And now for the rest of the story. (Part III)

"...We left church and headed home. I was chomping at the bit to see if God had hit Scott over the head with a lightning bolt, but as he drove he still did not comment. I bit my tongue and refrained from asking. We went home, had dinner and called it a night. "

Three nights later, I found myself needing to know what his thoughts were. I again prayed. Actually, I told God that I knew I should just shut up and wait, but I couldn't wait any longer. So, I went into the bedroom where Scott was laying watching his "late show", Family Man. Most nights, he hands the remote over to me as soon as the show is over, kisses me goodnight and goes to sleep. So, I patiently sat and pretended to watch the show (which he knows I hate anyways).

When it was over, as expected, he gave me the remote and my kiss goodnight. This time instead of saying goodnight, I said, "Can we talk?" I think he knew it was coming. It was just a matter of time. I'm really surprised and impressed that I held off that long.

He said, "Sure." I asked him if he's been praying about what I had mentioned and he said, "Yes, every day." I then said, "And?" (My husband sometimes has this way of making me feel like I am pulling teeth, but you gotta love him.) He then said, "I've thought about it, about the children in Africa, about how blessed we are and yes, if it is God's will for us to bring home another child, then so be it. You are right. We have so many luxuries and so much, I agree that it's what Jesus would want us to do and I want to be obedient to His calling."

I was so taken back that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The only words I could utter were (since at that moment fear struck me like a bolt of lightening at the thought that now we may indeed be bringing home another little one) "You know, this doesn't mean that we have to adopt, or that we will. It just means that we are both 150% in agreement that if it is God's will and he provides for us to clear our debts and somehow come up with the money for another adoption, we will bring home a son." He said, "Yes! That's exactly what it means."

WOW!!!!!! Isn't God amazing? I guess that's why he's God. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that Scott would ever agree to another adoption. Never. Ever. Ever. Yet, here he was. Just weeks after I began praying, right next to me saying, "Lord, may your will be done."

The following day is when I posted THIS PICTURE on the blog. That day we had taken a long walk through the park. We had a great time with the new camera. I distinctly remember coming home and we were viewing all the pictures that I had taken with the new camera. When I got to the picture I mentioned above, I said "Wouldn't an African little boy standing between you and I make this picture perfect?" Scott chuckled at me and said, "Yes, he would!"

So, that's where we stand right now. Both Scott and I are 100% open to another adoption. We would love to bring home a toddler boy from West Africa. Is it written in stone that it's going to happen? No, because we don't know if those are God's plans. But, what we do know is that He has changed both our hearts and opened them wider than either one of us ever expected. Now we just need him to open the doors and provide. We serve a very, mighty God and I know NOTHING is impossible with him. I have to stand firm in my faith that it will happen if it's according to His will.

Scott and I have discussed how the bible tells us about Abraham and Sarah and how they waited so many years for their promised son. And then, God tested Abraham by asking him to give up the very son that was the answer to his prayers. It was what I would believe to be the ultimate test of faith. Abraham had to trust God with every fiber of his being as he was building that altar and laying his son atop of the wood.

I'm not saying we are anywhere close to what Abraham was going to sacrifice. But, we are both as one flesh, uniting in our faith and proclaiming that we will trust our God to the end with that same non-waivering faith. It's very hard to not ever waiver, especially when there are obstacles placed before you such as finances. But, we also know that through our weaknesses and our trials, is when our faith grows the most. When we are weak, we are strong.

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." - II Corinthians 12:10

He has led us to the path, and now we must follow. His will is our greatest desire and we look forward to seeing where the journey takes us. Actually, both Scott and I are hoping that the journey indeed takes us across the world one more time. This time to Africa.

(For the record: Tonight as I was typing this, I turned to Scott and said, "We're still on track to adopt from Africa if God provides, correct?" He looked at me, sighed, and said, "Yep!" with a smile!)