promises fulfilled

A visit from a dear friend marked, for me, a full circle moment.

The beginning of our adoption journey to Emma Kate had me on the phone in tears and a bit of a panic in the middle of a snowstorm (and I wasn't crying about the snow) with my trusted and beloved friend, Krisztina.

Krisztina and I have known each other for eight years (ish).  We met in a Kay Arthur bible study, and continued our friendship when she asked if I would like to join a prayer group with her.  And over all these years, we've prayed our way together to the Lord and through life.  These days, just Krisztina and I meet.  Unless of course our other friend, Kathleen, is in town.  Then we delight in the times she (and sometimes her husband, David) can join us.  Those are good days!  Krisztina's trust in the Lord and her unwavering faith that always turns to Him first and only are beautiful to behold.  She prayed Anna home with us.  We've stood alongside one another through thick and thin.  And with Krisztina it always comes back to Jesus.  Because Jesus is what it is all about.

Krisztina was one of the few people we asked to pray discernment for us when Luke was having his seizures and we were still unsure what that meant, and we also had this darling girl's file in front of us and felt the Lord asking us to be a part of her story.  Some of that time is chronicled here.  It was such the wrong time for the Lord to ask us to bring Emma Kate home, which really just makes it such the right time.  He did something beyond anything we could conceive or understand.

Krisztina helps me listen to God.  She holds me to Him in prayer and reminds me of His promises, of who He is, of what He has done and who He has been.  Krisztina is also incredibly wise, has the gift of discernment and of teaching, and a gentleness and heart filled with the Father's love.  I called her in an utter panic to share something.  I knew she would not just say something to make me feel better.  I knew she would tell me the truth, and help me hear God through my fear.  That is a friend.

Emma Kate has a special Auntie in Krisztina.  I knew He would have a special sweetness blossom between them, and last week marked the beginning of knowing each other in person, even as Krisztina has "known" and prayed for Emma Kate all these months.  The waiting to be home with her is finally fulfilled, and a celebration lunch was in order!

As you can see, we didn't have any fun. :)  Aren't they cute together!

EK sparked to Krisztina right away.  And the Barbie dress-up game that Krisztina brought has not left Emma's hands since Friday.  No kidding!  The little pink box is filled with the dress-up treasures, and also dental floss (don't ask!).  She totes it everywhere, including bed.

Lunch was so fun.  Having Auntie Krisztina here to celebrate God's faithfulness and goodness, and to marvel together that all he promised has come to pass did, for me, mark the finished work of bringing Emma Kate home.

There's a Watermark song that speaks to the joy of a friendship knit together by the Lord.  It is a song whose lyrics I love, and they remind me of my friendship with my dear friend and sister, Krisztina.


More Than You'll Ever Know  by Watermark

Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...

'Cause you've been more than a friend to me
You fight off my enemies
'Cause you've spoken the Truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life

More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah

You had faith, when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
And all the while I'm hoping that I'll
Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
And that's the way it ought to be...

You have carried me
You have taken upon a burden that wasn't your own
And may the blessing return to you

A hundredfold, oh yeah...
A hundredfold, oh yeah...

Krisztina,  my dear friend.  Thank you!  There aren't words enough to tell you how precious you are to me.