VOTING, OF COURSE

Well, I don't really want to add my voice to the political fray on this election day.  There are many others that have said things much more eloquently than I ever could.  (I really like what she said and also what she said.)  I am very ready for political coverage to stop being the main event on every news station all the time.  I know I sound whiny, but I've realized that I don't really have a stomach for most of it.  The promises seem disingenuous from both sides, and people have such strong opinions - opinions that often target other people.

All of that aside, I am so thankful for the privilege and opportunity to vote.  I don't take it for granted - especially as a woman.  So, knowing that we would be out of town on election day, John and I loaded up the girls to go early vote on Saturday morning.  We spent time researching on Friday night and were able to go in armed with information, which made us feel like responsible citizens in this democracy.



When we showed up, we were greeted with an extremely long line.  We had planned to go running as a family and soon saw that that would not be part of our plan.  Instead, as I was waiting in line, John ran laps around the area with the girls.  I stood there, eavesdropping on those around me, scrolling through stuff on my phone and watching the politicians that were standing about 50 feet away from the poll.

I also took notice that people with strollers were considered "special assistance" and allowed to go through the back door.  (Have you ever waited in a long line with two young children?  I do feel like it requites a lot of special assistance.  It is no joke.)

On John's next lap around, he stopped, and we took that back door line.  As we were getting out of line, the woman behind me said, "I don't think it's fair that you get to get out of line just because you have kids.  I mean, do whatever, but it doesn't seem fair."  All I said in return was, "Yeah" as we walked away.

We did our civic duty and were out in about 20 minutes.  As we were leaving, I was hauling Bella, who was screaming, and Lily was still in the stroller with John.  A man in line looked at Lily and told John, "When my kids are that old, I make them walk."

As I was recounting all of this experience to a friend, her comment towards these encounters was, "Just because you are in line to vote doesn't mean you get to vote on everything."  I found that response fitting on so many levels.

I was glad that we voted, but I was a little less thrilled about all the people that chose to share their opinion on our lives in a poll I was never taking.  As this election day comes and goes, I am still learning how to best use my opinions in real life.  Often, I get it wrong.  I have a lot to learn.  I want to spend less time on my own opinions and more time trying to determine what is pleasing to the Lord.  I believe he convicts each of us differently, and I want to learn how to better respect those that I may disagree with and to be more certain of my own convictions in some areas, while still approaching life with an attitude of learning.

That is a line I am still not great at walking.  Maybe with more time and practice, I will get better.

At the end of this election day, I am thankful that no matter who wins the presidency, I know where my eternal hope is.  I am putting all my eggs in that basket.

FINISHING OUT THE PLAYROOM

Well, I am finally getting around to posting about the finishing touches I've been putting on the playroom.  I just realized that I didn't even take pictures of everything, so maybe I will do one last post in a couple of weeks with everything all together.  I actually really love the way it all turned out.

I made a craft shelf for the girls' craft stuff.  Lily absolutely loves being able to go down and craft whatever she wants.

All of the containers on the shelves are from Land of Nod.  I saw something with the cute little goodbye sayings on Pinterest and decided to do a painting to match the room.  I used my Silhouette to cut out the letters and stuck them onto the wet paint.  Then, I painted white over the letters to make them stand out a bit more.

I found a faux cuckoo clock on Etsy from this shop.



I may have gone a little overboard with matchy matchy colors and painting dots on the wall, but I like the overall effect.  You can see other parts of the playroom in this post and this post.  I didn't take more pictures of it completed, because most of it looks like this right now.

Well used.  As it should be.

FILLING IN THE GAPS

I just wanted to take a few moments to brag on God.  I am thankful to serve a God that fills in the gaps in our lives.  He promises to never leave us or forsake us, and he delights to give us good things, things that we need.

I have experienced this first hand in my life in numerous ways.  During the time frame that my father passed away, I could see God filling in gaps.  He provided financially, but more than that, he provided just the right people to come alongside me during that time.  I ended up working for a man who had been best friend's with my Dad, and who took me under his wing.  What a precious gift that was at that time in my life!

God filled in the gaps in my mother's life.  God's heart beats for widows, you know, and he does not leave them stranded.  People did her taxes, people wanted to spend time with her, people stepped in to help with her car, and in God's amazing timing, he brought her a new husband, putting together two people who had lost spouses to cancer.

I am thankful for a God that is always there to be called upon.  He knows what we need.

As I was thinking about the gaps and the filling of them, it hit me that he almost always uses people to fill gaps.  We are his hands and feet to those with giant gaping holes in their lives.  And I got convicted, because it made me wonder how often I stand in that gap.  How often do I look outside of my little world and see the places that need me?  How often do I realize that I need to be in those places for the good of my own soul?

This adoption process is showing me how God does move on behalf of people.  He has moved our hearts to action.  We get to become parents to children that desperately need parents.  They need someone to show them God's love.

The fact is, we are all needy people in need of God's grace and compassion.

And I want to be a gap filler.

WAIT-LIST UPDATE

We got our new number today from our agency, which is always an exciting email.  I can gauge by our group's Facebook page some of the referrals given out, but not all of them, so it is nice to get our new official standing.  Without further adieu, here it is . . .



I was a little shocked by our movement on the special needs list.  Shocked and a bit excited.  John and I talked on the phone for a bit after we got the email and played out a few different scenarios.  It could happen sooner than we ever thought it would.  Or not.  And, since we are very limited by Bella's age, it is more likely that we will continue to wait for quite a while, since we are hoping to adopt sibling boys that are very young.  That is pretty specific.

But, we are moving on up.  It is thrilling to see orphans being put into families.  It is amazing to see God move people's hearts to adopt and to see the way that changes them and their child's life forever.  I never imagined myself on this journey, but I am beyond delighted to be here.  Though most days, it still doesn't feel real.  It is hard to picture having two little brown faces mixed in with my girls.  I can't wait for that day!

We pray for our sons almost every night before bed.  We pray for protection.  We pray for peace as we all wait to be joined together.  We pray for their families.  We pray for God's guidance through this process.  There are a million things to be praying for, and sometimes that can feel daunting.  What about the things we forget or don't think to pray for?  I am thankful to walk with a Lord who knows how to fill in the gaps with his great strength and love for us.

And that's where we are.  Waiting.  Hoping.  Praying.