Tag: faith

Posted in Adoption Journey

any news?

Posted on by Wick

I love getting this question.  I also hate it.

We’re surrounded by so many amazing people in our lives, who’ve connected themselves with what God is doing in and through our lives.  I know that so many of our friends and family carry the burden with us, and bring it to God on a regular basis.  I’m reminded of that every time someone I haven’t seen or spoken to in a while asks, “any updates on Phoebe?”road

Or the even funnier question we sometimes get, “So do you have her home yet?”  Ouch.  That’s right, we’ve been traveling this road since March 2012.  Over 2 years now.  It’s possible to see people we don’t see very often, who honestly think “surely they’ve got her by now.”  So many of you have been on this road with us.  So many of you have given, way more than we could ever have anticipated/expected/asked.  We’re humbled as we are constantly reminded how “not alone” we are.

We know that national attention is being given to so many parents who’ve completed the adoption process, and still are not being allowed to bring their children home.  I can’t even imagine what that’d be like.  But I know I’d love to be in that stage.  I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating.  I had no idea how much simply the journey of adoption itself, would make an impact on our home, our family, and our community/relationships.  My children will not only remember the fact that our family was involved in adoption…they will remember how we prayed and waited on God for years as a part of this.

I know it could have been faster.  There are plenty of countries in suffering, where children are being adopted and brought home.  We celebrate whenever we hear of a child finding a home.  But this was the road we followed God down, and even though it seems like a really hard season to travel…we know that as we’ve offered each step to God, He’s brought purpose and redemption to every moment.  We are not waiting to bring Phoebe home, safe and sound, before we declare “Look, this was indeed the call of God and He has provided!”  We are declaring it even now, even when the road ahead is still long, and the dust gets in our eyes from time to time. 

Because that’s our story as God’s people, right?  That God isn’t waiting until it’s all “made right” to bring His redemption and life-transforming purposes.  The formative years of our home, are being wrapped around having to trust in God.  Our relationships are being flavored by prayer and honest burden-sharing.  Our marriage is strengthened by the mutual “labor pains” of bringing our daughter home.  Children and families in the DRC are being prayed for, conflict/wars are being prayed against, and support is becoming connected to an area of the world that has been desperately needing it for a long time.  Our story is just a small part of that bigger story.

A lot of this came to mind, as I heard a song earlier today that I’ll share the lyrics from as I close:

“We found hope on this long and dusty road
at the table we were fed as he broke the bread
We found hope on this long dusty road.

We found hope on this long and dusty road
In His presence we found truth, that we bring to you
We found hope on this long dusty road.

We found hope on this long and dusty road
He’s alive and brought us peace, now we gather to feast
We found hope on this long dusty road.” – Von Strantz (free download here)

So keep asking us if there are updates. We may initially struggle with getting our answer out…but it’s worth contemplation…:)

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Changing the world….

Posted on by Wick

One of the biggest ways I invite my daughters regularly to picture themselves in the light of God’s activity in our world is with the phrase, “God wants to fill your heart so much with His love, that it changes the world!”  We regularly paint a picture or tell the current story of God’s purposes in ways that invite our daughters to envision themselves, and understand they are a part of what He’s doing even now.  Yet still, when I see my daughters catch on to it in a simple way…..it’s astounding.

Take last night, for example.

The kids came to hear the final Sunday evening of our church’s series with Ravi Zacharias (Video: Yes, Your Question).  When I say “came to hear”, what I mean is – they came with a backpack of coloring books, crayons, and a few “My Little Pony – Equestrian Girls” dolls as well.  We’d gone to the church gym (Affectionately referred to as the “Family Life Center”) for about 15 minutes to run around and get some energy out.  Then it was back to the pew, to sit quietly as daddy watched the video with the congregation.  They were doing great, even with the usual bumps/page turns/whisper-shrieking due to shoves from a sister.  Then just as the video was beginning, a young man I’d never seen before came into the sanctuary, and quietly took a seat in the pew directly in front of us.  Didnt he know this section was reserved for youth pastors with fidgety kids?

