Each Story: Unique

Growing up, I don't think I can recall a single friend who was "touched" by adoption.  I don't know if that is because being adopted was less talked about or if I just lived an extremely sheltered life.  I don't think I ever thought I'd become an adoptive parent.  I know if you had told me that someday I would be adopting a teenage girl and her two younger twin siblings that I would have replied that you "are COMPLETELY off your rocker!".   It wasn't on my radar, my heart or even anywhere in my mind.

Here I am.  Sometime, in the near future, I hope to accomplish what I was unable to once imagine. And it is sweeter than anything to me.  I love these kids and I cannot picture my life without them. (Hold on a sec and I wipe these tears from my eyes).

I am blessed.  I am amazed by the how all the pieces came together to get me where I am in this very moment.  It's taken what seems to be forever, but not for once did God forsake me. We have had so many challenges, so many valleys.  God has helped our family overcome those.  He gently leads us to the promised land because He is faithful and He loves.

Since I've begun this journey, I've been touched by so many others who have been touched themselves by adoption or foster care. It's to them that I really dedicate today's blog to.  I was able to meet a few wonderful ladies who grew up to have families of their own.  Unless you got the opportunity to know them, you might not know they were ever in foster care.  They have given me a certain hope about growing up and finding a happiness and relationship in Christ after being in foster care. I continue to meet people who themselves have been adopted. It's heartwarming how they talk about their forever family and what they mean to them.

I've also known families who have gone through the process of adopting.  There have been families that I know that have adopted through the foster system and others who have gone through international adoption. They have experienced their own set of trails and challenges. What has been so inspirational to me is that every story is so UNIQUE. No story has the same challenges.  No story has the same outcomes.  No problem has been resolved the same way.  God moves in different ways for us all.  What is common in the stories, is how God is faithful.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1

Here are two great blogs from families I know.  Their stories are different than mine, their stories are unique.

Here is Amy's story:
http://www.alongway2go.com/2013/07/the-first-time-ever-i-saw-her-face.html

Here is Heidi's update:
http://www.ajsawesomeadventure.blogspot.com/2013/07/whats-word-bird.html

As you can see, it's much different then our story. But what is amazing to me is watching how God is moving in their story.  To see His faithfulness and how He provides.  I am amazed by Him and how He loves to have such magnificent plans for us. Plans that our human brains might not have even considered for ourselves but only through God planting a seed in us.  But for that seed to come to fruition, we must say "yes, Lord".

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