Freedom of Speech

I would like to preface this post by saying I have absolutely no objection to online learning, modern degree progams (in fact I'd love to be part of one if your wealthy relative would like to send me a check), or new-fangled education methods. I'm just talking here....

Yes, it's been ages since I decided to update this little corner of my mind. I will try to improve. Ideally these writings would be about adoption news and details of our fabulous Colombian travel plans. However, those have yet to be written unless someone has had a premonition. Instead I shall regale you with some fascinating thoughts, ok? Ok.

The past several weeks have offered me much opportunity for personal reflection. It seems I have reached a point in my life where particular things, relationships, stages, beliefs, feelings, etc. need to be examined. No, I am not having a crisis of faith or a nervous breakdown (yet) or anything of that nature. Rather I am simply finding myself frequently.....unsettled. Let me give you an example of my recent thought processes:

A few days ago, one of my nieces mentioned having to give a speech for one of her college classes. This brought back many oh-so-horrible memories of my own undergrad speech class and the case of nerves that would inevitably decide to show up just before it was my turn. Very few people deliver riveting speeches on random topics at this stage in life, in case you are wondering, but we all somehow waded through this rite of passage together. Surprisingly (or not), the world of technology has now changed the long-dreaded public speaking debacle! Instead of going before a class, my niece gave her speech in front of her husband who recorded it and posted it to YouTube. Her professor would be doing the entire evaluation on the web. The public audience has been removed. Where then is the need for nervousness? Most of us can spout off any type of knowledge, or lack thereof, in front of those with whom we are most comfortable. It sounds like a great concept all around, doesn't it? No fear, minimal risk, no peer rejection--why not?

Wellllll. If you are me, you are a bit troubled by this idea. Learning simplified or the fall of traditional education as we know it?????? Gasp! I know. That's over-doing it a bit. Throwing in a bit of drama for flair. But think about it. As much as I love technology, at some point we are losing touch with a very important reality: the big wide world around us.

Online speeches aside for a moment, this triggered something in my feeble brain. How often do we see this scene unfold in our daily lives? It becomes so very simple to get stuck in our roles and our smallish frames of reference and lose sight of a bigger picture. I will speak for myself and say that life with minimal risk is much easier than the alternative. However, what will I miss if I stay here in this place of security simply because I fear the unknown or rejection or ________ (fill in the blank with any number of ridiculous fearful imaginings)? I will probably miss a lot of little things, and I will most definitely miss the bigger results that God has in store for my life.

So I am for reinstating the outside world. If that requires me to make some changes, to become more focused in certain areas, to find a different path of sorts, then so be it. My hope is that the destination will be worth it. It may not be simple or comfortable or quiet, but most worthwhile things aren't. And as far as the world of public speaking goes, I'm for a crowded room. Because really, if you can't picture people in their underwear and talk to them for a full 3 minutes about a foreign diplomat whose name you drew out of a hat......what's the point?

Faith, Hope, and Love

I know it seems that updates are few and far between. This is mostly due to the fact that there is really no big news to update! We are just waiting. And waiting. But at least no one is waiting on us ~ our part is done for now! As soon as we receive our approval, I will certainly post it.

However, I have been thinking and praying and hoping.

Specifially I have been thinking quite a bit about my faith, or lack thereof. Am I really trusting God with this process in every way? Am I praying enough, seeking enough, growing enough? Many times the answer is: probably not. But I'm trying. And God is reminding me that His strength is still undeniably perfect in my weaknesses. He is also gently encouraging me to stay focused on those things which are most important. Sometimes the process is hard, but the result will one day overshadow the wait.

My friend, Kelly, brought her baby girl home from Colombia last August. We were 'introduced' through our caseworker last spring and discovered we live only 10 minutes from each other. Tonight we were able to join in the celebration of G.G's 1st birthday. It was so precious to watch her as she tried her cake, opened her presents (i.e., played with the tissue paper) and experienced all of the fun 1st birthday things that we so often take for granted. It was also exciting to think that our turn for 'firsts' will hopefully be coming soon. These are the moments when I know that God is in our circumstances. He so gently lets me see what is ahead for our family. He so kindly places people in our path that give us hope.

Recently, some friends of ours were re-located and had to make a big move. While we were so very sorry to see them go, can you guess where they are? Yep. Bogota, Colombia. We do not yet know which orphanage we will be working with, but we do know that at least the court proceedings will take place in Bogota. Now, honestly ~ what are the chances that you will leave the country for the first time ever and be able to visit someone you know? Claudia can speak Spanish faster than the speed of light. Our children will see friends. We will have the comfort of familiarity, if only for a few days. Again, God is moving. How amazing that He loves us enough to work out all of these details.

I hope to soon have exciting news to tell. Until then, we will continue the journey knowing that the plan is not our own. And that is a very good thing.