Don't say those bad words!

I know...it's been forever since I blogged.  I've had plenty of posts swirling in my head, but never posted for some reason or another...I doubt this one will be worth the wait (that is very vain of me - and actually humorous - to think that I actually have people that are sitting around waiting for me to write a blog post, but confession and transparency are good I suppose).

Anyhoo...we have words that are considered "bad words" at our house.  For instance, we're not supposed to say "shutup" or "stupid", etc.  Well, I have my own "bad words", but it's probably not what you're thinking.  The words "patience" and "wait" or "waiting" have become bad words to me.  Quite frankly, I've never been known as a patient person so I guess this isn't anything new, but at the place that our family is in our lives I guess it's just taking on new meaning.

The adoption journey is a lot of waiting.  I knew that going into this process, but it's a whole different thing actually going through it and I'm simply not good at it.  We've also been waiting to actually launch a new church, we've been waiting on a job for Ernie...waiting, waiting, waiting.  You would think with all this waiting that I'd get better at it as I go along, wouldn't you?  I mean, I'm usually a fairly quick learner...well, not with life lessons or spiritual lessons...usually God has to hit me over the head with a 2 x 4 before it somewhat starts to sink in.  It's taken me this long to realize that God is trying to teach me patience.  Duh!

Continuing to be completely honest...I dislike this lesson immensely.  Sure, I know Psalm 46:10 tells me to "be still and know that I am God", but it's easier said than done...or it's also easier read than done.  Do you know that's not all of the verse?  The entire verse is: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  For me, that helps the waiting make more sense.  Maybe God wants me to wait because He will get more glory in and through the waiting and with the final result.  I don't know if it makes it easier, but it makes more sense knowing the last part of the verse.

I know that God's timing is perfect; there is nothing lost in His economy and all the other Christian cliches or Sunday School answers...they're easy to see in someone else's life and even tell them that.  But if I really believe those statements and that verse, then I need to live it in my own life (maybe I need to re-read about getting the plank out of my own eye before pointing it out in someone else's - Matthew 7).  I actually had the audacity to tell my precious Godly husband to quit praying for patience for us through all of these things because it will cause us to wait longer.  What that says about me is that I'd rather not trust in God's timing and I'd rather not learn the lessons that the Lord has for me throughout this process...I'd rather not just sit on the bench staring at the cross like my oldest son in the picture above and know that He is God and wants - and DESERVES - to be exalted!!  It also says that I'm scared to wait.  You see, if I wait then I might learn some things about myself that I would rather be blissfully ignorant.  YUCK!  How messed up is that?

During this point in our lives of hurry up and wait, I'm truly trying to embrace the words "wait" and "patience" rather than think of them as bad words.  I'm trying to see the positive things that happen along the way and also the positives that will come in the future from waiting and being still right now.  I know it's already increasing our faith and I'm so grateful!  I need a lot of faith when we need about $19,000 more for the adoption!  Which reminds me...here's a way you can help with that (how's that for a transition?): order coffee for yourself or for gifts here: http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheWillisHome and they'll send us a check for each coffee sale made!  Thank you!!!

Have you learned this lesson?  Do you find it hard to wait?  Is God trying to teach you patience or increase your faith?

The Journey Continues...


So many people keep asking about how the adoption is going so that is the reason for this post. Unfortunately, there isn't much to tell which is why we were hesitant to let the cat out of the bag this early that we were adopting. We knew people would be asking and there wouldn't be much to tell at the beginning as paperwork is being done, background checks happen, doctor appointments and lab work, gathering our birth certficates from the state, getting a copy of our marriage certificate, etc. It takes a while for all of that to happen. We decided to tell everyone because we knew that we needed much prayer during all of this and we were going to have to raise a good bit of money and people could pray for that!



Most people that know me know that Journey is probably one of my most favorite bands of all time (secular). I love the music, I loved Steve Perry's voice, I love their overall sound and live shows...but I also love their name - journey. That's what we're all on in life no matter where we are in the process. I'm on a larger overall journey, but this adoption is a journey as well.


This part of the journey is info gathering and fundraising. I have to admit that's not my favorite part of the process, but I know that the end result will be worth it...just like any journey and even if we don't see it while we go through it.


So...with all that being said...people have also asked if they could help in any way. Obviously, we have to do the info gathering part, but YES, YOU CAN HELP WITH FUNDRAISING! I know you're so excited about that!!! :-) Seriously, Ernie is selling his homemade salsa and we're taking orders for pint jars at $6 a piece. Let me know if you want to order any...it's fabulous! He's only making the medium (lukewarm) flavor this time.


Also, I've invested in a side business to raise money for this adoption and selling Premier Designs Jewelry. I also love that they started 25 years ago as a way to fund missions...so how appropriate for that to be a way to fund this journey!!!!!! Anyway, if you would like to host a party for me please let me know! You can earn free jewelry (what could be better than that?) being a hostess and I make sure we have a lot of fun!!! It's not a huge commitment for you to do this and it's really not money out of your pocket as a hostess, but it helps me a TON!


We will also be having some other fundraisers along the way that I'll let you know about as they come closer. We know that God has called us to this so He will provide in ways that we can't even imagine so we are at total peace!!! Thank you mostly for your prayers during the journey. We can't express how much this means to us. May God bless you!!!

Under the totally random category...

Yes, being a child of the 80's made me a fan of the group Journey...I admit it. The very first CD that I ever bought when CD's first came out was Journey's greatest hits. I even have their box set. Call it whatever you want, but Steve Perry had the best voice in rock music. I don't believe that there will ever be another voice like that, but I agree that they've finally gotten as close as they probably ever will without bringing him back as the front man: