AS THE DUST SETTLES!!!!!

"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.'  The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad!" Psalm 126:1-3

Did you ever experience that deep breath after the realization that things might actually be falling back into place?  The place, the people, the time is all different but somehow that old familiar, "God is in control and by His mighty hand, He has brought us through" is the same.  Are you familiar with that Fatherly embrace when you really, really need something to change and then it does?  That's what it has been like lately in the Inglin home.

Two days ago while I was home schooling Eliot in our little classroom in the basement, I believe the Holy Spirit was calling me to look at what God was doing in that moment.  Our little Eliot, who is 6, was reading from his school books to me while Peter sat on the floor sounding out the words right along with his brother.  It was all so normal.  WHAT!!!!  Normal, a new normal with a schedule of events beginning and ending in the Lord with all kinds of normal stuff happening in between.  I started to praise the Lord and laughed out loud.  The boys, not used to this kind of spontaneous outburst from their Mama, ran to me and hugged me as I spun them around singing, "God is so good.  God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to us!!!"  The three of us laughed and hugged and wrestled on the carpet as tears slid down my cheeks.  We were glad just to be us! 

This leads me to the point I want to share with those of you grace-filled souls who have incorporated the act of adoption into your lives.  No matter where you are at in the process, God always comes through.  And when you least expect it, as verse 1 says of Psalm 126. . .we were like those who dream.  It is like waking up to a fresh crisp morning, refreshed and full of life. When the trials of the early days of paperwork, travelling or waiting, attaching and wondering about how things will work out fade and are replaced with potty training, play dates, a schedule, chores, and even home school - everyday living doing everyday things. When a brand new expression of God's goodness in your family emerges and you find yourself standing there shaking your head and marveling at the plans of God and how they could ever possibly include you. . .Great AND Glorious praise is given and received by our Heavenly Father.  Peace floods the soul.

"Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.  For You, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried.  You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out to a place of abundance." Psalm 66:8-12

Glory Be to God!!!  I just want to shout to everyone about the faithfulness of our God!  Don't you?  This is what we are experiencing right now in our family.   We went out weeping bearing the seed for sowing, and we have come home with shouts of joy; bringing our sheaves with us.  Don't lose heart, God hears your prayers and in the right time, He will answer you with floods of refreshment and the fruit. . . little children are rescued at such a cost and placed, KEPT, into a family FOREVER!!!!  Just like God did for us with His precious Son, Jesus Christ, through the Cross of Calvary.  Blood bought, Redeemed, Adopted, His Forever. . .  

Redeemed how I love to proclaim it!  Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!  Redeemed through Your infinite mercy.                  Your child and forever I am!!!!