Recently I was driving in my car. I was headed home and thinking about the whole adoption process. I'm not going to lie, it can be very frustrating. We are constantly waiting. Hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait. Just when I think we are getting close to the end, the time frame stretches longer and longer. Anyway, I was driving in my car and one of my favorite songs came on, "For the Sake of the Call" by Steven Curtis Chapman. There is a part in the song that says,
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who called
And if we believe we'll obey
It hit me how hard this whole journey is going to be. But we didn't do it for a dream or a promise that we would have a perfect little family. Being foster/adoptive parents, we have to abandon everything (my comfort level, my fears, my time plan, my convenience, my perception of a perfect family, even the approval of our friends and family). We abandon everything simply because he called. No other reason. If you're like me then lots of people will say, "Well, if God is calling you to do this, then I'm sure everything will be fine." I'm learning that is not true. We don't do things on the promise that situations will be easy or "fine"... we are simply doing this because he called us to. I'd like to think that we are brave for doing that. No, things will definitely be hard. Just like the disciples faced a hard life by following Christ, our lives are changed significantly by making that same choice. Our choice will affect our close friends and our family. But like the song says,
Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure
Was Jesus had called to them
He said "come follow Me" and they came
With reckless abandon, they came
Empty nets lying there at the water's edge
Told a story that few could believe
And none could explain
How some crazy fisherman agreed to go where Jesus went
With no thought to what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name
And they answered...
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call
The sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
There's no turning back, for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call, we'll follow wherever He leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because He has called us to go
We will answer...
Over and over, God reminds me and whispers, "I've got this under control." This is a chaotic season in our lives. The ups and downs of foster-to-adopting, the business of our normal routine, and internal need to try and make everyone happy can be overwhelming. But just when I start to sink, I hear God whisper, "I've got this under control." So, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I can't help but be thankful for a God that has it under control. I'm thankful that He doesn't need me to fix all the problems, make everyone happy, or be perfect. He just wants me to relax and love him. Love leads to action. So, by loving God, I will love others. That sounds 
easier than it is. Loving others in spite of their faults, even when they are unlovely. But God does it for me, so how can I deny others? Anyway, as I start to get stressed out with all the to-do lists, travel arrangements, packing, baking, and scheduling that needs to get done, I am relieved to know that God has it under control. I'm trying hard to refocus on others. The other stuff will work itself out. So, today I re-worked my to-do list. Mopping and cleaning the bathroom got bumped for some quality "nail painting" time with Faith and Sofia. 
