Salt and Light

Do you ever wonder if your testimony makes a difference? Do you have just enough salt to enhance something, just enough light to shine through?

I was blessed with a wonderful acknowledgement yesterday. Let me give you a little back-story to set the stage.

February of last year, Shawn and I committed to adoption; more specifically, we committed to Alexander. His pictures have not been on my blog since June of last year...but, I am going to put one back up here for this post.

When our dossier arrived in country, Alexander was not available because his mother had never signed the papers to terminate her parent rights (he was, as we were told, in the 'works' to be available in 2-3 months or so). We did not wish to wait even longer (we were 6 months into our adoption journey already), we were ready to complete our adoption journey and be home with our child. I had been trying for months to get the low down on Alexander to no avail. We moved forward, heavy hearted, but ready to met the child we felt called to, Andriy Igorovich Tverdokhlib--our Jadon. In a sense, we lost the one boy we never truly "had" to lose and that was Alexander. I pray for Alexander regularly. I pray for his family. This past week or so has been very hard on this momma's heart. He weighs so heavy on me still. I know his family HAS to be out there. THEY MUST BE! So much work has been done through this child it is amazing. Surely, God does not intend for him to be an orphan forever. 

Now, I want to talk to you about Lora and Dean. The Lyon family. I met Lora while going through our own adoption pangs. Everyone knew our story, eventually. She knows what happened. She and Dean were waiting to adopt Tanner.

A young boy, born with polycystic kidney disease and could have been adopted prior to June of this year but Ukraine had 'changed the rules' during their adoption stating only children on their approved special needs list could be adopted before age 5. Tanner also was not 5. They began the wait to see if Ukraine would add his diagnosis to the list. We were all encouraged the new list would be announced in October. It wasn't. The Lyons' chose to wait it out, committed to Tanner. Sadly, in December, their choice to wait it out was taken from them when Tanner was moved from his orphanage to the the orphanage Father Mikhail runs in another region of the county. 

So, can you see the parallels in our story? Our boy, not available. Their boy not available. Both situations, truly, out of our control. 

Here's where it gets good. My nettie bff, Julie was in Ukraine adopting Peter and she had the chance to see this gorgeous girl, frequently, and was able to photograph her. She shared those photos with the "waiters" group of gals waiting for their travel dates. Well, Lora saw this child's pictures and she and Dean COMMITTED to HER! They are in country now and working to finalize their adoption of Francine from Reece's Rainbow.

Wanna know what is really cool? Day before yesterday, Lora caught me online on FB and sent me this message.

Lora:  Christie!!!!!! I have to thank you

Me: what did I do 

Lora: Well, it is just watching you go through what you did with your boys and ending up with Jadon is what has given me the ability to move on after Tanner and now I'm sitting here and I am SO GRATEFUL for your example!

Lora admitted it would have been so easy to quit and be sad...

but, today, Lora and I talked again yesterday after she told me they had 

THE BEST DAY EVER! **they met their girl**

I replied: I am so proud of you for staying the course.

Lora: thank you I couldn't have done it without mama's like you showing the way!

Me: sure you could...I am just happy to know that God worked through my story for at least ONE person. That's good enough for me.

How do you like that? I had just enough salt and a spark of light to help one person! I love it!! I am so happy for Lora and Dean. Two people I've never met in real life but I am just GIDDY for them!!! And, thanks to God, I have a spot in her story and I think that is awesome. 

Love, 

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)