Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have always loved this verse. I have played it over and over in my mind thousands of times since we brought the girls home.

Our days aren't always easy or peaceful. I often don't have time to stop and think. I get really tired and grumpy sometimes. I get very selfish some days. I can make many reasons and excuses for my issues. But really all that matters is that I do my best for God.

God has always known the plan for my life. It is for my good, not to harm me. Even on the bad days, God has given me hope and a future. He is in control of everything. He knows every mistake I will make each day. He knows when I repent and when I don't. HE KNOWS MY HEART!!

Each time he calls us to change, or a different season, it is for His glory and our good. It may not seem that way when we are going through it, but He knows the big picture. He knows the result. I have been through seasons, whether days or months, where I can't seem to find the good things. We often get stuck on all of the negative and forget about all of the things we have.

God knows the plan for our life. They are for good, not to harm us. They are plans to give us a hope and a future.

We know God called us to adoption. It would have been easier to make excuses about why we couldn't adopt. I can still name many reasons. However, we chose to focus on the reasons we could adopt. We chose to think of how God had prepared us for adoption.

About 1 1/2 years after having Morgan, I was having female problems. The doctor told me the only way to help was to have a hysterectomy. My husband and I had been praying about whether to have more children. We decided this was the answer to our prayer. I was relieved to have a way to relieve the pain I was having, but sad that I wouldn't have anymore birth children. I had the surgery. A couple years later, I really wanted more children. God gave my husband and I both the strong call to adoption. Years after surgery, we have five, instead of three, beautiful children. God knew the plans he had for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us...

We had always dreamed of building our own house. We were sad when we weren't able to build the house we wanted. We ended up purchasing and renovating the one we have. This house is ideal for adoption. The bedrooms are much larger than we would have built. Perfect for adding children to our family. We were sad and discouraged when we made the decision not to build. However, this house is perfect for His plan for our family. God knew the plan for us...

I am sure Ann and Beth have questioned things that have happened in their life in such a short 8 1/2 years. They continue to question and try to understand the best they can. As they grow older and begin puberty the questions will change and continue. I remind them when they ask that God knew them in their mother's womb. He knew the plan for each of their lives. He designed them perfectly. He knew they would be my girls one day. He designed them to look just like my family. (I can't wait to show you our family pictures. They look so much like our family.) He knew the plans for their life, plans to prosper and not to harm them, plans to give them hope and a future.

Wow, just writing this now makes me feel so selfish. My children have had days where they had no idea what was in their future. Would they ever have a forever home? Would they ever have a forever Mom and Dad that would love them unconditionally? Would they ever be able to trust anyone again? So many worries for such sweet little girls. No wonder they have problems. They are such sweet girls. We are so blessed to have them in our lives. I have learned so much from their little lives already. God uses the trials to teach me something every time.