Wednesday evening, September 1st.  Good stuff.

After dropping the kids off at church last night, I went to dinner with an old friend of ours who was here on business from Vancouver.  We had a great time catching up on all that God has taught us in the years since our family moved from “the Couve”.  He shared with me the story of the adoption of their five-year-old daughter, Riley.  (Their other two kids are Blake’s and Abby’s ages ).  It was an amazing picture of how God can speak so clearly and specifically in regards to His plan for us, no matter how different that plan might be from our own.  The story was full of incredible answers to prayer, provision, and a miraculous process that would normally take months, that happened in the two and half weeks that they had until baby Riley was born.  Crazy, read-about-in-books type stuff.  To see him tear up with the knowledge of how obvious God spoke through it all was precious.  And  another reminder that when we are open and available to God’s voice and leading, amazing things beyond what we could dream or imagine can happen.   Thanks, Tim, for the wonderful story of your sweet girl….I definitely hear the makings of a book there 🙂

After meeting with Tim, I went back to church to grab the kids.  I waited in the parking lot, talking on the phone to my mom (also a great thing!).  My kids are always last ones out, so I waited.  And waited.  And waited.  All the Junior High kids had been picked up and were gone now.  Finally, after a half hour, I went into the building to see if they’d been kidnapped.  And for a few minutes I got to be a bug on the wall.  They were helping clean up.  Well, at least at first.  Then I saw Abby sitting and talking with a new college aged girl who is going to be helping to lead now.  Blake was in the sound booth playing the rockin’ clean up music.  Everyone was joking and laughing and just enjoying each other.  And I couldn’t help but smile.

As we were all heading out, Abby, the social organizer, invited everyone over for pizza at our house.  So as many as could come, came.  And my heart was full.  Abby got to chat more with her new found friend Allison and found out they share many things in common (and Allison will be coming to our new college group next weekend!).  Abby took me aside at one point and shared how God had answered our prayers in bringing her such a friend.  Thank you, Jesus!

Need to go get ready – today is Breakfast Thursday with Blake’s friends and their moms.  Busy day ahead – a day with lots of people stuff.  So, Jesus, please give me enough grace and love to cover each person I meet with today.  Help me to join You in brightening their day and giving them encouragement and hope.