Today, I was chasing my chickens from a garden bed that has some straggly winter lettuce holding on and I noticed little green shoots coming out of the bare ground. Several months ago (probably 3 or 4) I planted at least 20 to 25+ onion bulbs. Nothing has shown of them for all that time. I thought that I had probably planted them wrong or they were a bad batch of bulbs. I laughed with joy when I saw the little green sprouts today. Sometimes it is best to wait for God's timing. Everything in God's time is perfect. My mom told me once a saying she had heard "God's timing might be painful but it is always perfect" How very true that is!
One big thing that has happened in the last month is that the littles are now legally free! their TPR (termination of parental rights) meeting went smoothly- of course I am still doing a happy dance for our family! However, part of me truly grieves for the loss that the kids' mother, grandmother, and family are going through. We want to do an open adoption but whether or not that is in the best interest of the kids right now...it is hard to say. I think the only thing that can be done is to pray that their bio mom gets clean and at that time attempt contact via the social workers. If that happens then I believe that we will be open to at least a po box for letters and pictures...more than that? Only God knows.
Its amazing how once I opened myself up to my Mennonite roots, God has taken a stronghold on my life. It is not that God wasn't part of my life before- of course God was there! I have always had a strong faith in God and in the feeling, what I call the God feeling or voice, that I have when I pray. Before, I admit, there would be days that passed when I would not pray When I would not even think about God. Now that is very different. It feels like I am suddenly aware that God has been with me, and is with me, always. It is a wonderful feeling.
I hope I am not sounding preachy. That is not my intent at all! I hope people can respect my "new" path and know that my openness and keen interest in other cultures and ways of life has not disappeared with my new awareness of God. I still firmly believe that God is too big for just one religion and that people can find their own paths to God in their own ways. This does not fit with Conservative Mennonite beliefs so perhaps I shall not ever be truly "Mennonite" but I cannot change what I feel to be true. God is Good and I cannot, will not, believe that God would make people who are not Christians suffer just because they believe in Him/Her/It differently. That theory does not fit with my view and deep soul knowledge of God.
One of the best things about my new awareness of God in every part of my life is that I now can be comfortable around people who have similar strong faiths. It is an unexpected blessing and one that I am extremely grateful for especially recently!
OK enough of that :)....
I am going to sign off for now. I need to wake up early so I can bake cupcakes for my friend and make french bread dough for dinner all before I get ready for church! Tomorrow promises to be another busy day but one filled with joy!
I hope you are all doing extremely well this month!
