…AND THEN WE PRAYED…
8/30/02
It's been 3 weeks since we traveled to Central KS for a mini-CA reunion. During these past 3 weeks, many memorable moments have been on automatic replay in my mind. Whenever brothers and sisters in Christ get together and spend quality time face to face, great moments happen. I've asked myself several times, "Which moment was the best?" I can't decide--there were too many.
Was it the short calls loaded with anticipation, that we made to all the traveling CA couples on our cell phone, as we were all "in route" to Bruce & Janet's house?
Or was it bumping into Sandy and her children, Jordan and Seth in the hotel parking lot?
Was it watching our kids jump for joy as we entered a hotel room with other CA families just down the hall from us?
Or was it the anticipation that was building as we followed Janet's directions to their home?
Was it the joy of pulling into their driveway and seeing the vehicles and license plates of other CA families (CO, KS, OK)?
Or was it the honor of being welcomed into Bruce & Janet's lovely home for the first time?
Was it the joy of greeting Jeff & Ashley and Karl & Beth and Janet and Karen and Sandy?
Or the fun of seeing all of our adopted children playing together as best buddies?
Was it the joy of welcoming Karen's mother back again this year, as our adopted grandmother?
Or was it watching Mackenzie carry her plastic dishes and silverware everywhere?
Was it the time we spent eating pizza, fresh fruit, veggies and drinks together?
Or was it observing all of us as parents taking care of little ones as they ate?
Was it the candid photos I snapped of the other CA couples/families?
Or the realization that kids don't care what they're doing when someone is taking pictures?
Was it the many times, I witnessed the men outside (Karl, Jeff, Bruce & Eddie) laughing hysterically together?
Or the giggles I had when Eddie told me about the (exaggerated for dramatic purposes) stories he told them about me?
Was it watching Karen's big smiles as she took pictures of her Nathan and my Samuel rolling on the ground together?
Or was it seeing all the kids playing and getting along so well?
Was it Sandy's "Show & Tell" about Seth's preemie baby stuff?
Or was it Ashley's recounting of Mackenzie's birth day?
Was it Karen's mother's earnest and fascinated questions about our adoptions?
Or was it Beth's astute questions about birthmoms?
Was it the tearful moments that Sandy and Beth shared as they "connected" with each other?
Or was it the hilarity that Janet brought to each of us about putting Ava to bed at night? (YES!)
Was it the solitude and the peaceful quiet of being together?
Or was it the sense of being "at home" with each other?
Was it the yummy dessert we shared as we discussed 'who knows what'?
Or was it the simple joy of being in each other's presence?
Was it the exchange of gifts and stuff with each other?
Or the joy of giving to others that we love?
Was it farewells and 'parting is such sweet sorrow' Good-nights?
Or the joy of knowing we'd be together again in the morning?
Was it being greeted by a gracious Bruce the next morning?
Or pulling into Bruce & Janet's church parking lot for our morning meal?
Was it breaking bread that was cooked by a Christian friend of Janet's?
Or was it the quiet we experienced as we ate and assisted children?
Was it Janet's poignant reading of a paraphrased version of a record in Solomon?
Or having the box of tissues passed all around when she was done?
Was it the time of heart sharing with each other in a round table (but we were in a square pattern) discussion?
Or was it the fantastic and much needed input from everyone about different issues within Christian Adoption?
Was it the various topics of Christian Adoption concerns that needed to be considered?
Or was it the honest and sincere responses to the questions I presented?
Was it Ashley's blunt honesty?
Or Karl's quiet counsel?
Was it Bruce's willingness to manage the kids while we talked?
Or was it Janet's thoughtfulness to have planned out the details?
Was it the tears of compassion we shed together?
Or the tears of identification we shed as Eddie read a poem about a Dad and his son?
Was it walking hand in hand as good friends with Karen in the parking lot?
Or the many loving hugs we shared as we each parted?
Was it the final wave good-bye?
Or the retelling of events on our way home?
But after all that's considered, I really know when the best part was. It's when we finished our open forum question/discussion time. It's after we'd shared tears and tissues. It's after we felt even MORE AT HOME with each other. It's when the kids were quieted down and then we prayed.
We prayed for birthmoms and for adoptive couples. We prayed for God's hedge of protection around Christian Adoption and for all of our Christian Adoption family. We prayed for patience to wait for God's blessings and His timing. We prayed for waiting CA couples and for those with needs in particular. We prayed for wisdom and for God's grace and mercy. We prayed for safe travel and we prayed for the future of our children. We prayed for God's Word to live in our children and for generations to come. We prayed for His love to prevail in our hearts and within Christian Adoption.
Without a doubt, that was the best time.
When we united our hearts together
...and then we prayed...
For more information please read Wait and Lord. We encourage you to prayerfully consider registering with our service, and/or writing to us.
adoption@christianadoption.com
A non-profit Christian and Internet
service ministry. We're helping others in the adoption
process.
1.800.277.7006 620.251.4405
Deborah S. Hill P.O. Box 243 Coffeyville, KS 67337
www.christianadoption.com adoption@christianadoption.com
