PRAYER.

Prayer.

I have been touched to TEARS with prayer in my life... there are THREE times specifically where someone prayed for me and my family.  ...someone who knew how IMPORTANT it is to GIVE IT TO GOD - to take your situation and give it to HIM! SO HUGE! ...I've never really been a very good 'out-loud' prayer, my family didn't pray out loud and I have really rarely experienced someone PRAYING for me out loud, talking to HIM!  Asking Him to LISTEN to OUR situation! WOW!

...the first time I was part of this seriously HUMBLING experience was when we were with our small group and we had planned a FAMILY MISSION trip to Kenya and at the dinner table Steven LIFTED our FAMILY right up to HIM! I was overwhelmed with gratitude that they didn't just send us off with well wishes - but that he spoke directly to HIM! He prayed for specific things for our family, for protection, wisdom, strength, opportunities...  and it was REALLY special  to us. I felt like GOD was right there in the room, listening to him and looking over us...  TEARS.
     *Our trip to Kenya was AMAZING, it lead to another trip to Kenya to help a group called the Joy Divine Children's Organization which then led us to ADOPTING from Ethiopia.

...another time someone said, 'let me pray for you' (I honestly get choked up every time I even think about this!) my daughter was having a hard time at school with friends - and my heart just HURT for her, and as a Mom, I just didn't know what to do to help her... Until her 3rd and 5th Grade teacher, Lisa, sat down with me and GAVE IT TO GOD!!! WOW! She prayed for me and for my daughter. She gave it to HIM! I was humbled. She didn't try to fix it or tell me how to fix it for her - but she gave it to the ONE who knows our hearts and knows how to help us and what our next step should be... She gave it to HIM! I felt SO blessed to have this person in my life to PRAY for us. I was moved to TEARS.
     *My daughter has since switched schools (a couple times) and now is thriving as a Junior and is doing strong socially and spiritually!
 
...MY prayer is to be more BRAVE like them, to not be afraid if my words don't come out perfect and completely articulate, for Him to give me the wisdom of what to say and the COURAGE to do it.

Another time someone prayed for me, Elle J :), for my family, my DAUGHTER in Ethiopia - I didn't hear her, but the genuine and sincere thoughtfulness of it brought me to tears. My friend and her family said a prayer for our lil girl in Ethiopia - they did it in such a special way....

 

 

They prayed for our little girl. They gave it to HIM and sent up a lantern in the sky as a symbol of their thoughts and PRAYERS for her! WOW! No one has ever EVER done anything like this for us. We again were humbled, someone is talking to GOD on our behalf! ...you know someone REALLY cares about you, when they give it to HIM!*We have since gotten home with our little girl (looking forward to blogging more about this) and I have seen SO many answered prayers with HER - she is a TOTALLY different kid than the one I met at HH. ♥

 THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for your PRAYERS for us during our ADOPTION JOURNEY! THANK YOU!  The POWER of PRAYER is SO HUGE!! HUGE!!! ...as I write this RIGHT now some of my dear friends are having to deal with uncertainty in their adoption. They are scared for their children in Ethiopia, their hearts are hurting, doubting... PLEASE pray for a MIRACLE for these families and their children so they can bring them HOME, so they will have a FAMILY FOREVER.