We moved in to our current house in 2008.
Fun fact: we've now lived in this house longer than we've lived in ANY other home.
(apartment, house, anything.)
(almost 16 years of marriage.)
Anyway, one of the things that I immediately loved about this home, when we first came here with our realtor in '06, was the big grassy front yard.
During the time we were house hunting, I had a 6 year old, a 4 year old, and baby fever.
As we considered buying this house, I remember thinking to myself: "That grass would be so fun to play on with the kids. AND: it would be the PERFECT place for a baby to learn how to walk."
The week we moved in to this house (back in '06), I had a strong inkling that I was pregnant.
(Or should I say: I had a strong feeling that I had fallen pregnant.)
I remember thinking to myself: "I'd better be careful with these boxes....better not lift anything too heavy..."
As it turns out, I was not pregnant.
* * * * *
Fast forward.
During the summer of 2011, after pursuing both biological and adoptive avenues for three years, I began to wonder if the Lord was closing the door on something that I'd always assumed would happen. (more children.)
I discussed this very thing in a previous post: Oh Eight, Oh Eight - Part One (written August 2011.)
I remember once, during that summer, I was doing dishes at our kitchen sink.
The window above our sink looks out over the grassy front yard.
I vividly remember pondering a very quiet question which was coming from deep down in one of the hidden corridors of my heart:
"But what about the baby learning to walk in the front grass?"
I knew, at that time, that the Lord might be leading our family in a different direction than I'd expected.
I was trying to wrap my brain around what that would look like.
* * * * *
Sometimes the Lord does close doors.
Often, He does lead families down unexpected roads.
Sometimes a woman has a "good" desire that He doesn't write into her story.
Just because it's theoretically a good idea doesn't mean it is His plan for me.
I learned so much during that season of our family's life.
I found myself MUCH more grateful for the gifts that He had given us over the years.
I found myself staring at Superboy and Pumpkin with awe-- what miracles they really are.
I found myself filled with thanksgiving for my husband. I knew more than ever that he was a gift from the Lord, and that each day that we get to walk side by side is a priceless treasure.
Many of the things that I'd previously taken for granted suddenly looked totally different to me: so much more amazing.
And more than ever, in my mind, each gift (husband, two children, two incredible parents, wonderful in-laws, precious siblings, dear friends...) seemed to have a big arrow pointing to God.
His provision.
His goodness.
His plan for me.
Each relationship in my life was part of the tapestry that He is weaving in and through me.
He is the supreme artist.
These gifts are from Him.
I knew that I His faithfulness is the rock under my feet.
His faithfulness would undergird us--no matter what story He plans to write for our family.
* * * * *
What I didn't know is that all during our years of waiting, God did have a plan for us to have more children.
I wrote that Oh Eight Oh Eight post in early August 2011.
I stood at the kitchen window and started to prepare myself to have closure about the baby-walking-in-the-grass thing in early August 2011.
What I didn't know was this: by the end of that same month, we'd be getting a very important phone call from our case worker at the adoption agency.
She would be calling to tell us that there was a baby boy who was about to be born.
His teenage birth mother planned to place him in an adoptive family.
The baby's birth mother had reviewed some of the "family profiles" (little scrapbooks) of approved-and-waiting families, and she decided to place her baby with us.
* * * * *
Fast forward again.
In May of this year, when our sweet little Manzo was about 9 months old, Hunter and I were playing with him out on the grass one evening.
Suddenly it dawned on me: "Our baby is going to learn to walk on this grass!"
!!!!!!!
I took Hunter's phone & snapped a few pictures.
Manzo is almost one year old now.
Before we know it, he'll be a new walker, and he'll need to have a nice soft area to practice his new skill.
I know just the place!
Thank you, Lord, for our precious little boy.
Thank you for our big boy. Thank you for our big girl.
Thank you for your plan.
Thank you for your goodness and faithfulness.
* * * * *
A song we used to sing at summer camp when I was a little girl....based on Lamentations 3.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning,
New every morning.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord.
Great is Thy faithfulness.
{posted by Abbie}
