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!!

NEED

When I see things like this it really makes me realize how many of the things that we've conditioned ourselves to believing that we "need" really are not needs at all.  How so many of the things that cause us days and hours of worry and fretting really are not things to worry about at all.  It is amazing how our perspective on life, our perspective on the choices we make, and the things we "need" can change so immensely if we turn our eyes from ourselves and look out to the world.  It's not that there is not enough in this world (food, medicine, shelter etc.) its that many of us have way more than we need... and many of us do not have even close to what we need.   Who can fix that?  God has provided already provided enough...   Its up to us to be His hands and feet in the world and do what He intended with the things He provided.  I believe all of us can be hope to the hopeless, in some way.  All of us have some part to play to "heal the world."  Happy Monday :) 

:)

I know there are plenty of people out there that probably think I'm crazy (this is NOT new information! LOL!)  But I am SO incredibly excited when I picture a 5th little one in my army of children.  When I see them play in the backyard and imagine another little one amongst them.... SO FUN!! :)  Its so hard to believe in a few short months we will get to see their face for the first time.  Can't wait for June 1st so that we can see where we've moved on the wait list!!

Also, my sister and I are going to be doing a garage sale in June.  All proceeds will go towards our adoptions.  If you have anything you might be willing to donate we would be so appreciative!  If not, if you are willing to spread the word once we have a date and of course, please, pray for its success!!!  As it turns out, garage sales are a lot of work!! YAY!!!

CAN'T WAIT FOR #5!!! Happy Wednesday!

Invisible Red Thread

There is an ancient Chinese belief which states that when a child is born an invisible red thread connect that child's soul to all those people - present and in the future - who will play a part in that child's life. As each birthday passes, those threads shorten and tighten, bringing closer those people who are fated to be together.

On this Mother's Day, I reflect on this belief... and the invisible red thread in my own life, and all of the people it has connected me to, and how they have helped shape me into the person I am today. And today, I think of the mothers it has connected me to. Of course, the first thought goes to those immediately closest.. the ones I was knit to from the beginning. My own mom, probably never realized that by letting me take in every homeless and sick animal and care for it, that allowing those things in me to be nurtured and grow would lead me to have a desire to care for , and bring into my home and family, those who do not have families of their own. In, having such an open door in our home growing up and many “Adopted kids” that I would learn to define family not only by blood. My own grandmother, who I watched walk up and down the streets of Detroit, bringing special treats to all the kids and families regardless of race or religion, showed me in such a simple way how to be Christ to the world. My other grandmother, whose selfless devotion to her husband shows how love is so often shown in the doing.... So many examples like these in those within our own family, some in simple ways, some profound.

I then think of the invisible red thread, weaving through every person and circumstance. Every mother God intended me to see, that I might glean something from her and grow, even if only from seeing her for a few moments. The mother patiently caring for her children, the mother who carried her sick son on oxygen to see the Easter bunny and rejoiced in his having that moment regardless of the hardship on her, the mother striving to teach her children to pray and learn right from wrong, the mother who sets aside her work and takes her kids to the park so that they can enjoy the day though it means sleepless hours for her, the mothers who's blogs I happened upon, or maybe just photos I have seen.... each encounter, when taken it, helps shape me as a mother and grow into whom God intended me to be.

I then think of the mothers that I have been knit so close to, that many would never have guessed on the day I was born. I am forever knit to a beautiful woman in Guatemala. I may never meet her, I may never see her face to face, but I love her. How could I not love her? I love what came from her, what was created within her. In my daughter Isabel, in so many ways I see this invisible red thread tied so tight between me and her birthmother. We may never know each other, but we work together in the way God planned. The day Isabel was handed to me there were so many things a part of her, that I did not give her. Her amazing smile with a little dimple, her compassionate heart, her gifts for art and so much more. I am so blessed to get to help her grow with the gifts that were given to her when she was created, but a part of them will always be her birthmother's. A part of her always will be hers. And that does not mean I don't love her completely...I ABSOLUTELY do. But I don't see how I could possibly say that I love her, and not love the person who brought her into the world?  :) This woman has a love that I would like to believe I would have … She has a faith I would like to believe I would have... and I have learned so much from her “yes”... though she may never know. I pray God has given her some peace in her heart. I pray that when she sees an 8 year old girl and wonders how the little girl she brought into the world is, that she knows somehow that that little girl, that she placed in the hands of a lawyer trusting she would find a family to love her is happy, healthy and loved so very much. I am also forever knit to the woman who selflessly brought Isabel to her family for almost a year, caring for her until we could bring her home. Offering love, offering to have her heart broken, all for the love of a child.

And of course I think of the birthmother I am already knit to, though I do not know who it is yet... and the similar connection that is being formed...

I look at my beautiful children, and imagine what God has in store for all of them. He has blessed me so with each and every one of them, and I can only imagine the beautiful tapestry that will be weaved with each and every one of their lives.

God Bless all of you, as you all play such an important role in my life. And today especially, God bless all Mothers... and special prayers to our Mother in heaven. And I am so thankful He has chosen to make me a mom, and that He has blessed me with being tied to so many amazing mothers in my life, that I may learn from them and grow into the mother He intends me to be.

COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!

Today, on my birthday, IT'S OFFICIAL!!  WE ARE ON THE WAIT LIST!
YAY! Praise God!  The Walkers are:

The agency expects approximately 6 month wait for referral.... but if things continue with referrals at the pace they have been it could very well be much faster than that.  Please keep us in your prayers as we wait.  Also, please pray for our child.... that God watch over them and hold them in His arms until we are able to come and bring them home.  Also, please pray for our child's birthmother.  Whether she is pregnant right now, struggling to care for this child and realizing it is not possible, or already placed them in an orphanage and praying that someone will bring them home to their family and love them.... I cannot imagine the weight on her heart, and the faith it must take to walk such a path.  And I pray God has given her a peace, to know on some level, that someone has said "yes"