If you read the backstory on why this blog is called Random Clarity, you know that insight, illumination, wisdom, whatever you want to call it, comes to me in weird pieces. Perhaps all of us are like that or maybe yours comes more logically, but I'm enjoying the random glimpses behind the scenes that God allows me from time to time. Most of the time, I really don't get a very satisfactory answer to the "why" behind the "what the heck is going on??", but I get grace to live with the questions.....and a healthy reminder that it's not all about ME. Ouch, and Thank GOD!
We didn't choose an international adoption, but we believe that God chose it for our family. There are lots of crazy pieces to this puzzle that are - frankly - embarrassing, humbling, uncomfortable, and (thankfully), amusing. China has pretty strict requirements on Body Mass Index. As if going to the doctor and stepping on the scales after rocking babies all winter long wasn't embarrassing enough. Now, a foreign government is shining a flashlight on the pounds that crept on while I was sleep deprived & carb-loading & loving on our babies. Ugh....at least I had fun doing it!!
Lab testing: it's kind of amusing to hear the questions asked when my kids have to get HIV & Hep B tests and the uncommon answers. Yes, we all still live at home. Yes, I'm 18 (or 20) years old. No, I'm not AT ALL at risk for an STD (yes, that's what that means!) Surprised looks from the medical staff....
Ever hear of the Great Recession of 2008-2010 (and counting)?? Well, we did, and that's the time period all our financial documents are compiled from. Downsizing, job-hunting, patching together part-time jobs. I'm GLAD I'm not a fly on the wall when the adoption professionals review our paperwork. One of the miracles of this adoption is that we were even approved to move forward. God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to behold!!
Ahh.....fundraising. Remember my quote from an earlier post? "Nothing kills pride more than having to ask for money?" Well, the humbling just BEGINS with the initial asking. It continues powerfully when you receive an early donation from a family on their OWN, very expensive adoption journey...or one from a young family that is struggling to make ends meet because of job instability...or a friend who doesn't even let you finish telling the sweet story before she whips out her checkbook...or a 9-year-old who cracked open her piggy bank to help bring this little guy home. The most unlikely & unexpected candidates give and give and give, and you stand there, helpless & dependent, receiving the blessings from a gracious God and obedient, ordinary heroes.
It's so hard...
And SO GOOD.
Baby steps closer to our baby with the help of community. Ahhhh.....I like it.
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