Funny How God Works...

About 4 years ago I was in a Wednesday night Precepts Bible study at my church and this really cute lady walked in and sat down up front. Our great teacher (Jeannie Boyer) who is an amazing encourager, would always pick random people out of the group and brag on them. Well, this one evening she chose to brag on this particular girl (Jaci is her name). She went on and on about Jaci and how she and her husband had just recently adopted their little sweetheart (Mia) from China. My ears perked up and I thought, "When's it gonna be my turn Lord?" Every time I heard of someone adopting from China I wanted to know more and I found myself somewhat jealous. Not envious, just jealous. Jealous that all these people had answered that call and we hadn't. As you know, I was on board way before my husband and so I was constantly in a waiting period, wondering if it was ever going to happen for us. Well, time went by and I didn't ever really have the chance to talk to Jaci about her adoption experience, but she signed her children up for the kids Precept class I was going to start teaching for homeschoolers and that's when we became friends. I got to teach sweet Mia and her bio son Alec the gospel of John every Tuesday morning for an entire year. I learned very quickly that Jaci is a no-nonsense, God-fearing, servant-hearted, tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal. I loved her from the very start.

Well, this very month a year ago we got a call from one of Matt's clients who had moved to the inner city to minister to the families living there. Their Haitian neighbor's house had burned down in the middle of the night and they needed clothing and toiletries for several children and the 6 adults who were living together in that home. We quickly gathered up as much as we could find and emailed all our friends requesting help from them on behalf of this family. Jaci jumped right on it. She was at Tar*et and wanted to know what she could buy. I met her at her home later that day (December 17th) and she filled up my entire trunk with clothes, household items, and cash for groceries. I remember it like it was yesterday... I then proceeded to tell her that Matt and I had decided to go for it and start the process to adopt a child from China. She hugged me and said she'd pray for us and email me with some helpful websites. We said our goodbyes and I was off to collect more donations.
That evening I sat down in my chair next to my Christmas tree and checked my email and there it was. It simply said, "Get a box of tissues." And next to it was the Rainbow Kids website and Cornbread & Chopsticks advocacy blog. I still remember logging in and waiting to be accpeted to view the waiting kids on RK, so in the meantime, I headed over to Annie's site (Cornbread & Chopsticks). As you probably already know, we were originally looking for a toddler with a repaired cleft lip/palate. We did see a couple of sweet faces that matched our profile, but when I saw "Desirae's" picture, she jumped right through the computer and into my heart immediately. I just knew. I even said to the Lord, "Is this the one?" It was as if I'd already known her. She wasn't a stranger to me somehow. I finished scrolling through the rest of the faces and headed back up to Desirae's picture. She didn't look like a "Desirae" to me. She looked like our Ashlyn.

Fast forward to last February... We started the process to adopt her and were doing great. All the doors were opening and we were dreaming of the day she would be home. Then we got the bad news. Older child adoptions were REALLY hard. HARD, as in, "this isn't what I signed up for", HARD. We just had no way of understanding what we were in for. When we heard all of the many stories, we got SCARED. I mean, the kind of scared that stops you dead in your tracks and causes you to say, "NO WAY! Not us! We just aren't cut out for that kind of thing." So after 2 long, agonizing weeks of prayer and consultations, we backed out... Heartbroken, weary, guilt-ridden, embarrassed... You name it, I was feeling it. That's when I started this blog. It became my therapy. It was my only connection to her. I felt as though she was mine and it was my responsibility to make sure she was ok. I can't tell you how many people emailed me wanting more info about her. Probably more than 10 serious families wanted more info on her and thought she just might be "the one".

Fast forward to this past summer... I received an email from an interested lady who said, "I just have to ask... Are you sure she isn't meant to be yours?" And then it happened. The very next day Jaci called to ask if Mia could stay with us 2 nights during the week of VBS, then when VBS was over, we headed up north to Canada and stopped to stay with our friends the Lawrence's in TN who have a Chinese daughter. Then on our way home from Canada we stayed with our friends in GA who also have a Chinese daughter. Then we got home and received the call asking us to host 2 Chinese foreign exchange students. It was quite "coincidental". That's when I prayed and told the Lord, "I hear you, but you're going to have to speak through my husband because he's not gettin' it." That very night Matt said, "Let's do it." It was a TOTAL GOD THING. Miraculous. So here we are...

Ok, so I'll get back to the point of this long post. When we decided to do the garage sale, Jaci was the first one on board. We borrowed her two long folding tables and she loaded us down with items to sell. Twice I met her to pick up donations.
I texted her this morning to tell her that Matt was bringing her tables back to her. When he got there he and her husband Todd stood and chit-chatted for a few minutes and then he handed Matt an envelope and said they'd like to give a little extra towards our fund. When Matt got in the car he opened the envelope. He called to tell me that he had some news that was going to make me cry... Our sweet friends have given us a very generous donation.

I called Jaci, and through my tears, told her that a year ago this coming Saturday was when we found our daughter. God used her to show us where she was and He is continuing to use her and Todd to help get her home. It is really funny how God works. He uses just ordinary people to do extraordinary things to bring Him glory. So beautiful.

THANK YOU TODD & JACI!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

***If you'd like to give to someone today who desperately needs it, please hop on over to the Evan's blog and read their amazing story. www.yourlovewillcarryme.blogspot.com
Their little Alaina was on reece's Rainbow a while ago and I had even inquired about her over the summer before we decide to move forward with Ashlyn. She is PRECIOUS. The Evan's family needs money to send off their dossier. I think it's somewhere around $5600.00.

Precious Alaina! Oh my goodness, I am so excited!!! Doesn't she have the sweetest little face?

Blessings,
Rebecca