The Miracle of Adoption

The miracle and blessing of adoption is one that never ceases to bring awe into my world. All these years later, I still look at my children and am filled with joy from a place deep inside me; a place only God can see.

The mere thought that two children, not made of my flesh, nor born of my body, could capture my heart, and be so much like me at the same time, is a miracle to me. Each of my children, in their own way, have my characteristics and mannerisms, quirky ways and loves. Only God, in His great love, could orchestrate hearts and minds to do that.


Larry and Andy(3 Weeks Old)

When our journey to adoption began early in 1986, there were very few foreign adoptions. We knew nothing about it and when we received three pages of typed instructions from the missionaries, Larry and Claire, it was overwhelming.

We carefully read each page of instruction, and completed them to the best of our ability; all on our own, with no legal advice on this side of the border.

I'm a, "let's do this the fastest way possible," kind of girl when it comes to something I want…and I wanted a baby. This was the first time there was hope in sight. Our hearts were set on go.

We had many documents such as birth and marriage certificates needing authentication by our government at the State Department in Washington, D.C., and the Guatemalan Consulate, also in Washington. So…what's a girl to do but get in her car and drive the documents to the government offices and present them in person, with a smile of course.

We left on a Sunday morning so I could be there by Monday morning to do all the paperwork. My friend, Terri, was going with me, but she could only be gone two days. As soon as we finished on Monday, we had to return to South Carolina.

With papers in hand, I went to the State Department of the United States where George Schultz presided at the time. I was in and out of there in minutes. There were nine documents for each of us; eighteen in all.

The Guatemalan Consulate was not as cooperative. It wasn't their policy to complete adoption papers in the same day. I explained the situation about my friend to the receptionist. I said, "She has to get back home to her little girl, so I have to leave the city at five o'clock today." I went on to tell her it was a twelve hour drive to South Carolina.

The lady replied, "You want us to do what? We can't do this in one day. You can leave these with us and we can possibly get them back to you tomorrow. I can't make any promises."

Andy-3 Months Old

I repeated my need to have them authenticated that day. She was not impressed with me, but agreed to give them to her boss. I was sure this was God's plan for us, so we left the papers. I told her I would return at the end of the day.

We spent the day at the Smithsonian Institute of American History; most of the time in the First Ladies Exhibit. Terri has a relative who was a former first lady.

We returned at four-thirty that afternoon to find nine pair of documents with red and blue ribbons and streamers adorning them. The receptionist who gave me the papers was quiet as she handed me the papers. She hesitated, then said, "I don't know who you are to get such treatment." I thanked her profusely and out the door we went, papers in hand.

I thought to myself later, it wasn't who I was, but Who He is.

We left the city, along with the gazillion other citizens who work and visit there on a normal Monday, with the most decorated papers I'd ever held in my hands. Twelve hours later, I pulled into her driveway and hugged Terri's neck, knowing we'd shared a life-changing event.

We completed the paperwork and sent it by DHL to the missionaries in Guatemala. We called at approximately midnight on December 13, 1986 to let them know the papers were on their way.

The next words we heard were the sweetest words I'd ever heard up to this point in my life. Claire said, "I'm not supposed to tell you this yet, but I'm holding little Andy, your son."

Tears of joy erupted as we held the phone between us. I blubbered something about not being sure if we were going to call him Andy or Drew. Claire said, "Oh, he's definitely an Andy, he's not a Drew." We spent the next several minutes hearing how our son came to be ours. The planning began in earnest to go after him…to bring him home.

God pursues us in the same way. He desires a relationship with us and He will go to extreme measures to capture our attention…to find us wherever we are…to rescue us and put us in a place where we can be loved and cherished. He will give you His promises and the faithfulness of I AM to stand behind every word.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love

will pursue me all the days of my life.

Psalm 23:6 NLT

It wasn't easy, as the heartaches multiplied before the plane landed on American soil and our sweet boy was tucked safely in his bed at home. Our journey to adoption will continue next week...

