God's Provision

I have been writing this post (along with many others!) in my mind for months.  It is all about God and His great provision and how much bigger in the details He keeps getting to me.

I have said - and truly believed - from the beginning that the God who called us to another adoption is faithful and will provide for all our financial needs.  But the fundraisers I thought would be successful didn't go as well as I'd thought or raise as much money as when we did it with the first adoption.  Please don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for other's generosity toward us!  But God was at work in ways that I couldn't even imagine.  At first it was little ways - a $20 check from Just Love coffee would arrive or a rebate filled out months before and forgotten about would arrive or a bit of extra cash from a sewing project.  Then we heard  a speaker talk about adopting debt free.  She said the average American family spent approximately $250 a month eating out (we are not average!).  There wasn't that line for us to cut in our budget but the Lord laid on my heart that we could cut out "un-necessaries" for a time - we could wait and ask for that new CD or movie for Christmas instead of buying it now.  We really didn't need Christmas candy this year with all the other sweet treats we have.  It was amazing how little things like that could add up to several hundred dollars to add to the adoption savings.

God continued to be at work - we won a $500 adoption grant at a conference.  Mike's work adoption benefits doubled from $4,000 to $8,000. WOW!

And the God really blew us away.  We were approached on Sunday at church by someone who said he was just the "Secret Santa" delivering an envelope to us.  In that envelope was one thousand dollars cash and a note wishing our family well as it expands.  We have no idea who the money is from nor will I think we ever know.

But God wasn't done yet!  We recently learned that we would have to spend a large sum of tax return money, which we were planning to put aside for the adoption, for other purposes.    I have been applying for adoption scholarships and last week we received word from Show Hope that we have been awarded a $5,500 scholarship. Tax return money - my plan.  Show Hope scholarship, larger then what we would have set aside - God's plan.

I am truly humbled by all this.  I continue to be surprised and then think I shouldn't be.  My God is so much bigger than I can even imagine, so doesn't it seem only right that He would continue to act in ways that are so much bigger than my plans and my imagination!

I would encourage anyone going through the adoption process or thinking about it - God is so much bigger than financial restrictions!  Call out to Him!!  We are a family who on paper could in no way afford another adoption (we couldn't afford the first one he!).  But we serve a God who is bigger than how things look on paper.  And He who calls us will provide.  And His plans and His timing is always the best.