The Journey...Then and Now

It's a rainy Saturday, less than three weeks before Christmas, and I am thinking about our journey to our little Sweetie/s...and the journey another family made many years ago to their little One. The journey was long. It had to be tiring. They left familiarity for not-so-familiar. They weren't sure who they would meet, where they would stay, or how everything was going to work out in that process, either. As a Mom, I think of Mary and how she anticipated seeing the very One she carried in her heart and body...yet so many "details" were incomplete. I think of Joseph and how he must have felt so much responsibility to care for her...and to make the journey to pay taxes...yet anticipated bringing a new Child into their lives all at the same time. I even think about that precious little One...born in one town...but raised elsewhere. And it occured to me that their journey as a family, though different in many ways, also holds strong similarities to the journey our family now experiences. Yet in the middle of uncertain details, timing, and concerns, an amazing and incredible moment took place full of purpose, joy, peace and promise for that dear family...and so many more. And I am reminded that if God can handle all of the details to bring His Son into the world at just the right time, in just the right plan, to just the right people for just the right purpose...I believe He can bring our family together someday, too. He has done so many times before as little babies join their Forever Families. He did it with Joseph, Mary and His own Son. So, there's a precious reminder that He will bring our little Sweetie home to us when it's "just right," too.

Someone asked us recently if the wait is stressful. I didn't have to think twice before saying, "no." The wait IS hard! The wait IS long. The wait is a lesson in patience, trust and peace like we've never known before. But stressful isn't the word we would use. For there is a peace about it all that we've known from the very beginning. When we began this journey, we knew it was in the hands of the very One who prepared our hearts for it for several years before we began. When we began this journey, we knew it was not in our own timing, but in the timing of God, Himself. When we began this journey, we knew that many, many different factors must be considered in order for the process to develop...and deliver our precious baby girl to our family. As overwhelming as that sounds and even feels sometimes, we have entrusted the care, the timing, the plan and the process entirely up to God. Yes, we miss her so much already. Yes, we wish she could be with us this Christmas. Yes, it would be wonderful to send family pictures to loved ones of our entire family this year. But it is even more wonderful to realize that every day brings us closer to the very child God has in store for us. It is a journey...not a sprint. It is a time of trusting, loving and hoping for what remains to be seen. It's a time of anticipation. And just as some of our dear friends who have been down this road before have told us, God's timing is always right. It will all make sense when we hold her in our arms. It is best to allow God to lead us...and not the other way around!

So precious little Sweetie, we miss you. We love you. We are so excited about meeting you sometime soon. But we know that just as a special Mom and Dad waited for their precious Baby Boy long ago, our wait will also be complete in God's very perfect timing. We wouldn't want it any other way. He's holding you in His hands right now. He's also holding us in His hands at the very same time. So if you think about it, we're not really that far apart after all, are we? Hold on, Sweetie. We'll see you someday soon. It will be worth every moment of this incredible journey to you.

May all of you be blessed in your journeys this season and in the coming new year! Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers and love during our Journey of Blessings. We thank God for each of you. Happy Birthday, Jesus...and thank You for the Journey You made to us.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Love & Prayers,
Tim, Terri, Rachel & Micah