoped 1st grade would be more of a challenge. HA! Now, if he could just learn to sit still in a chair. Hmmm.

Favorite subject: Geography. This kid knows crazy facts about the States and can put together a State puzzle faster than I can. Need to know a capital or in what order a State entered the union? Ask Little Man. I am not joking.

What he wants to be when he grows up: A baker or a dragon trainer.

Favorite food: Noodles

Biggest accomplishment: He is well on his way toward reading and knows his basic math facts. He claims knowing how to add and subtract is not an accomplishment – “You just use your fingers. Everyone knows that.”

Little Monkey: Our 3rd Grade Graduate

Age: 9

Favorite subject: Reading and art. Little Monkey also added piano to her list of studies this year. She is whizzing through the first book, but isn’t so sure about playing in front of people for the recital coming in a few weeks.

What she wants to be when she grows up: A baker or a teacher (Not sure what is up with my kids all wanting to bake. I told them I would hire them now!)

Favorite food: Rice

Biggest accomplishment: Learning to read music and completing a special science course that she chose. If I was giving out end of the year awards, “most diligent” would be hers. She is so good about staying focused, going down her list of daily work. She is becoming more and more independent in her work. Maybe that is what I should have put for biggest accomplishment; she is growing in confidence and character.

Roo: Our 6th Grade Graduate

Age: 12

Of all of our children, Roo loves homeschooling the most. I often find her sitting in a corner of her room working away on a school assignment with headphones tuning out the rest of the world.

Favorite subject: Art and piano

Biggest accomplishment: Roo has learned how to use iMovie and is using this new platform to extend her creativity. Many afternoons, you will find her along with her two best friends dressing up for roles in the latest film they are producing. She might be creative, but she also is rock’n sentence diagraming. She can tell you the difference between an IO, DO, OPN and PN faster than any kid I know. Helps to have a daddy who is a whiz at languages. (Have I mentioned that my kids are smarter than I am? Makes homeschooling more and more challenging!)

What she wants to be when she grows up: An artist, film maker, or a beautician.

Favorite food: Broccoli soup and French bread

Soccer Dude: Our 8th grade graduate

Age: 14

This kid will be in High School this fall. What?!# He started his school career going to a Chinese emersion preschool in Michigan. It seems like yesterday…kinda. We have all come a long way since then.

Favorite subject: History

Biggest accomplishment: Surviving online classes with North Star Academy. He took two online classes this year – Math and Language Arts. It was a huge learning curve, but by the end of the year we were getting in the swing of things. We are leaning towards him taking a full course load at NSA next year. It has its pros and cons, for sure, but they offer classes he wants like Latin and advanced science classes.

What I love about homeschooling at this age…the great conversations. There is nothing like sitting down with your teen and hearing their perspective on what went wrong during the Civil War. I love hearing his passion for equality, human rights and what he would do differently if he were in leadership. Add that to his volunteer work with the disabled children at the orphanage….he is going to be a world changer. Okay, I am a proud mom. A proud mom who is struggling thru the teen years, but seeing the beauty of them too.

Favorite food: Coke and candy (Keep’n it real, folks!)

What he wants to be when he grows up: He isn’t sure. Actually, that helps this momma’s heart. He might be entering High School in the fall, but he isn’t ready to launch into the world yet. We still have some time!

Homeschooling four kids at once. Check. Makes me think I can handle five. Just say’n.

Just what the doctor ordered

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Tammy

When you live in a city of 1.5 million people, a day in the forest is a much needed break, especially for Hubby and I. We both grew up country. Although I am not sure I could ever really fit back into rural farm life, at times my heart needs a hike in the woods, mud on my shoes, and the sound of birds rather than cars.

This week was “Sports Week” at the university. It is a week of track and field activities and no classes. The Chinese teachers must participate. They let the foreign teachers off the hook. So, Hubby had the week off. We used the break to rent a driver to take us out of the city for the day. Hiking and a picnic were good for our souls.

