Peaceful Easy Feeling

You will be an amazing dad, I can already see it.

Our visit on Thursday night with the Land's was in a word--wonderful.  They opened their home to us and made us instantly feel welcomed.  It's hard for me to accurately describe what it was like for us to spend time with another couple who not only share our infertility journey, but who are living on the other side of their adoption journey, complete with four amazing children.  True confession....until that day, neither Austin nor myself had ever spent time with a Taiwanese child.  Suddenly, there we were, surrounded by four adorable Taiwanese faces.  Watching Austin throw baseball with their oldest child Reed, my heart could hardly contain itself.  It was a living picture of what an amazing dad I know he will be. As we drove home that night, we both agreed that we had such a peaceful feeling. I specifically prayed all week for wisdom and discernment (Psalm 119:125) on what steps we need to take.  I still don't know all the details of how this journey will turn out, but I am confident we are on the right track.  

An amazing Thursday was then matched with an equally amazing Saturday.  Our friends Jeff and Tennille were in town from Ohio with their son Savva (who was adopted from Russia a few years back).  Even though their adoption was through a different country, it was wonderful to hear their stories, to be able to share some of our anxieties, and laugh about the journey.  

What am I thankful for today?  I'll list a few:

• How God places people in our lives when we need them the most
• Being prayed over
• People who will open their homes and share their lives
• The instant connection you feel when you are with other believers
• Our adventure at the International Food Market
• Looking at kids books in Barnes & Noble, picking out the ones we want to buy and read to our child someday
• How a really hard personal journey can one day be used to help someone else
• Sunday morning brunch at one of my favorite places
• How there's no such thing as a coincidence with God 

Love and hugs! 

God Showing Up

The past week and a half, God has shown up big in our lives.  Don't misunderstand, He is always faithful but two significant things have happened recently that can only be described as God showing up.  We got notified last week that Austin has been offered a firefighter position with the city of Franklin.  This is an answered prayer, one that many have prayed alongside us.  Austin's heart is called to serve in this way and I truly believe God has amazing work in store for him to complete through this career.  I couldn't be prouder of Austin, of all his hard work, of his determination, and most importantly, the way he's allowed God to use this situation to grow his faith.  

"It isn’t the likelihood of your hope that sustains you,
but the object of your hope that sustains you." (Anne Voskamp)

We continue to move forward with our adoption paperwork.  Our home study agency had some additional questions for us to answer which led me to search for local families in Tennessee with children adopted from Taiwan.  I had tried this in the past with no luck, but this time, I found a family in Springfield (Jeff and Abbey Land) that have adopted four (really adorable) boys from Taiwan.  Austin and I want to get connected with other adoptive families, especially those with children from the same country we hope to adopt from.  The blog led me to his FaceBook page where I messaged him.  That message led to a phone call earlier this week where I learned not only have they adopted from Taiwan, but Jeff is the Taiwan coordinator for an adoption agency.  We were only a few weeks away from sending in our formal application and our first big payment to the agency we had selected.  The Land's have invited us to dinner at their home tomorrow night so we can meet each other and learn more.  Something in my spirit is telling me to slow down, listen, pay attention.  I have always believed that God opens opportunities for us when the timing is right.  

So.....Lord, here we are.....waiting and trusting that this is all part of Your divine plan. We pray for wisdom and clarity on how we should move forward.  Most of all,  our prayer is that You continue to be glorified through this process. 

The Spiritual Discipline of Silence

On the trail of our favorite loop at Percy Warner Park

Austin and I decided (somewhat last minute) to get up early today and drive to Percy Warner Park to hike our favorite five mile loop.  Although it's July and insanely hot, this loop is always surprisingly cool, covered by what seems like thousands of trees.  There's something about being outside like this that feeds my soul.  I love everything about it--the sights, the smells, the sounds.  More appropriately, the lack of sound is what I always notice.  It's so quiet and peaceful--you can't help but look at your surroundings and feel extreme gratitude for God's beauty displayed in nature.  Austin and I commented on how much we love this, how we can't wait to for a little one to join us on our hiking trips one day.  On my trip down to Atlanta this week, I caught part of a radio show talking about the spiritual discipline of silence.  Admittedly, this is not a topic I've spent a lot of time studying on.  In thinking about our time hiking this morning and how refreshed we both felt afterwards, I wanted to read up on the spiritual discipline of silence.  What I learned is that there are times to speak to God and there are times simply to behold and adore Him in silence.  This is confirmed in Isaiah 30:15, which connects silence before God with faith in Him: "For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, 'In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength."  Sometimes simply spending time outdoors, disconnected, beholding the beauty of God's creation in silence can be an act of worship.  My life can seem so frantic at times, fast-paced, always moving, never still, never quiet.  I need to remember the discipline of silence and how restoring it is for my soul.  Thank you Lord for a wonderful day! 

The Smell of Rain

Summer rain shower

Today is July 4th.  This day always feels like the peak of summer, the day to celebrate all things traditional like grilling out, swimming, family get togethers, etc.   It was a beautiful day here and in typical Tennessee summer fashion, it was hot, sunny and a little muggy at times.  We spent the day at Austin's parents house with Nick and Cara joining us.  Our morning started with a workout, followed by breakfast, swimming, grilling, and more.  On our way home tonight, we passed through a quick rain shower and I snapped this picture as we drove down the road.  The car was immediately filled with the clean smell of a summer rain shower.  I.love.this.smell.  It might only be topped by the smell of Home Depot (which immediately brings up memories of standing in my Grandaddy Swann's garage, surrounded by all his wood creations).  Over the past few months, I've been committed to keeping a gratitude journal.  This was inspired by one of my most favorite books, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  The book encourages you to look for joy in any and all circumstances, even those that are difficult.  This practice has been amazingly helpful for me.  Normally, I journal each day or night and add to my list.  Today, I thought I would do it here instead:

• The smell of rain on a hot summer day
• Fresh blackberries
• Austin's prayer before lunch....and how my heart bursts with pride
• Dreaming of a little one playing in the pool with us
• My Mema's voice on the phone
• Rainbow
• All the freedom I'm allowed

However you celebrated summer's biggest holiday, I hope it was filled with the things you love!