Way Maker

I am thankful:

~ for a red-and-pink-and-love-and-sugar-soaked week. We had Valentine’s bags and boxes and treats and cards. Valentine’s party at school and a Valentine’s goody box from Grandmommy, and a very special cake baked by a sweet neighbor.

~ for the glorious sunshine! I can’t believe the amount of rain and dreary days we have had. The sunshine is literally like medicine for my heart.

~ for one of our very favorite nights of the whole year: the Father/Daughter Banquet and Dance at our church. For the first time in the 14 years we have participated, I got to help behind the scenes. I have been up to my eyeballs in streamers and confetti and heart-shaped everything for weeks. It was so neat to see it all come together. The girls get so giddy and excited to get all fancied up for a night out on a date with their daddy. Carson Grace even came home from college to attend. It’s just the cutest thing when they all squeal at the sound of the doorbell. Because I t’s always Dad, dressed in his finest, offering a rose to each of his girls. He’s such an amazing dad, and I know our daughters will always remember these special evenings and how loved they are. And Little Miss Tatum K gets to get dolled up for the pictures, but is still too young to attend. She spend the evening with mom and the boys. We had our own fun: pizza rolls, watched a hilarious movie, and then a late night dash to Dairy Queen for a treat. It was a great night all around.

~ for a real life miracle. A precious missionary from our church who lovingly serves the people of Nicaragua was in a terrible accident in which the other involved party was killed. It was a horrific experience, and he was almost immediately thrown in prison. And people all over the world began to pray. Glory to God, our friend was released. We continue to ask for prayer for the family who lost their loved one, and for all the lives that we believe will be touched through this situation. God will redeem for good what the enemy had planned for evil.

~for tile floor and nail polish remover. I will let the photo speak for itself.

~ for a full week of birthday festivities. This is always a jam-packed week for us, with Kora’s birthday on the 13th and Gavin’s on the 14th. Kora enjoyed cinnamon rolls for breakfast, a mom/dad/Tatum K lunch date of Chick-fil-A for lunch, and macaroni and cheese and Cheetos for dinner. Gavin was treated to heart-shaped pancakes with whipped cream and sprinkles, a McDonald’s lunch, and he helped make his favorite homemade pizza for dinner. We continued the birthday celebration with dad‘s awesome grilled hamburgers and ice cream sandwich cake for dessert. I can’t believe how these two are growing up. I think about how little and broken and confused they were when they barreled through my front door six years ago. We still have plenty that we are working through, but I am so very proud of them and excited to watch as the Lord’s plans for them unfold.

~ for the start of another major DIY home project. Carson Grace‘s room is doubling as my painting studio while she is away, but it will always remain her bedroom as long as she wants to come home. So we are trying to do our best to make the space functional for both purposes. The entire room will get a facelift with fresh paint, but phase 1 is building a Murphy bed. This is a pretty major undertaking, and Josh created his own custom plans, building it from scratch. We had lots of stops and starts and do-overs, some frustrations for sure. But he has made remarkable headway in just two days, and we are so excited! This man’s brain and creativity never cease to amaze me! He sees blueprints in his mind and knows how to bring them to life.

~ for the tender hearts of my kids. At the end of the worship music portion of our service, Brother Joe encouraged us to pray for anyone that we knew had a need. Each one of my Littles immediately bowed their heads and begin to pray, with Sawyer sinking to his knees. I can only imagine what those innocent, heartfelt prayers mean to their Heavenly Father.

I’ve just really been struck this week by the miraculous, incomprehensible works of God. He truly is a Way Maker. (This song really is incredible…give it a listen) He makes a way where there is no way. Everything can look impossible. But God. With God, somehow through the unthinkable, we are able to put one foot in front of the other. Through cancer. Through grieving. Through chronic pain. Through imprisonment. Through brokenness. There is no way three adopted-from-foster-care Littles could overcome trauma and neglect and grow into bright, healthy, and thriving members of a family. No way that a baby dying from cancer and multiple organ failure could survive and live as a NORMAL 6 year old. No way that 2 kids who shacked up and had a child out of wedlock could stay married and continue to fall more in love after 20 years. Whatever looks impossible to our short-sighted human eyes. Impossible that a prodigal will one day decide to turn around and fall in love with Jesus. Impossible to smile again after losing a child. Impossible to forgive someone who isn’t sorry. Impossible to die without fear. But God. He IS a Way Maker. He is doing things just beneath the surface, just beyond our vision, and so far above and below and around us that we can’t even imagine. I don’t think we can ever grasp the depth of His love until the day we finally fall before His Presence. Even so, He’s so gracious… He gives us little glimpses along the way, because he knows we’re gonna want to give up. I see Him in the eyes of my children. I see Him in the way my husband loves me. I believe in miracles because I’ve seen them with my own eyes. I see a miracle every time I look in the mirror. Because I know who I was. Whatever you’re praying for, keep praying. Keep asking. Keep fighting. He is working. He’s working on the things you pray about, and He’s working on you. I needed this reminder this week, and I figured maybe somebody else did too.

Let’s love one another well this week. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop testifying. He’s worthy.

Thanks for giving thanks with me.

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:11-14)

“Way maker/ Miracle worker

Promise keeper/Light in the darkness

My God/That is who you are”

(Leeland)