...a Hope & a Future..: We Will Stop and Give You Praise

The past two weeks down here in Georgia with JP have been so full of blessings from the Lord. Blessings like so many smiles from Olivia and Isaiah being with their daddy; my dear friend Debbie who has allowed me and the kids to fit into their routine with numerous play dates and even sent us home with yummy, fresh, healthy, home baked goodies; and the opportunity to visit 3 very different, but very spirit filled churches to name just a few. And it was topped off last night at the close of a Bible Conference we had unexpectedly been attending this week at West Acres Church (thank you Jim and Janna for inviting us!).

Not only was the Bible teaching great, but the praise and worship was amazing! They have a choir and praise team whose voices literally fill the sanctuary. When I closed my eyes I thought I was already in the physical heavenly presence of the Lord. One song in particular was...well, there are just no words to describe. Here's a link to it on You Tube, but I'm not sure that You Tube can capture it quite right. We Will Remember.

While we were singing the words "We will stop and give You praise for great is Thy faithfulness" I was inspired to write this post. I haven't been very inspired to write lately, not even about our Tot School time. But this inspired me...to stop and give God praise, to remember the works of His hands because His faithfulness has been so very great! And yes, He is the faithful One! Not me, but Him!

Two words immediately come to mind when I stop and give God praise...Olivia and Isaiah. Anyone who has walked this journey with us knows that they have both come into our family only by the hand of God and only by His faithfulness. We are reminded of this over and over again, but this past Sunday the Lord brought us to a church where a sweet couple was giving their testimony about their infertility journey, which they are still on. And the reason we were in this class was to thank their Sunday School class for praying for us during Isaiah's adoption. Before the class started, and before we even knew they were going to speak, JP had the opportunity to hold Isaiah and say "this is the answer to your prayers." Well, this sweet couple and us are now becoming friends, and we will pray them through their journey! I don't know all God has planned for this "coincidence," but one thing I know is that infertility has been the darkest valley I've ever gone through. And as we have walked out of this dark valley leaving it behind us I will say that Olivia and Isaiah are a testimony to God's faithfulness, which goes far and beyond all that we could every ask or imagine!

And there are so many more things I want to stop and give God praise for:

Isaiah...a sweet, contented baby who sleeps through the night, sleeps anywhere, and doesn't fight sleep...oh, blessed sleep and rest.
Olivia...a smart, passionate, funny little girl who daily makes me laugh and daily challenges me to keep up.
a family who is so supportive of our military life. The kids and I got to spend 3 weeks in Colorado right after JP came down to GA (he's down here for 3 months).
healing my dad's knee and heart!
3 weeks of mom's wonderful cooking!
the gentleman who gave Olivia a napkin in the Chicago airport on the way home from Colorado. I had bought her ice cream to help us through the delayed flight, and I was so tired at that point that to be honest if she hadn't even wiped off the ice cream that covered her from nose to chin I would have been okay.
the courage and strength to get through the day of travel from Colorado to Kentucky. I've gotten a lot better at flying, but that day before we even flew I knew we would be flying into stormy weather. I knew the possibility of delays, cancellations, and even bad flights. To be honest, that morning I was scared and wanted to postpone. But the Lord spoke courage to my heart. The whole day he opened smooth paths for us, and on the last flight that was not so smooth (more like a roller coaster) He gave us calm.
daddy time. Olivia and Isaiah love daddy time, and as any mommy knows...when your kids are happy, you are happy. I praise God for a daddy who loves spending time with his kids!
girl time. I cannot say enough what a blessing my friend Debbie has been down here in Georgia!!!!
a God who loves us so much that He fulfills both sides of the covenant, because we are so incapable of fulfilling our side! Praise You God for Easter!
Sometimes I think the things of my life are frivolous and the things I need strength for are silly, especially when I consider Christians across the globe who literally sacrifice everything for Jesus. But I praise God that beyond my understanding He is big enough to love me and care for even my little problems.

God, I will stop and give you praise! Hear me shout "My God is good and He is the faithful One!"