What journey are you on? Do you know He wants to pursue you too?

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

A Season of Waiting

Do you know what to do in a season of waiting? Or what not to do?

I'm in a season of waiting. I'm not sure what I'm waiting on, but I know it's a "wait" period.

When I emerged from the season of pity after my nest emptied, life began to change; small changes at first, then things picked up measurably last year with writing.

Now I'm back to waiting. Waiting to downsize, waiting to finish projects already started, waiting on properties to sell, and dare I say…waiting to get old.

I've been asked the question if I'm ready for grandchildren. My response is very kind but something like this, "My nest has just emptied and my children aren't even married. There is a natural process my brain follows and grandchildren are not on my radar. But thank you for asking."

Sigh…

I'm in an online book discussion with two lovely women who are as much like me as we are different. This makes for a lively time together. We're at the end of Emily P. Freeman's book, A Million Little Ways––uncover the art you were made to live. Page 147 in the chapter on Waiting says, 

"But the waiting can also grow us, shape us from the inside out for sacred work. This is a kind of work that happens only in the secret place of abiding in the presence of Christ even in the midst of broken dreams and tired circumstance."

Life is lived in the waiting moments; the "in-between moments," as Jeff Goins, the great writer of the book, The In-Between, has coined. No matter what your age is, you will wait for something at some point…a baby, a job, an answer, a date, a vacation, children or grandchildren to visit or a dream to be fulfilled.

Just remember, when you think nothing is happening, sacred work is being done. God is at work in the secret place. In the stillness He is at work accomplishing His plan in your life. Look for His handiwork. Get quiet before Him. Seek His face in humility with gratitude. Time in His presence is never wasted. He will rejoice over you with singing.

The following morning after writing this post, I read this in Jesus Calling, "Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain…Because you are Mine, you don't just pass time in your waiting. You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust." Those words were exactly what I needed to hear in this season of waiting. And the timing was perfect, especially since He knew I was waffling on publishing this post. 

I waited almost nine years on a baby, thirty-eight years to finally grieve my mom's death, and forty years for the return of my childhood Bible. This season should be a piece of cake…or chocolate. But, it's still difficult. 

Are you waiting for something in your life? Place your trust in the One who knows the future and has the end result for your good, and His glory in sight. 

Those in-between moments can be some of the most fulfilling if we trust the outcome to our Creator. 

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

Sole Hope Spells Love

How do you spell Love? S.O.L.E. H.O.P.E.

If you've never spelled it this way, read on to find out why I changed the spelling.

Holly and Anna

www.solehope.com is a ministry dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus through shoes. Dru and Asher Collie founded Sole Hope as a means to provide shoes for children who suffer from the affects of jiggers, a parasitic sand flea. Jiggers bury themselves in human flesh and multiply. If left untreated, they cause infection which leads to disease, amputation and even death. The insects have direct entry into feet since most children in third world countries don't have shoes.

Asher conceived the idea of making a shoe to fit little feet and the plan of having shoe cutting parties was birthed. Shoe parts are cut, and placed in plastic bags to be sent to Uganda for assembly. Factories in Uganda are employing local people…teaching them a skill, offering a better life, a hope for a future…not only a future here on earth, but a future in heaven.

Sole Hope seeks to share the love of Jesus, who  compels them to serve…to wash feet, to remove jiggers, to love the lowly.

The process reminds me of biblical days in the washing of feet…

Picture this with me, if you will… children in long lines…all sizes, shapes, large round eyes, beautiful eyes…

   Wounded children

      Hurting children

And they know at the front of the line there are nice people with a warm pan of water that will bring relief to their pain…they've heard the rumors…they've come to see for themselves…maybe…just maybe…they might help them…

The children's feet are washed, jiggers removed, and feet are treated with medicine. The families are educated on jigger removal and the subsequent care of wounds. Happy children are given shoes, many times, their first and only pair.

Access is given into homes and schools for spraying to eradicate jiggers. Lives are changed because somebody cared enough to do something…to lay aside their own agenda and ask the question, "How can I help?"

