6 months ago I was walking into a store in Pigeon Forge on the annual family trip we take with Will’s family. My phone rang and I looked to see our agency was calling. I guess my mother-in-law saw the look on my face as I dropped the shoes I was looking at and walked out the door. In less than 5 minutes I was crying and trying to get a hold of Will… it was THE CALL! We had a little girl in Poland in need of a family. Needless to say, my shopping ended that day and Will quickly came and picked me up. We couldn’t get to the computer fast enough to pull up the email with Reese’s referral information and pictures. 5 months ago today, I was leaving a little girl behind in Poland that stole our hearts from the 1st pictures we saw. It’s been a crazy half year since that. When I get my hands on our little girl, I never want to let go again.
So let me catch you up on some stuff… first, Reese’s orphanage director resigned back in March. We found this out through the grapevine. We knew a new director had been appointed and honestly figured this wouldn’t back us up too much. Well it has. Everything had to go to court again since there was a new director and therefore a new guardian over the kids. Then we got the horrible news that the old director passed away on May 2nd. We are unsure what happened but feel the most logical explanation is she was terminally ill and that is the reason she resigned in March. Her name was Bernadetta and we had the pleasure of meeting her on our 1st trip. She didn’t speak English but words weren’t needed to see how much she loved Reese and how Reese loved her. We received pictures after a surgery Reese had to have where Bernadetta went to visit her in the hospital to hold and love on her when no one else would and since we couldn’t. For the love she showed our daughter, we will always be thankful for. Reese will always know about Bernadetta and the angel she is who is now watching over her in heaven.
Despite the sad phone call we received, God didn’t leave us feeling discouraged. This is going to get lengthy but hang in there… you have to read this!! So a few weeks ago, a lady contacted my sister wanting to give a donation to our adoption. (we haven’t had a fundraiser or donation in quite some time and need $10,000 to travel on our last trip) On the 4th, I actually talked to this person and we decided to meet on the 9th. Then on Wednesday the 7th, I got a phone call from Show Hope (a grant agency that we applied to). I was working so they left a message that they had a question about our application. This was at 10:30 am… I put my phone in my pocket just in case they called back. I NEVER have my phone on me at work. Soon after this, I got a text from my sister that yet another person she knows through her horse business contacted her wanting to give a donation. Then at 1:30, I got a phone call. I figured it was Show Hope but I saw it was our agency and quickly answered. They received more paperwork for us to sign! It was a court petition of some sort that we didn’t know we would need but the good news is that it finally came. I was a little worried because I knew our notary (ha! I like how I say “our notary”) wouldn’t be a church that night and Will wouldn’t be off in time to meet me at the bank. My patient at the time asked me what happened and I told her. She quickly said that she could notarize everything and even offered for us to come to her house to do it after Will was off work. How cool is that? God planned for her to be in the clinic at that time! But wait, it gets better… so while I’m finishing up with this patient, Lindsey must have been emailing me because I got this at lunch. Listen to what she says…
“There is
something going on behind the scenes that you don't know about. God is moving,
especially with these financial provisions. I think you'll hear something soon
and I bet you will travel in June. He's putting things in to place, and in my
experience He doesn't do things ahead of time, He waits until the last minute
so we know it is Him. I LOVE THIS!”
I, of course, called her to tell her that paperwork came in today which she didn’t even know about before she sent that email. Crazy, huh? Well, the day continues to get better because at 3:30 that day Show Hope called back! They explained that last year they partnered with the Tim Tebow foundation who is now supporting 4 adoptions with medical needs a month. It just so happens that his foundation reviewed our application and gave us an $8000.00 grant! $8000 people!! Did you read where I said we needed $10,000 to have our travel paid for? OH MY GOODNESS! And let me quickly tell you that from the couple people who wanted to donate we ended up with $9000.00 in 2 DAYS and we don’t even know (we know of, but don't really know) these people who gave this to us! There is absolutely no explanation for this other than the Lord. I love Him and not just because He is preparing us to travel financially but because He made things happen this past week to show me that He hasn’t forgotten about me and Will, Reese, or this adoption. He allowed me to feel His presence... something I have needed lately.
A friend posted the following verse on Facebook while all this was going on... it sums everything up perfectly!
“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.”
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.”
Habakkuk 1:5
