Glory!

I can't take it.  I mean that.  This is just too good.

This afternoon, at 4:30, I glanced at email and saw a message in all capitals.  It was from one of my dearest friends, Christine.  They are adopting a sweet and darling little boy, David Wu, from Wuhan, China.

We have been almost in lock-step along the way.  And that has been God's miracle, as neither of us knew the other was contemplating adoption.  In fact, Jim and I asked Ian and Christine to pray discernment for us over a matter that we left unexplained.  They thought they were praying for us about something totally unrelated to what they were praying about.  We were sitting with a file of a darling girl, feeling tugged to make her our daughter even as adopting again was not at all on our hearts and our lives were turned upside down with our sons epilepsy diagnosis.  Despite all of that, we were called.  And we said yes.

But before our yes, during our waiting and listening, Thanksgiving happened.  And Christine bought a lovely organic, free range turkey.  The table was set with glistening silver and sparkling china.  The food was prepared and waiting to bake, baste and simmer.  And the call came.  The grocery store wanting to inform them that the very turkey they were preparing to bake...well, it had salmonella.  Or some sort of dire health issue.

I'm sure you have no idea where this is going.  Because what sane person would script this?  No one!  Only the Lord.

Ian leaves to return said infected/infested turkey.  Christine is ready.  What's a girl to do on Thanksgiving Day with an extra hour?  Peruse the waiting child list to pray over the kiddos, of course.  Because, although they had no plans to adopt again, Christine would visit a site of waiting children on occasion and pray over them and the families that would eventually unite with them forever.  This time, though.  This time was different.

It was different because this time the Lord had their son on that web page.  And while Christine gazed into this darling chubby, red-cheeked face, she hit "print" on the printer.  Out comes a picture that went from the desk to the fridge and by the end of the weekend?  Little Yu Wuhe's family found him!

Glory.

I will never forget Kris the Great appearing at my door to pick up kiddos on December 18th, and she asked me if I'd seen Christine's email yet.  What email?

We run to the computer and open the smilebox.  And I can't comprehend what I'm seeing.  I seriously thought they were sending out an announcement to say they were buying a new dog and it was a sort of joke email.  Sad, but true.  It was like my brain could not take in what the next photo might be, because what were the chances?

Glory!

Have you ever?  Isn't he darling?!

Well, I don't know that I can chronicle the amazed joy that flowed from that moment.  God had called BOTH our families to adopt again.  And unbeknownst to either of us, he called us in tandem!

We've been madly paperchasing and waiting ever since, delighting in the miracle of adoption and the beauty of folding another child into our families together.  Rejoicing in GOd's beautiful provision for all of us.  His goodness.  His redemptive hand at work for sweet Emma Kate and adorable David Wu.  His incredible tapestry woven perfectly by His glorious hand.

I still can't believe it.  

The timing has been one of us "ahead", only to be leaped over by the other.  And somehow, while I hoped and wondered, even dreamed, I never really thought we'd end up at the finish line in lock-step.

Then today.  Today.  What a beautiful day.

David's family received TA!  Right before China shuts down for a week for the holidays!  Just.in.time!  

Just in God's perfect timing.

We will be in China together!  Oh. my. stars!  Oh, my lands!  JOY!

How this all unfolds is the rest of God's story.  And He writes best.  Better and more than all we could ask or imagine!

Today I stand before you with a full heart and testify, "How great is our God!  How beautiful His lovingkindness!"

"But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, 

the purposes of his heart through all generations."             - Psalm 33:11

David Wu Yuehe's Mom: I Love you!  Let's go to China!  I'll pass you in the air and we will smile and laugh and dance and sing and shout in joy!  How great is our God?!!!!