"Beshert"

Beshert is a Jewish word that means "fated" or "destined". My Jewish friend, Penny, told me last Thursday that this word describes the adoption of our future children. I agree, and I have thought about that conversation several times this weekend.

Thanks to all of you who continue to pray with us. Please pray earnestly that God's will might be accomplished tomorrow. The decision regarding our ability to go forward with the partnering agency will be made sometime tomorrow. We desperately want our children home soon, and we are praying that this will be yet another obstacle that God removes from our path. At the same time, we know that He has led through this past year of waiting and working toward this adoption, and we will accept whatever decision is made with the peace of knowing that He is in control and will guide us on.

Karl's mission that was to leave tomorrow has been cancelled, so he is now scheduled for a week of annual training that will keep him home for at least a few more days. If the agency does waive their birth-order policy for us, this will make us both available for the agency and to put together any paperwork that needs signatures. If not, it will allow us to regroup together. Either way, I see it as a good thing, even though Karl would certainly like to have flown. Again....God has His plan.

It seemed as if the theme of today's worship was meant just for us. It was about endurance and persevering through those times in life where the pressures and trials make us want to quit. Not that Karl and I wanted to quit on our children. We committed ourselves to them and to God's call, and quitting is not an option, but I'd be lying if I said we never wondered what on earth we're doing sometimes. We have no question about the kids or about adoption, but it is definitely not an easy way to build a family, at least not Russian adoption.

Mom made the comment last week that I had to write a book about our experiences when it was all over, and I told her that I couldn't do that because no one who read it would ever consider adoption again. I was half-joking, and I actually plan to write about this faith journey eventually, but it isn't a neat little story in a pretty little package. But you know, none of our lives are. That is why we each of us is a little miracle story....thanks to the grace of God.

Two of the songs we sang in worship today, "Who Am I?" by Casting Crowns and "Walk By Faith" by Jeremy Camp were especially meaningful to me. I encourage you to take a moment to listen to them, especially if you don't already know them. I will post them shortly. God's blessings on you all...