Four years ago the worst thing that could have ever happened to me did. My mother, who I loved more than anything, passed away. I began to see life differently. In my mind, that was the worst thing that could have ever happened and everything else, well, could never compare. After "surviving" I began to understand things were not as bad as they seemed. I found my joy again, I found God again.
Not too terribly long after this I met my amazing husband who I adore and firmly believe God placed Him in my life when He did so we could begin life together. As we grew and planned to spend our life together, we grew closer to God. Seeking Him differently, understanding who He was in a different light and learning how much we really needed Him in our lives. We married and moved to the one place we both swore we would never return...home.
The move back was difficult on both of us. I left my family, friends, job, and town I loved to seek what God laid in my heart to find. He blessed me with a job in a place I did not feel like I belonged to only show me where I fit in. He gave us a church that challenged the norm and forced us to grow and seek Him with our whole hearts. He blessed us with a home we are now finding we are to share. He has restored relationships, handed us revelations, and shown us His heart in unexpected ways. I have found my joy again, I have found my Savior again.
God has now used our situation and circumstances to stretch us again. He has laid it upon our hearts to open our home and adopt. I fought what I felt Him tell me because I thought I had to have my own first. In the loving way only God can do, He reminded me, "I didn't ask you to wait". I quickly had a change of heart and we are VERY excited to see God in this as well. I cannot describe the overwhelming joy this process has brought out in us. We are just as excited as if we were pregnant, and we are only in step 2! With God as our leader and Dustin by my side, the challenges before us seem small compared to the company I am walking with.
