The Reason

This weekend I attended a conference designed just for Moms.  I had been asked specifically to join a few other ladies from my church at this two-day event.


I wasn't sure why, but I felt like I should go.


In case you didn't know.  I don't have any kids.  So I felt a little silly attending this event.  


As other moms shared about the life with their toddlers or their school age kids all I could add was that Knox ate two bibles, a book, and some colored pencils this week.


Obviously, I'm in a different place.


A couple of hours into the conference I was feeling discouraged.  Though the information was good and was encouraging for so many of the women there, it just isn't wasn't where I am currently. 


As I sat in one of the break-out sessions, I prayed that God would give me something...just one thing, that I could walk away from the weekend with for the right now in my life.  


Not even fifteen minutes later, one of the speakers on the panel said something that spoke directly to an issue that Brian and I have been wrestling with for our family.   It confirmed what I had already felt God leading us to do.  


Love that. 


But.....He wasn't done. 


He's promised more than I can ask for or imagine, right? 


At the end of the session I happened to hear one of the woman state she had adopted from Ethiopia.  Of course, I had to trot on over and introduce myself to her.  I told her that we were adopting from the DRC, her eyes lit up and she said, "You've got to meet Carrie! She's coming to the session tonight and she just brought home her daughter from the DRC last month!" 


I have never actually met anyone who has adopted from the DRC.  Now, I have my amazing blog and agency friends who email back and forth as we wade through this process.... but I have never met a real, living, breathing human in person who has been through this crazy process. 


You see, the DRC isn't a warm, fuzzy place to adopt from....it's not a place that many families choose because of it's instability. 


To actually meet someone who has been through the wait and has traveled to the DRC to bring home their child was more than I could have asked for or imagined. 


Later that night, I got to meet and talk with Carrie.  Not only was this their first child as well, but they live only an hour and a half from us....  the first DRC family I know of in Alabama.  


There is a small percentage of families that have experienced adoption with the DRC...and God gave me face to face time with one of them. 


What. a. gift.  


Those few minutes with her were just the encouragement that I needed.  


For the right now.  


More than I can ask or imagine.