Distractions, Delays and Detours

During my mission trip in October 2010 to Ecuador, one of my trip mates encouraged me with some very simple words "It's just a distraction".  My wonderful friend Mia would tell me over and over how it was just a distraction from the enemy to take my focus off of God and on to my trouble.  Mia was so right, the enemy tried to use the security checks in New York, the carry on "attendant" in New York and fear to steal my joy and excitement (and that was all before we even hit foreign soil).  Mia so softly and sternly reminded me that it was just a distraction and not a problem.  I just had to look upwards to the Big God I serve, look away from the enemy's attack, breathe and go onto the next moment.  Everything worked out just fine and we even laughed about it all later.  God turned my little distraction in a wonderful growth experience and best of all - into wonderful memories.

 Our Ecuador Mission Team!!!

As a God fearing Christian will tell you, any time that you are walking in God's will the enemy will do everything in his power to detour you from God's Plan. This is what we have been experiencing with the adoption process.  Distraction #1 - Our Home Study (the 1st real big step in this whole process) has been delayed by more than 4 weeks waiting for the Psychological Report.  Distractions #2 - I had an additional statement to complete regarding some of my life history.  Distractions #3 - Due to distraction #1, Josh's 18th birthday has arrived so he needed to go through an additional Home Study interview because he is an adult now (by the way - he told me he wants to go back a year and just be 17 again - hehehe).  Distraction #4 - Because Josh is now 18 and living in our house, we need to have background checks completed.  That's a lot of distractions that are causing big delays.  With the delays comes discouragement which leads to disappointment (how many more "d" words can I use??).  While these hiccups in the road are not enjoyable, they cannot and should not pull us away from the blessings of God's plan.  And even though it doesn't feel like it at times, the journey is just as important as the destination with many blessings of it's own.  I don't think we want to skip those blessings just because we are impatient.

No one ever said this process would be easy and no one ever said that it would go exactly as planned.  However, I secretly believe it would all be smooth and perfect.  And why would it not?  Aren't I the exception to the rule?  We are special - right??  Haha - yes I just have to laugh at myself for thinking that some how, magically, this entire process would just be a piece of cake and in record time I would be flying half way around the world to get the newest member(s) to the Wilson Clan.  I just crack myself up at how silly and unrealistic I can be with certain things.  I serve a Mighty God and with God it would all be possible.  However, I just don't think that is the plan He has for us - even though it's the plan I want.  There is still so much we need to learn about this process and so much we still need to prepare for - of that I am sure.  It does not make it any easier to wait but it is a comfort to know that my Heavenly Father has it all under control.  Even though I am feeling distracted - God will not being detoured or delayed.

For His Glory,
  Chris 

Happy Birthday

Well today we celebrate 2 big events - Brian's 40 something birthday and Josh's 18th birthday.

So hard to believe that 18 years have gone by already.  Where does the time go??  It seems like just yesterday we were coming home from the hospital with our little 6lb 2oz bundle of joy and trying to figure out "what now".  I remember, we brought him home in his little car seat, sat him on the floor of the living room and then we look at each other and said "Now what do we do?".

Now 18 years later, we are once again wondering "what's next".  Josh is playing football for the first time since 4th grade, he is preparing for his Senior year of High School, we are filling out college applications and soon College Financial paperwork.

Also - now that Josh is 18 and our adoption Home Study is not yet filed, we will need to do some additions to our Home Study and Josh will need to have some background checks completed.  We will also need to complete a special form for the US Citizenship thing and he'll have to be fingerprinted along with Brian and me.  Our adoption agency said they hated to tell us about this extra paperwork that would now be needed as they know how anxious we have been to get the Home Study completed.  All in God's timing!!!

Eventually it will all get done but I think that 2012-2013 is going to be a big year of firsts for our family.

Once again - a great big Happy Birthday to two very special guys in my life.  As Brian says, "He got the best birthday present - that keeps on giving - wait taking".

For His Glory,
  Chris