One Little Penny

I have tried to start this posting several times and I keep erasing the introduction.  Lately, I have been very emotional about this process. It seems like whenever I began to feel overwhelmed God will allow me to come across something to encourage me and to confirm that this adoption is in His will.  So many people ask me the following questions:

1. Are you gonna get 1 or 2? (in a synical, non believing voice)
2. Are you going to work once they get here?
3. Where is the money coming from?
4. So....when are they going to get here?
5. You have to go to.....Africa?
6. Isn't this just a lot....
7. Are you sure you don't want to adopt domestically?
8. Why not just 1?
9. So what is going to happen when you bring them home?
10. How are you going to adjust..is your family moving back to help?

It's so many questions that I become so frustrated.  But then God steps in and reminds me of his word.  God has a heart for the fatherless.....He put the burden to adopt in our hearts.  This is the desire HE gave us.  Many people don't understand....and unfortunately I can't really explain it.  All I know is that one day God spoke and we answered the call.

On this journey one thing that continues to come up is the cost.  For about a week, I have been thinking heavily about this.  It is quite expensive.  In my prayer closet today I finally gave it to God and I reminded Him this was his promise and I will not worry any more how this is going to come together.  And then so sweetly I came across this story.....This is how faithful God is to me!

"One Little Penny"

So many of you have written and wondered how in the world - with this economy will you/ could you/ should you afford to bring home a treasure or two? 

I have a story I have been meaning to share.  It's a story from the heart of God.  See, He's not limited to the economy.  He's not limited to a loss of job.  He's not limited to the rising cost of food.

He loves the orphan.  He longs for every.single.one. to be in a home.   

And He is definitely not a deadbeat Dad.

If He loves the orphan so much, do you think that a job loss is a surprise to Him?  Does a loss of income come as a surprise to Him? Or how about the rising cost of food?  

Not a chance!!

Sweet friends, if need be, He will bring money out of seemingly no where.  And yes, you could wake up in the morning and find a stack of money on your front lawn.  He owns it all!!   And nothing is too difficult for Him.  He can truly bring money out of nowhere, from the down right craziest places, to provide for each treasure of His to come home.  

And here's a personal story of Ruby's 'pennies from heaven'.  

In early summer, I had gone downtown to 
have coffee with a friend.

We grabbed our drinks and decided to walk Main Street.

Walking, talking and eventually praying together. 

Walking back to our cars, we hugged and as I stepped off the curb to head to my car I saw it.  A penny laying on the ground.  I laughed and called to my friend, "Look!  A penny for our next treasure to come home!  We always pick up every penny we see, because enough pennies can bring a little one home and besides - Dw and I always say, "each penny is a reminder from the Lord that HE WILL PROVIDE EVERY PENNY needed."

My sweet friend, Kathy, laughed and agreed with me.

A couple months later Kathy texted me.  

She said she had something she needed to bring me.  

When we were able to meet up she wondered. 
 She went on -  she needed help carrying "it."

Huh?

She actually came to the hospital where Karl was.  She visited awhile and then went to her car and lifted "it"
 out of the trunk and carried toward
 me the prettiest box ever
{wish I'd taken a picture of the box, you'd have loved it.}

Inside the box was this:

 It was filled to the brim with change she had gathered from all over her house, her husband's pockets and every nook and cranny she found.  Yes, it was filled.

 

I am sure that you can imagine my amazement after reading this.  My response was "Thank you Jesus for being so mindful of me."

I was dumbfounded.  I had completely forgotten about my penny comment when we had met for coffee a few months before. 

She then handed me a wad of bills too.  She and her sweet husband wanted to help little Miss Ruby {and SJ} come home.    
Dw and the kids almost passed out when they saw it.  

It was full.  

Completely full.

It was one of the coolest things we have ever received.  A clear reminder that God uses pennies to help bring treasures home.  He uses people and crazy circumstances {like finding a penny on the ground while stepping off the curb saying good-bye to a friend having coffee} to prompt someone to share what they have so that a much-valued little person {or persons} can come home forever.

Now the adorable piggy is too big for our Memorial Box but a penny is not.  It serves inside our Memorial Box to remind us that every penny should be picked up, because in the long run, a penny makes a lot of pennies and all those pennies 
put together work wonders.  

Faithful God.

Faithful generous, orphan-loving friends.

Baby girl laying in my arms shrieking and cooing as I type.

Do not let money ever stand in the way.
Ever.  
He will provide every.single.penny.