out on a limb

Going out on a limb....

I have been pondering this. I have been thinking about why we are continually stepping a few more inches out on the limb we are on, rather than back-tracking to the safer, thicker, sturdier part of the branch. You know, the more comfortable place.

I am drawn to this. I think this limb-balancing and stretching has become a craving in my soul. I'm not sure addicted is the right word, since addiction is usually associated with something negative, but the best way I can describe our lives right now is that I feel addicted to being stretched, challenged, again forced into unknown territory. When I first left the security of the safe, thick branch, there was definitely fear involved. But, once we inched out, there was surprising peace and joy that far outweighed the fear. It was exhilarating. So, when asked to inch out again, yes, the fear was there again, but happily, we found that the peace and joy were there again once we crept those few inches (but not until we crept those inches). That has been the case for the past several years.

Why? Well, I will use Laura's (my soul sister's) response: "Out on the limb is where we need God the most and he shows himself the most." Simple, true and beautiful.

Also, love what 2 Tim 1:7 says: "For God does not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

When I (or we, as the case may be, since Farmboy is way out there with me) am out on the limb, I can ONLY do it because of the "spirit of power" that is in me because of my relationship with God. I would be a FOOL to be out on this limb in my strength.

So, I believe we are now moving a few inches (although it feels like several miles sometimes) further out on the limb. God has been so faithful before as we stepped further into needing him, and we are trusting in his faithfulness once again.

HOME STUDY - finally - APPROVED

Wow!

That was rather torturous.

We finally got our home study approved after waiting, what this mother would say was, far....too....long. Submitted prior to Thanksgiving....approved in 2009, January 9, 2009, to be exact. Hmmmmm. I guess it was supposed to be a condolence when we got the apology that we "may have fallen through the cracks". Not sure how we could have fallen through them, since we were emailing weekly for updates. Oh, as I type this, I am getting that gentle reminder again . . . . God is in control of this, and His timing is perfect. When will I learn???

On a different note, while doing errands yesterday (dropping off our CIS stuff at the post office -- you bet I didn't waste any time), I stopped by a local Ethiopian restaurant with the twins. Although Farmboy and I have been there, we never took the twins. I know, shame on us. Okay, they scarfed it down. We needed more injera. They slugged their soda, burped, shoved more in, burped several more times and basically licked the plate clean. I was worried they were going to vomit the stuff up, they ate it so quickly, and with all that burping.... But, they kept it down and so enjoyed it. It gave me immense pleasure to see them eating food that I am strongly sure their taste buds remembered. The owner, a native Ethiopian, also sat down with us for a while, and we talked about an Ethiopian cooking class another adoptive mom and he are cooking up (pun not initially intended, but kinda cute). How fun is that?