Where you Lead Me.....

We have Travel Approval and confirmation that we will be traveling on the June 29th date (as we had hoped for).  We have booked our flights to Beijing and will be leaving Lake Charles in the early morning of June 28th.  This will allow us to arrive in Beijing the afternoon of the 29th.  Our "Gotcha Day" is July 1st.  Wow, I have waited for that date, that moment for many months now - and it is almost here.  We will be returning on July 12th to Lake Charles on the last flight of the evening - we will arrive in Lake Charles at 10:39pm for anyone that would like to come and welcome Mia home - we would love to see everyone.

We are all preparing as our travel date quickly approaches.  Mia's suitcase is packed and ready to go.  Highchair - check, documents copied for travel - check, ordering new luggage - check.  I am going down a long laundry list of things we must do before we leave.

After we received travel approval, I was driving to work and listening to my local christian radio station and heard a song by Rusty & Jessica (they are a Louisiana duo from Houma).  They have a single out now entitled Take the Lead.  The song is a cry out to GOD to take the lead in our lives and that we will trust HIM.  At one point in the song the lyrics say "Where you lead me, I will follow.  Where you lead me, I will go."  Those lyrics resonated with me as I think about this journey that I am on.  The desire to adopt was not one that I made on my own.  It's not like I woke up one day and decided to buy a new car or eat peanut butter for breakfast.  Those decisions are made from a humanistic/materialistic side of our nature.  No - the decision to adopt is different.  When I consider this journey and the journey to Maddie, I see GOD's name all over it.  It is a divinely inspired decision, I divinely inspired desire of my heart to have Maddie and Mia with me and our family.  It makes me realize that GOD does have a plan for MY Life and he is using me as his humble and faithful servant.  And yes where he leads me I will follow - this time he is leading me to a distant land, far away from my home and comfort zone to embrace a little girl whom I have only seen pictures of, to love her as he loves us, to care for her for the rest of my days - Where you lead me I will go.....

I have been blessed with such an amazing life!  A life of service to a wonderful and loving GOD!  I couldn't ask for anything more.  I love my family, I love my friends and I LOVE my GOD who never leaves me!

A by-product of adoption is that the LORD also uses this journey to expand your territory.  To connect you with others that have been touched by adoption and their inspiring stories.  The group of families from our Adoption agency that will be traveling with us are from all over the United States and have amazing stories.  Some have reached out in email and shared their blogs.  I can't wait to meet them, their families and their new children.  I am very excited to share this unique aspect of adoption with Lizzy.  To open her eyes to many different stories, journeys, people, etc.  I know that it will impact her and change her forever.

Please be praying for us as we prepare for this special journey.  Please pray for Mia that she is healthy and prepared for this monumental transition in her life.