My anxiety was rising as I rifled through every possible place I could think of. After two days of searching, I was still coming up empty-handed. I dug around in the garage, in my junk drawer, in the pile of hardware, in the purse I had worn to the store to measure for a new hinge … everywhere I could think of.
I have had to wait a long time for many things I yearned for, as I’m sure you have! My husband and I waited nine long years of marriage to have children, 13 long years to experience one natural pregnancy, 14 years to own the house we longed for, and the list could go on. And I’m absolutely certain that there will be more waiting in our future. Why?
One busy afternoon I was running a quick errand to a local grocery store when I zipped around a corner and nearly ran headlong into a dear friend of mine. Warm smiles and hugs were exchanged and our conversation felt genuine and friendly, but the whole scenario turned me into a bundle of emotions.
Let’s pretend that we are getting to know each other at a support group for Christian women struggling with various issues. Such groups exist, but they’re sometimes called Bible studies and mommy play-dates.
Mike is an introvert, I’m an extrovert. He likes the heat, I like the cold. He’s a night owl, I’m an early bird. He’s logical, I’m creative. He likes things plain and simple, I like them bold and complex. He likes it dark and cozy, I like it bright and breezy. He loves to take risks, I am risk averse. He likes predictability, I like spontaneity. He has three pairs of shoes, I have thirty. He’s thoughtful, I’m impulsive. He can wait, I’m impatient. He likes to joke, I am literal. He likes sweet, I like salty.
Nearly three years ago, in early December, the day came that we decided to move forward. A peace had come upon us with whispered assurances from the Lord … start now. After waiting for that peace for nearly seven years, it seemed like a dream; picking up the phone, contacting the agency, and saying, “Please mail me an adoption application.”
As a child, I never thought about my body. All I knew was that it was my means of exploring and enjoying the world…
My husband Mike was pacing the living room floor as I watched him from the couch.
Our car bumped along the gravel road as we made our way to visit some friends at their quaint country acreage…