After a few minutes, he turned around and caught my eye.  He introduced himself briefly by name, and I shared mine.  He turned back around to keep watching the video and I figured it was just an odd way of him “getting acquainted” with a new church as a visitor.  A few minutes later he turned back around (Ravi was talking about something important, I’m sure….but I was already distanced because of referreeing a miniature whisper-fest.)  He told me he was here by accident, after running out of gas while coming across town to pick up a friend who was drunk.  He asked if I had any cash for gas.  I honestly didn’t have any money on me, and apologized, but told him if he hung around after the video – perhaps he could talk with our pastor or someone else.

But Sophie, age 6, heard.coins

She knew someone had given her a bunch of quarters for her princess piggy bank at home, and they were still in an envelope in her coloring book bag.  As she held the envelope, she asked me if it’d be okay.  Ruby (our 4 year old) even offered to go with her.  So together, they quietly left our pew, and went forward to his.  Sophie held out the envelope, obviously not quite sure what to say.  She simply said, “Here.”  He greatfully accepted, although you could tell he felt a bit humbled….as I was by even watching this.  She smiled wide, and quickly bounced back to our pew, sister in tow.  He turned around, red-faced, and said “thank you”.  She smiled back, and whispered “you’re welcome”.

The girls had a bathroom break right as the video was ending, and so we didn’t end up going back in.  But later found out someone had also helped him get a bit of gas.   I don’t know if we’ll ever see his face again.  But I hope and pray, that the generosity and heart of my daughter sticks with him.  I believe God’s love was felt by that man in those moments.  I was proud to know my daughter had allowed Him to use her.

I know the world is being changed by my girls already…and I can’t wait to see how God continues to move…

Posted in Uncategorized

flex your creative. (a fun post)

Posted on by Wick

She’d done it before, so I probably should have expected it.  But as I held her in my arms, her 4-year-old body curved to match the shape of my lap, her eyes melted my heart as always.  I was caught up in my own little Precious Moment world, savoring her tiny little self being held by me.  She’ll be 5 soon.  As I was enjoying a bit of parental bliss, she began to add to it – looking up at me as if she could offer the world…

“Daddy?”

“Yes, Ruby?”

“You…”  She stalled, and at this my mind raced with all the potential statements she could be about to offer me.  Something that would surely fill my parenting tank with love for the week.  I barely breathed, waiting for the words of love that were about to come.

“You have spider webs in your nose.”

Oh.  I smiled gently, tickled her a bit for being silly, and we moved on from the moment.  But it reminded me – my kids see the world imaginatively without any effort.  Our children see a world of infinite possibilities, believing so much of what they’re told, or what they can imagine in a given context.  We adults?  We see reality.  We dis-believe.  We ask questions.  We cynacize.  We look up into someones nostrils, and see his nosehairs.

But I’m confident, we can see spider webs, if we’re willing.  If we recognize our imaginative degeneration as the poo1problem it is, and work to keep those muscles functioning.  With that in mind, I’d like to offer you an exercise.  It even seems adult-ish.  As I showered the other day, I noticed a shampoo in our bathroom named “Pantene – Ultimate 10”.  I was curious what the “10” referred to, and as I turned it around I realized someone had been very (although limitedly as we’ll soon see) creative in their descriptions about what this poo can do.

So my exercise today is simple, help Pantene out.  They’ve given 10 decent adjectives, but I’m fairly confident we can do better.   That someday, Pantene could sell “Ultimate 100” using the same formula.  No limits!!!  Here are the current adjectives they’ve given:

1. Repair for rough hair                  5. Smoothing                             8. Gentle Cleaning
2. Strength against Damage          6. Moisture                                 9. Manageability
3. Silky Softness                                7. Frizz Control                      10. Detangling
4. Brilliant Shine

I know there are more descriptions that they’ve not captured.  No matter what your poo preference, I’m asking us to join together as parents and grown-ups who want to keep up with the imaginations of the next generation!  Here are just a few of my own:

11. Crazy awesomeness                  12.  Flowery Smelling                    13. Magically Noticeable

What might you add??

Or are you the kind of person who’s okay seeing nose-hairs?