My church, Concord Baptist, hosted a Shoe Cutting Party in January. Over 100 women participated, including those who dropped off medical supplies to be shipped to Uganda. Pamela Jones and I had the privilege of delivering our shoe parts and supplies to Asheville, North Carolina, the home base of Sole Hope.

I was excited to see the operation for myself. I'm a visual learner…I want to see, to touch, to experience. I was not disappointed.

Walking through the front door of Sole Hope, we were greeted by two lovely young women, Holly and Anna. They quickly showed us around two rooms of boxes stacked nearly to the ceiling. Churches and organizations from around the world have heard the message of Sole Hope.

We worked four hours unpacking boxes, then repacking, to send on to Uganda. Each bandage, each roll of gauze, and each tube of ointment would find its way to a suffering child. And eventually, each bag of fabric would be sewn by African women, into shoes worn by those same children. Many of the seamstresses have been rescued from human trafficking.

As I told Anna, "There's so much suffering all around us, and we feel helpless, but this is a ministry we can get involved in and see it's making a difference."

The Collie's moved to Uganda in early 2013 with their three young children, to live and work in a country where jiggers are common in children's feet. Yet, they did something uncommon…they went to the problem. They were moved by a heart of compassion to help those who are helpless, to literally, put feet to their prayers.

How about you…are you looking for a place to serve? Do you feel helpless and want to reach out and help the lowly, the orphans, the unloved? Sole Hope is a great way to start. Shoe Cutting Parties are easy and can be done with a few or many. Here's the website www.solehope.com. It will tell you everything you need to know.

If you live close to Asheville, you may want to volunteer your time. You'll be so glad you did.

Now do you understand why I spelled love differently?  

L.O.V.E. = S.O.L.E. H.O.P.E.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love;

but the greatest of these is love. 

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV 

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

Writing Retreat at The Cove

Have you ever returned from a weekend adventure and you were full, but it had nothing to do with the food? That was my experience this past weekend.

I spent three glorious days at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. I've never left that mountain without leaving a part of me behind. My soul, however, was full to the brim.

There is something special when you drive through the gates just after you get off I-40 in Asheville, North Carolina. Wildlife such as deer and turkey are there to greet you from the edge of the forest. The nearby creeks and grassy areas are perfect places for hungry animals to graze, and be right at home in their natural habitat.

Beautiful hardwoods and evergreens line the forest as you snake your way up the mountain. Simply breathtaking. Signs point to Chatlos Memorial Chapel, Pilgrim's Inn, Shepherd's Inn and the Training Center. Cedar and stone lodges await you at your destination.

What sets this facility apart from any other place I've been though, are the people and their attitude.

I've been there with my church, and this weekend, I was attending a writer's conference. The multiple times I've passed through the gate and made my way up the mountain, it never changes; the people are outstanding, from the shuttle bus drivers to the wait staff, to the door greeters, to the desk clerks. They are there to serve.

They make you feel as if they've welcomed you into their home for an overnight stay while they offer you all the comforts of home. Smiles and hugs are shared, yet they're not intrusive.

Katy and Mrs. June

I was having coffee with my meal on Saturday evening and the table hostess June, said, "Can I fill your cup from the main pot? That coffee is hotter than the coffee on the table." She didn't have to do that for me.

She's been working at The Cove for many years. I've seen her every time I've been–always smiling. Our conversations are peppered with our love of family, The Lord, and ministry.

She isn't the only one. All the staff has the attitude of June.

Can you imagine what our world would be like if we all had the servant's heart she and her fellow workers have? How different all our work places would be. What if we thought of others more highly than ourselves?

Oswald Chambers says, "If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another."

And so, while The Cove is a beautiful place to go, it's the people that make it special. The Presence of God is felt and experienced while there. He is there in the midst of His people. He is on their faces...in every cup of coffee they fill, every bus they drive, and every story they share about bears. He lives on that mountain because He lives in the hearts of the people who work for Him through The Cove.