This is one of the first times we have hiked with Little Man not riding on my back. Keep in mind that his prosthetic doesn’t have an ankle joint. (Once he is older and we don’t live in a remote area, there is an option to make a leg with a moveable ankle.) At the beginning of the climb, he told the family, “This is the first time I will climb a mountain.” He picked a walking stick and set his mind to it…and did it. He kept asking if we were climbing Mt. Everest. HA. Someday Little Man, someday. He really is a wonder and I don’t doubt that he could climb Everest if he decided to.

Little Man’s favorite part of the day was conquering the mountain, but my favorite was find a clearing with a stream. We sat and rested while the kids played with sticks, dug in the mud, and got wet. A perfect afternoon in my book.

I am so thankful for God’s creation and His provision of a day off when it is needed most.

Ending the post with a few bonus pictures of the kids for Nana. They sure have grown. Probably was all the fresh country air.

Saying Goodbye

Posted on April 16, 2016April 17, 2016 by Tammy

There was a well worn path in the dirt road from our house to my grandmother’s two bedroom home. I could make it there on my purple bike with the plastic streamers coming out of the handle bars in five minutes flat if the red-winged black birds in the oak tree at the corner didn’t take me out. Grandma knew I was scared of those birds. I told her everything.

On one of my visits, she proudly pulled out a large pinwheel. I was confused when I first saw it. Then she told me I should hold it over my head as I rode to her house. The pinwheel whistled as I rode my bike and scared those stupid birds. Nothing would keep us from our afternoon visits.

I’m not really sure how we filled all of the hours we spent together.

She helped me with my homework. I always was up for a ride to “the city” to help her buy groceries. We ate red licorice together and painted our nails….always with clear polish. I watched hours of Gospel Sing TV with her, and she attended every band concert, play, and art show. She taught me to drive and took me on my first airplane ride to visit the cousins in Florida. When I was all grown up and traveling on my own, she wrote to me weekly on her old typewriter and mailed me phone cards.

When I was a self-conscious middle schooler, she taught me to sew. She had this way of making me feel like the most talented kid while at the same time telling me truth without sugar coating. Her words still ring in my ears: “You don’t have to be perfect. It will all iron out.” What seemed like a lesson in stitching a seam on my latest 4-H project, really was so much more. She knew me and my struggles.

This week, I lost part of my heart. Alzheimers (what I now call the cruelest of all diseases) has slowly been stealing her from me. Robbing us of any new memories. But, I guess I am still the little girl on that purple bike….hoping to race faster than the black birds. Every time I was able to sit next to her on the couch in her nursing home, I was hoping for one more moment. We had always been good at sitting together and not doing to much. I could take in her smell, feel her presence, and pretend we were just watching the Gaithers together.

Even that is now gone.

I have gone back and forth about writing this blog post. I usually save this space for stories about living and teaching cross-culturally and how that affects raising my family. I wasn’t sure if writing about the death of my grandmother fit that.

This week, as I have cried over her death, the miles between my childhood home and Asia have felt even longer. I wanted to stand at her graveside. I wanted to cry with my family, who would understand why I am 40 but a weeping mess over losing my grandmother friend.

But, it is even more than that.

Some of my tears this week are over my mother and my own children. I am crying because my kids can’t ride their bikes down the road and eat licorice with a grandparent who loves them with extravagance. In my grief, I question the stolen moments that might shape my own children.

Living cross-culturally, it is what we are called to, but man, sometimes the cost is high. I want to write and say it is all worth it. But, honestly, I am not sure if I will ever know if it is or not.

What is worth something…following Jesus and trusting him with my heart. I guess that means I should trust him with the heart of my kiddos and be thankful for video chats. So much easier to write that then to truly live it out.

