We've been busy celebrating the season ... the season our Savior was Born.
We've decorated our Christmas tree.
We've done some reading
Whew! Christmas treats and Apple Cider make Christmas fun.
...and all the treats and celebrating are wearing on this little Princess!
I'm so thankful for the gift of family at Christmas! We are blessed.
This is my Grandma and Hannah. It is a blessing to be able to spend Christmas with all of our family. This Christmas my heart smiles as I think about the blessing it is to spend Christmas with my Grandma and Grandpa.
Grandpa sang while "santa" was visiting us. I love listening to my Grandpa sing. My grandpa's winter project is putting together puzzles. This year, grandma and grandpa had a puzzle that my grandpa put together framed for each of their 11 great grandchildren. What an awesome memory for us and for our kids.
As we are pondering the birth of Jesus and holding Him in our hearts I can't but help ponder when we will be able to hold our little one and welcome him or her to our celebration.
I had a wise friend tell me why they adopted from Ethiopia. Her answer when asked why Ethiopia ... "because our son was in Ethiopia."
One of our children is in Ethiopia too. Right now. We can't wait to til we can meet our little one. Check out this video. (You can turn off the music on the bottom of the page)
The thought of "room or no room" has been drifting in and out of my mind these days. Partly, because it is the Christmas season. Part of Jesus's birth in the Christmas story is the Inn keeper telling Mary and Joseph that there is "no room" for them to stay at the Inn. The Inn Keeper closed the door. But God opened another. Not the door that was perhaps expected but the door that God knew would be open all along.
We were together with some dear friends last night, and Ryan mentioned that we looked at doing foster care many years ago. I remember being really disappointed when we decided that foster care was not for us at that time. It felt like the door closed. It felt like we were saying there is "no room" at this Inn. And, that door did close, but God opened another door. Not only have we been blessed with some beautiful daughters since we sat at our dining room table with the social worker that was explaining to us how foster care worked in our county, but now the door as been opened for us to adopt from Ethiopia. I believe God knew what we could handle and when we could handle it. I'm in awe at how God has been preparing our family to adopt - really for years.
Taking the "room in our Inn" thought to have a much larger meaning, I believe that making room in our Inn could be smiling and encouraging our neighbor. It could be visiting someone that is in a nursing home. It could be adopting or doing foster care. It could be doing some sort of respite care for a friend or supporting another parent having a difficult time with a child. How about sponsoring a child across the ocean or mentoring a child in our local school district. What about sitting with someone who is dying, comforting them. There are so many things that are open doors to be the hands and feet of Jesus if we have our hearts and eyes open to see the doors God has opened before us.
So, as I ponder the thought of "room or no room", I am so thankful that God is in charge of all the details. I'm so thankful that God always opens that doors that should be open. And, I pray that I keep the door open for what God has planned because I really don't want to miss out on the exciting adventures He has for me - for my family.
Ryan and I watched this video last night together. It spoke to our hearts and thought I'd share it with you. As we think about "room or no room" - I pray we keep in mind the faces that are behind the reason we need to walk through open doors and find room in our Inns. I am not in any way suggesting adoption is for everyone - but I do believe as Christians we all play a part in caring for each other - in whatever way that looks for each individual person. Let's together find "room in our Inns".
Advent. The season that Christians all around the world are in a "waiting" period of time. A season of preparation for the coming celebration of our Saviors birth. Waiting to celebrate His arrival and what that means to us.
I looked up the definition of "wait". One definition was:to stay in place in expectation of.Another was:to be ready and available. Another said:to remain stationary in readiness or expectation.
There is such joy in waiting for Christmas. All the traditions that are done like making lefsa and Christmas cookies, putting up the Christmas tree and making Christmas presents. Thinking about all the time that will be set aside to gather with all our extended family. And, what about getting cozy in front of the fire watching our favorite Christmas movies. Such Joy! It is my prayer that as all those things are happening, that I remember that it is all in honor of the One who came to this earth as a babe - the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ that we are celebrating.
This year, as we "cozy" up in front of the fireplace sipping hot coffee my mind can not help but go to the millions of orphans around the world. Those here in America - those in Haiti, Africa, China, the Ukraine - and all around the world.
My mind wonders to where our little one is. Where will he or she spend this Christmas? Maybe with birth family and if that is the case it may be the last Christmas that is spent with birth family. That makes me sad. Or, maybe Christmas is spent in an orphanage as his or her heart is wondering what is next. Maybe our little one will be in an entirely different place or situation that I can even dream up. Never the less, my heart is with our little one - and the millions of orphans around this world that are hurting and alone. My heart breaks for birth mothers and birth families who are agonizing over hard decisions that they are having to face.
So, as I stay in place in expectation of celebrating my Saviors birth I will remain stationary in readiness to to listen to His call and go where he sends me. My heart longsto be ready and available. And, I wait in the hope and pray that He sends us to Ethiopia soon to unite with our babe He has there for us.
