• More Good News

    Date: 2013.03.16 | Category: Elijah | Tags:

    All this year, we have been watching  things progress and seeing God’s hand in every single thing along the way.  If Elijah’s papers would have gone through right away, we would have been unable to try to adopt Min or at least assumed we couldn’t get her.  Instead things have led us to where we are – trying and praying for a miracle, to get four children at the same time.  All along the way, God has provided for us.  When I would get another statement and wonder how we were going to pay for it, the money would come – another speaking engagement for Dan, a refund that we weren’t expecting, etc.  I have been completely and utterly amazed this whole year.  I feel so undeserving and yet God has provided over and over again.

    Well, today was another one of those miracle times.  Just for a recap, we will hear, hopefully next week, on whether we get to get Eli on this trip too.   If it is approved, it will add another orphanage fee which is over $5,000, not a small bit of change. I have to admit to worrying and then confessing my worry over and over again.  I know God provides and in ways I can’t even imagine, but the very human part of me wants to be in control.  I want it all nicely detailed on an Excel spreadsheet so I know exactly what I’m going to have to pay, when it will be due and where the money is magically going to appear from.  Adding Eli to this trip, will add more travel costs because we will take Dan’s mom with us and we will need a second hotel room throughout our stay.  I’m pretty sure Dan and I will need help traveling with three toddlers and a teenager in a wheelchair.  We’re pretty good at juggling, but that might be just a little out of our comfort zone halfway around the world, with children who are adjusting to their new lives, and us being sleep deprived.

    Anyway, back to the extra special good news.  We went shopping for our spring break staycation with my mom and Dan’s mom.  We had a great day shopping for clothes for the girl’s new sisters.  We came home and got the mail.  In the mail was a check from the University of Iowa.  Not really a big deal, we sometimes get checks from the U of I because Dan does talks for them every once in a while.  I figured they had just forgot to pay him for one that he did a while ago…..BUT NO!!!!!    This check was big enough to cover Eli’s orphanage fees.  Yes, yes, you did hear that right.  Where did this check come from you might ask?  Well, it was for overpaid FICA when Dan was doing his residency, chief’s year, and fellowship way back in 1995-2001.  Supposedly the University and the government have been fighting over this issue all these years and today is the day I get the check.  HOW ABSOLUTELY AMAZING IS THAT?!?!?

    Yes, I am excited.  Yes, I am standing in awe of a God that knows every hair on my head and cares what would happen in my life.  The money would have been useful back then but now it is blessing that goes beyond measure.   I can hardly wrap my head around what it would take for God to have this plan in place.  Yes, I know I’m putting human limitations on Him.  I know there are those that will say this is just a nice coincidence, but I believe with all my heart that God’s plan is perfect and He always provides for us, sometimes in ways we can’t even imagine.  It just blows my mind, brings tears to my eyes and a humbleness to my heart.  Bless the Lord, O my soul!  Or as Gracie says, “Today has been a hallelujah kind of day for sure, mama!”   Yep, that about says it all!