Years ago, Dr. Kinlaw gave a sermon at a summer camp that included a story of a young single woman who was living cross-culturally. She was asked if she was scared of living so far from home in a strange land by herself. Her response. “I am more scared of NOT living where God wants me to be.” I can’t remember the rest of that sermon. Actually, I am pretty proud of myself for remembering anything from 20 years ago! Funny, the things that come to mind as you are grieving. The simple answer that young woman gave….I want it to be my answer as well. With all my heart, I want to be where God calls us.

Lord, help me in my weakness. Help me when the days are hard and my tears fall in abundance.

Often, when I sat next to Grandma at church, tears would gently slip from one eye. She joked with me that she had a leaky eye and not to worry. The one time I really remember seeing Grandma cry was when she said good-bye to me as I was leaving for college. She sobbed – deep heart wrenching cries as we hugged in the driveway.

Now, I am the one sobbing as I have to say good-bye to her. There are no promises about Christmas and spring breaks….but I am thankful to know there is the promise of eternity.

Twists and turns along the road

Posted on April 2, 2016April 2, 2016 by Tammy

Pizza and catching up with an old friend – two rare treats that came my way last week. This friend, although absent from my daily life for years, has made significant impact on my life. Just been pondering where I would have been. Just been walking down memory lane.

7 years ago (Could it have really been that long?) we were in the throws of adoption paperwork for our little Monkey. The process was taking so very long. We watched other families get approval and travel to their sweet babies while we waited…and waited…and waited. At the same time, a natural disaster had struck in the part of China where little Monkey was living. It was heart breaking, excruciating, mind numbing…and then some.

I remember venting all my woes to my dear friend over dinner in our home. She was the special education director at the orphanage in our city. She challenged me. “Do something while you wait. It will make it easier.” That is where it started.

As I waited for little Monkey, I taught one art class once a week. One class of 8 students. I thought it would keep me busy and give me something to do rather than check my email like a crazy woman, hoping for news about our adoption. Instead, the children in my class helped heal my broken heart; they taught me to serve and to love in a way I didn’t know was possible. It amazes me.

Our journey to adopt had begun as a seed in my heart as a college student. Hubby and I knew it would be a part of our family story from the beginning. What we didn’t know – that adoption would take us on a heart journey that didn’t end with our youngest two children. Our hearts and eyes were open to the world of orphans, children with special needs and we would be forever changed.

I shake my head and laugh as I look back on those times, 7 long short years ago. I thought it was about waiting for our daughter, Little Monkey, to join our family. It wasn’t about the wait at all. I was learning about the Father’s heart.

This was a pretty big twist in my life story. I had no idea the joy my heart would glean from painting with a child suffering with Cerebral Palsy. The surprise was mine when I learned to communicate with a non-verbal pre-schooler with Downs Syndrome. I didn’t know the peace that would wash over me while holding the hand of a child with Autism. I have learned that every life has value and my life is deeper when I see God’s image in each one of His children. Pretty big stuff. It has shaped me.

The twists and turns that my journey with Jesus has taken – they take my breath away. It is easy to see how He was leading my heart as I look back. It gives me courage for the future. I am so sure that there are more bends in the road. He is leading us down a path and we can’t see the end. I want to trust Him. The lessons He has for me to learn…they are good. The road He is taking me down…will make me better. Even when I don’t understand the bends in the path, He is good. He is leading.

Recently, I was asked to share at a conference about how and why I work and live where I do. I laughed at the request. Seriously, I am the last person that should be inspiring others on knowing where God is calling them. As I prepped that talk with honest words of ending up in a place that I didn’t expect, I was reminded again that my story with its bends twists and turns probably isn’t that unique. When we make our own plan…it is just that…ours. He has so much more for us than we ever could hope or dream for. I am living His dream.

I was so desperate 7 years ago. I wanted my waiting to be over, to hold my precious daughter in my arms. What joy to look back and see how God used that time of waiting for so much more. In this season, I wonder again. What will I see with such clarity 7 years from now.

Trusting Him in the journey. Taking one bend in the road at a time.