No One Can Weave a Better Story than God

About this time last year Michael and I decided that we would start pursuing adoption. After the New Year we put out a couple of feelers and requested information from several different adoption agencies. Catholic Social Services of Montana was an easy pick for us - they responded so quickly and with so much information and excitement. We started filling out the application forms they sent us and got them turned back in at the beginning of March. A couple of weeks later we received an invitation to attend their adoption workshop at the end of April. Some other things in our lives were pretty turbulent at that time, but God gave us a peace about pursuing this. We were even more excited and sure when we left the workshop. We gave ourselves until July to fill out all of our paperwork. Then, at the end of May, Michael resigned his pastoral position. This was a really hard time and made it especially hard for Michael to do the soul-searching and self-evaluation that was required for filling out all of the adoption paperwork. During this time God had to constantly remind me against striving - working hard, becoming anxious, nagging Michael to finish his stuff - none of those things were going to make a difference in our adoption because the whole thing was in His hands. Finishing sooner, finishing later - it wasn't going to make a difference because it would all happen in His timing - no matter what. After missing several other deadlines we set for ourselves, it was actually going to happen by Michael's birthday, Friday, November 6th. I usually have Wednesdays off from work, but that week I had jury duty on Tuesday so that was my day off. That meant that I was "randomly" at home on Tuesday afternoon when Barb called. (Barb is a neighbor who lives several miles north of us. We had gotten to know one of her daughters, Leah and Leah's husband Danny when they visited the church in Columbus. They only visited for a little while but we kept in touch and hung out every once in a while. We actually met Barb when she visited with them. We have hunted on their ranch a couple of times and Michael has gone up to help Danny and Barb's husband Al with ranch things a couple of times.) Barb told me that this phone call would be weird and then told me that another daughter (Amy) was pregnant and wanted us to adopt her baby! (Remember, this is 3 days before we mailed off the last of our application paperwork!) I didn't even know what to say! I gave her the number for Catholic Social Services and told her how wonderful they were. Michael and I must have held our breaths for days wondering if this would really be real. I had a rough day at work on Monday but when I got home Michael told me I needed to listen to our voice messages. Amy had left a message inviting me to come to her ultrasound appointment on Wednesday! I couldn't even believe it! It is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I could see her (yes, she's a girl) heart beating (143 beats per minuet) and her spine and ribs, her hands and feet in constant motion. . . She was 20 weeks and 4 days, the technician said, and 13 oz. Her due date is 3/27/10. Amy and I went out to lunch afterward to get to know each other. She had told me on the phone that she hoped we liked music because she thinks the baby does. Music? Us? There are so many other details that I can't remember all at once and would just sound like babbling anyway. I thank you from a distance for all your excitement and prayers on our behalf. Here are some specific things you can be praying for: for Amy - it seems that she is far from the Lord and not interested in coming closer, for safety and health for Amy and our first little Lairdlette, for God's hand and will in all of this. Also, we still have to have our homestudy and be approved, but out social worker is so wonderful and keeps telling us that it won't be a big deal. Nothing can be officially official until 72 hours after she is born and Amy signs the papers. We know that nothing is too big for God and we believe that this baby will be our first, but we are also aware of our weakness as humans and that God's ways are not ours and what we consider to be a perfect ending may not be His plan for us. We are focused right now on getting approved, preparing for Baby and ministering to Amy. We appreciate your prayers, love and support. Stay tuned for more updates.

Random Thoughts

It actually feels like early Fall today instead of Winter. Had a great time at a Women's Worship Night last night and I'm taking a break from running errands right now. Michael's been out hunting since yesterday morning - ducks, geese and 1 pheasant that I know of so far. I've been kind of emotional this weekend for unknown reasons; I hope that passes soon because it's exhausting! Been doing some shopping for Michael's birthday (keeping my eye out for Christmas ideas, too). I'm enjoying choir rehearsals for the Living Christmas Tree (it's been so long!) and can't wait to see Michael's family in Texas for Christmas. We're trying to finish up our adoption paperwork and getting ready to start work on a nursery. Please pray for us for patience (I know, we're not supposed to pray for that) as we wait for God to show us what he has next for us. We know we're doing what we should be doing right now but also know that it is not our end destination. That's all I've got for now. Love you all.

Gratitude

It's not just a feeling. It can be cultivated even in tough circumstances; it can be a product of a conscious effort of the mind and heart. I have seen this demonstrated so much in Michael these past few weeks. He likes driving the bus and working in the chemical building at the fireworks plant, but the days he has to work in other building he does kind of mindless, unchallenging assembly line work which makes him think things like "what am I doing here, I have a Master's degree." He is very careful to repent of thoughts like these on the spot and remind himself that a month ago he didn't have a job. It our times of prayer he has never failed to thank God for the work He has provided; and his thanks is with a genuinely thankful and humble heart. The leader of a Bible study I am in told us a few weeks ago about how she intentionally thanks her husband several times a week for going to work to provide for their family; she tells him what a blessing that is to her. I've tried to start doing the same thing - especially as he is currently working at jobs that would not be his top pick. I'm hoping that it is an encouragement to him like his gratitude is an encouragement to me.

Weather Wiplash Again

So, we've been hotter than Atlanta for over a week now, temps reaching 89 last week. We cooled off a little over the weekend and into Monday in the mid-70s. Back up t0 80-something on Tuesday. And today? High of 48 and raining a constant drizzle! I heard a rumor that the high on Monday will be 26, but I'll have to see it to believe it. I'll keep you posted. Hope you all are enjoying the Fall weather wherever you are. Love you.

WORK

Yeah, Michael has at least one job, maybe two. He will start his own bus route on Tuesday and hopefully the pyrotechnics plant in town will work around his schedule and he will be able to work in between driving the bus. This avoids the dreaded drive back and forth to Billings to work (nothing really would have paid enough to make it worth it with the gas and all.) Michael is looking forward to helping with the income and having some of the pressure off so we can focus on what God wants next. Thanks, Lord. And thanks for all your prayers.

Church

We've been invited and are excited to stay at the church where we've been helping out with music this summer. We are looking forward to getting involved. I've also started praying that God will plant a church in our hearts - maybe it's this one, maybe it's one that isn't even started yet, but I'm praying that God will start preparing us for where He will have us minister next.

Psalms Revelation

I've had issues with the book of Psalms in the past. Weird, I know. I obviously love the happy, praising ones but have had a hard time wrapping myself around all the "death and destruction to my enemies" ones. It doesn't seem very New Testament "love your enemies" to me. As I was reading the other day, though, I received a new perspective. The Israelites were God's chosen people. David was God's chosen leader, a man after God's own heart. Perhaps he identified himself so totally with this position that he considered any affront to himself and attack on God's purposes and therefore was seeking the destruction of God's enemies as he asked God for the destruction of his own enemies. Are you following me?

So then, how might that apply to my life. I'm sure there are many applications, but the first one I came up with concerns a job for Michael. Michael is a man of God. He is known in our community as a pastor (currently without church). So I am praying for God to provide him a job where he can continue to minister in this community but also to provide in such a way that the community can see that God is taking care of us - that he does not let His people go un-provided-for. Pretty much a "bless us for the sake of Your Name" deal. It's very biblical - read Psalms. I have a new joy in reading them myself now that I have this new perspective.

Let me know what you think.

Love you.