Angels in our midst

I continue to be in awe of how greatly God works in our lives when we just get out of the way. Things we cannot possibly comprehend, He already has all figured out. In Matthew 10:39 it is said that “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,” and it is so true. We find our life, our true purpose, only when we completely abandon ourselves to His will. When He called us to adopt, all we knew was that He called us to adopt :) We really didn't know how this was going to work, if we would be approved, how exactly we were going to pay for all of it... etc. etc. etc. But we knew that He made His will very clear, and we had already found our life in giving it to Him. So, we trust, as He tells us over and over again in Scripture. God will provide, Do not worry, If you can care for your children how much better will He care of us.. etc. etc. This last few weeks was really our first opportunity to try to work to raise some extra money for this adoption. Prior to that we were so busy paper chasing and working at getting on the waiting list as fast as possible (our child is waiting for us!!!) that concerns of our own money was kind of a lesser focus. And even in those months God provided in so many unexpected ways. As many of you know we just did our first real fundraiser, a garage sale. And, while of course a garage sale does not a full adoption pay, we were abundantly blessed and have a great start towards our next big adoption bill. But our blessings were not just financial. In fact, for me, the blessing was even more in being able to see that there are literally angels in our midst. We are surrounded by them!! And God has hands and feet, and hearts and mouths speaking His words ALL over the place!! A very wise priest once told me “we are already in heaven, if we only had eyes to see.” And I have found that as we “lose our life for His sake” we start to see the heaven that we are already in. It is amazing to me... I stand in awe, of the truly selfless people that went out of their way to help us with this. Donations came out of the woodwork, people did whatever they could to promote our sale, or help us at the sale, so many people came and many donated just to GIVE, and left with nothing, but a smile on their face. This is so inspiring to me. Thank you all so much for letting Christ shine through you and your generous hearts. Know that you have encouraged us more than you know, and everything you did to help us will be multiplied, because in His hands He can feed 5000 with 2 loafs and 5 fish. And know that when this little child, finally sets his/her feet on American soil in the arms of parents who will love them forever, that you played a part in making that happen. Know that there is a child, that otherwise, might never know what it is like to be read a bedtime story, or have sisters and brother that are truly their own, and a mom and dad, and food and everything they will need to just LIVE, and you played a part in making that happen. And also know that without your selflessness there isn't a guarantee that it would be possible. God provides in many ways, you are one of them. So please do not feel that we are the ones doing this amazing thing. We are all doing what it is God called us to do to care for His children. We are so truly blessed, God bless you all and we are thanking Him for you and praying daily for all of the angels in our midst.  

Countdown Continues....

THE WALKERS ARE NUMBER:

 

PRAISE GOD!!  PLEASE KEEP THE PRAYERS COMING THAT REFERRALS KEEP UP AT A FAST RATE AND THE PROCESS CONTINUES TO MOVE SMOOTHLY!!

Thank  You!!!!!  God Bless!!!

This is what happens when I clean!

I've been cleaning my attic and house trying to find as many things as possible for our garage sale (Fri June 29 and Sat June 30... mark your calendars and start spreading the word!!!). And as I've been doing that and starting to clean out my laundry room and other areas of my house I just stumbled across my third, new in the package, space blanket. And it made me smile. This may not mean much to many of you... but any of you who have joined the Walker family via Youth Ministry and specifically World Youth Day, probably also smiled when then read that. It came to mind how many things like this bring a smile to my face, and its because of the priceless ten years in youth ministry, and four World Youth Day pilgrimages that I am graced with so many humorous thoughts and my thinking is marked for life in certain unique ways.. As I sat looking at the space blanket for a few moments I thought of a few... and thought I'd share...

Space Blankets – packed for every WYD to help keep warm when sleeping outside. So, of course seeing one instantly brings me to the two WYD's spent sleeping in VERY cold conditions.... but also, of their additional, unadvertised, purpose, of 'shelter from a CRAZY storm'... and was used for twice, hiding underneath as rain pelted down and crazy winds blew.

Bright t-shirts and accessories – Stumble across an orange bucket hat and remember standing at a restaurant after the adventure of a trip to a German hospital with Michelle wondering if we'll ever find our group again... and 11 orange hats walk right in front of us :) When making shirts and hats... first thought? Can we spot it from a long distance??

Straight black wire – Bent out hanger you think? NOPE.... instantly I see this in my garage, and know “FLAMINGO LEG”!!! Which of course reminds me of two years of flamingo flocking under the dark of night... :)

Cardboard box – EVERY time I see a box bigger than a bread box, I instantly think “I wonder if someone could fit in there and sleep?”

Praise and Worship songs – I often find myself looking around thinking “There are motions to this song!!! Doesn't everyone know that?!”

Sleep – OPTIONAL!! And it doesn't really matter if the sleep we do get is under a tree, on a bus, in a hostel, in a cardboard box, in the dirt/on the pavement... or actually in a hotel!! And I also find that I almost always now keep hotel doors propped during waking hours... because someone “might need to come by”..... and also know that if you DO choose to sleep, pictures MAY be taken of you, and will likely end up all over various forms of multimedia...

Packing – Our attic is adorned with 8 brightly colored backpacks, and newly purchased carry on back packs.... which I now look at and think “I could pack for a 16 day trip in that”

The fundraising skillz – Excel is used to organize youth ministry events and fundraising, yes? I can rattle off with little effort, the costs/profits/work required for any fundraiser from spaghetti dinners, to tigers games, to selling statues to selling pies!!!

The added twist of travelling with a pilgrim family – Every picture/experience has humor and history behind it. We look at pictures of Lourdes for example... and of course I reflect on the Marian procession and the grotto … but not ONCE do I NOT think of Jackie lugging 5 gallons of holy water all over France and Germany following our visit to Lourdes :)

Shoe shopping – Its kind of ingrained in me, when shopping for new tennis shoes, to think “can I walk 5 miles in these?”... even though I don't always need to, I've needed to so many times its almost second nature :)

Waiting for food or anything for that matter – is not a noticeable event any longer. After waiting for hours for slop many times... you kinda learn that its the “journey not the destination” and learn to enjoy your life while waiting :)

IMPOSSIBLE NOT A WORD – If I've learned one thing in this journey through ministry, is that absolutely NOTHING is impossible with God. And you will never hear that word from me :)

There are so many memories, and so many yet to be made on this journey called life :) The memories and lessons are endless, I can only be so thankful for every single “yes” we've given as it has shaped our lives and made them so full!!! And we've collected so many family members along the way :)  And, see... now THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I CLEAN!!! LOL!!