Where can you plant yourself? What mountain can you invest your life in that will transform the lives of people through the God you serve? Whose cup can you fill today?

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

Friends...Then and Now

There are several writers whose words I love to read. They write from the heart and speak directly to my soul. Sharon Randall, is one of those writers. She has a syndicated column in the Monday edition of my local newspaper each week. I read her words with my tea before I head out for the morning.

A couple of weeks ago, she wrote a story about friendship that made me think. She said this in the article, "Best friendship is like grace...a gift, free and clear. And every day is your birthday."

Nancy-Bottom Right; Me-Right Standing

I've been blessed with wonderful friends in my life from the time I was a little girl. I can remember spending the night with Nancy and giggling until our sides ached. We're still friends and she still makes me laugh. Though miles separate us, we pick up right where we left off when we get together. She is a forever friend from my childhood.

When I moved away from home, I made other lasting friendships. Early in my marriage, there was Mary Beth and Debbie. Each of them taught me valuable lessons and we remain friends. They were there for me through years of infertility. Living in my husband's hometown was difficult in the beginning and yet, they made me feel welcome. Seeing them is like seeing a long lost sister. And of course, my sister-in-law Judy, has and always will be my dearest friend.

There are certain qualities in a friend that come to mind and I thought I'd share those with you. Hopefully, you're as blessed as I have been.

1. A friend will listen first, ask questions only when you're ready to talk.

2. A friend will pray for you and send you scripture text messages.

3. A friend remembers the important days in your life.

4. A friend knows the things about you that trigger sadness...and joy.

5. A friend loves you through every season of your life. She understands your "crankiness from not enough sleep due to being up with babies" through the season of "no sleep due to worry over your children as adults."

6. A friend will tell you you're beautiful, even when you look like yesterday's leftovers.

7. A true friend won't turn their back on you when you disagree on something. They will talk it out, and if forgiveness is needed, they are eager to restore the friendship.

8. A friend knows your favorite foods and brings them when you're sick or sad or just had a very bad day.

9. A true friend cheers your successes...and is there to pick you up in your failures.

10. A friend will let you cry on her shoulder.

11. A friend will always want to do the right thing for you.

12. A forever friend is one you can pick up your conversation with like you just chatted yesterday.

I'm so thankful for my friends, both then and now. God has blessed me with lovely women whom I can trust and who love me for who I am. They encourage me and support me through word and deed. I also love how He's given women of all ages, some older, some younger, to walk this journey with me...what wisdom they've shared and the fun we've had.

Someone told me once, "if you find one good friend, you've found a treasure." I'd say I have a treasure chest of gold, if that statement is true.

The friends I now share my daily life with are the truest kind. They know how to make me laugh till my sides ache. They pray for me and my family and love me unconditionally. They know I'm addicted to chocolate and lattes. They know I love cats and hot tea and flowers. They know this has been the most difficult year of my life and the best year of my life at the same time. They cry with me and have coffee with me and go to writing conferences with me. They send me text messages at the precise time I need them most. Can you tell I have the BEST friends on the planet?

I can't possibly list their names because I would leave someone out and that would break her heart and mine. They know who they are and how much I love them.

I hope you have one friend who loves you unconditionally. My husband always told our children, "to have a friend, you must be a friend." Life would be so lonely without the companionship of female friends.

Me and Nancy-2012

Find someone who shares the same interests as you. He or she may be as lonely as you. Their family may have just moved to the area, as we did many years ago. Your best friend may be sitting in Chick Fil A while her child plays in the play area or on a park bench and all it takes is, "Hey, my name is..."

Friendship...it really is like grace...a gift. Most of us don't deserve the friends we have but we have them anyway. Treasure them and through the fires of life they will become refined. My friendships have become like pure gold to me...more precious as the years have passed.

Who came to mind as you read this post today? Give them a call and let them know you value your relationship.

To my friends then...and now...you are always in my heart!

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy