When God Answers

Two years ago I had the opportunity to go to Guatemala with my church on a mission trip. My eyes were opened in so many ways, my heart broke for things I saw and my heart overflowed with the love I experienced both from the people and from God speaking directly to me. Here is a blog post I wrote while still in Guatemala and how I felt God pour His love out to encourage me. 

. . .

Well, I've thought much about this post as the week has progressed, anticipating what God would speak to me and put on my heart to write. I knew no matter what, I would have pictures of this beautiful country and adorable kids. But I was praying for something really great, something that would be undoubtedly post material.

Tuesday that very thing happened! It was our second day at both schools so I felt just a little more comfortable around the kids. At San Lucas school (where there are middle school and high school aged kids) I gave my testimony. As I've written before those moments that make my heart pound out of my chest and hands sweat are always so fulfilling to me, because those are the moments when I experience so much of God's power and strength. 

Yet that's not what it was that caused me to say, "now this is it". 

Later in the day we went back to Light of the World School and did a craft with the moms. One of the ladies on our team shared her testimony which is similar to mine in that she too has dealt with infertility. After all the moms left we were sitting around with the teachers and sharing a little about ourselves (thanks to Elizabeth and Patty to translate which helped the language barrier). 

The Ladies from our team with the Teachers of the school. 

The first teacher that shared said her story was similar to the one shared earlier, she too had gone through years of "trying" and then because of God's grace she became pregnant. Her little boy is almost 7 years old. 

This is more significant than just the fact that I would naturally connect with this women because of her struggle. But another (very important) fact is that this lady is my sponsor child's Mom (who also happens to be one of the teachers at the school). 

The fact that God would care so much about me and my heart to connect me with this amazing woman through a sponsor child just blows me away!

Now, fast forward to Thursday. I had the opportunity to visit them in their home. Just being welcomed in and learning more about them was blessing enough. Knowing I shared a special connection with the Mom was an emotional moment on Tuesday and I held that close to my heart. During the visit I tried to put that aside and asked questions to learn more about them and their interests. I then asked how I could be praying for them specifically and the Dad responds. I wait intently to hear Juan Carlos translate it to English. And once again I am blown away by what I heard. 

His request- that God would bless them with another child because Samuel so badly wants a brother or sister.

As many of you know, this has also been a request of Rogans. So to be asked to pray specifically for this with my Guatemalan family brings me so much emotion. I am honored to pray for such a request. I then shared that we too are going through the same situation and they said they would also be praying for me and my family. 

I am connected to this beautiful family on a deeper level than I ever imagined. While I've experienced many amazing things this past week (and many you will hear about) I must say, this way God chose to speak to me and bless me brings me to my knees with nothing but gratitude. 

. . . 

Since my trip two years ago I have longed to return, prayed for my family so many miles away and corresponded briefly through letters. Then, we got the news... Aura was pregnant! God answered the very prayer I was praying. Why specifically answered prayers shock me, I don't know. He has been faithful so many times in our life and proves to continue to care for us. And still I am speechless when a prayer is answered like this one. 

With no shortage of complications and many more answered prayers through pregnancy Aura gave birth to a healthy baby girl last Spring. God walked alongside their family through so many obstacles and provided for every need. It has been a blessing and encouragement to be a part of their family and seeing a miracle come to pass in their life. 

So, you can only imagine that I am very excited to be returning to Guatemala the first of April. Surely my heart will burst as I hold that precious baby girl and the miracle that she is. 

I continue to walk by faith with our life, our request, our family. Because without a doubt God answers. Not always the way we plan. Not always in the time frame we imagine. 

Without fail, He answers. 

The Glamorous Life We Live

It's Monday. My week is planned. My grocery list is written out and I am ready for a fresh start. It all changes in a matter of minutes when Rogan wakes up late, running a fever and coughing. I make phone calls and cancel my day still hopeful for life to carry on like normal the rest of the week. One day turns into four and my life is now caring for my sick little boy. 

It's a privilege, really. I don't mind the nurturing, cuddling part of it. But, that's not the only thing out of the norm. There's also the fact that I am sick, Mike has an abscessed tooth, I'm treating the dog's eye several times a day and making weekly trips to the vet. Then there are the 3 am wake-ups where you jump out of bed to console a nightmare. And just in case that isn't enough to drive a girl to drink there are pee soaked sheets at 5 o' clock in the morning and a dog accident on the newly cleaned carpet. 

I don't say all this to complain. Rather to say, being a Mom is nothing glamorous or easy! 

It has got me thinking this week as I pace the floors in my kitchen because I don't feel good enough to accomplish anything but I can't watch another episode of My Little Pony, that there must be others feeling the same way. Surely I am not the only Mom that goes stir crazy after a few days of lock down and on the verge of a come-apart. (Okay, lets me real... not on the verge, but actually melting down!) 

As women we have one of the hardest jobs to support and care for others (whether they are good patients or not, or whether we feel good ourselves). 

We are afraid to talk about it in fear it sounds like complaining. We mop up pee and wipe snot from noses. We question whether we should've checked the temperature one last time before they fell asleep. We research and look for alternatives on how to help them feel better. We get special pink vitamin water because that is all they will drink when they are sick. We let them sleep in our bed and cough all over our pillow. 

I know I am not the only one that does this because friends, I hear the same stories from you. Whether you have one child or seven, whether you are a stay at home Mom or one that works outside the home you still sacrifice it all for your family, your kids, your husband. 

.  .  .

I sit in the patient room at the vet for the fourth time in a month. Shaking my head along with the vet in disbelief. Just a week prior our senior Boxer's cornea was all but healed and somehow he managed to re injure it, worse than before. This injury has been a lengthy one, and it means I treat his eye with drops 3-4 times a day. That doesn't seem like much but after 6 weeks of it, I'm ready for it to be healed. It's just one more thing to remember and do. 

Did I mention that our vet is amazing? She looked at me and said the most profound words. She said, "You have done everything right. You are doing a great job!" I could've just balled my eyes out because it really wasn't about the dog anymore, it was about the exhaustion and weight I was carrying from all that was undone.

Those words lingered as I drove home. They apply to how I take care of myself or lack there of, they apply to how I help my husband and how I care for my son. In the midst of temperature taking, laundry and cooking it is so easy to lose perspective and feel inadequate, overwhelmed. 


To each of you reading, whether you are a Mom, Daughter, Wife, Sister... 

You ARE doing a great job.

Most of what you do probably goes unnoticed. You do magnificent things even though they may not be glamorous or don't get praised. The selfless help you offer your ill parents, the hot meal you hand your husband when he walks in the door, the all-nighter you just pulled with a puking child... these are true hearts of a servant. 

I applaud you! Please be encouraged that the sun will shine again and the chaos will subside. 

(Update: by the end of the day, my shoulders carried less burden. Rogan was feeling better, Mike got some pain relief and the dog, well he is still a pain in my butt! It's amazing though how my perspective can change in a day.)