Take a deep breath.
Take several deep breaths.
Change position. Maybe take a walk. Maybe rest.
Perhaps a warm bath to help the body relax.
More deep breaths. Slow, deep breaths.
Women with traditional pregnancies aren't the only ones who experience the pains of false labor. Those of us who have "paper pregnancies" can also need the same advice when time is getting close but it isn't really the time yet.
Our paperwork for fost-adoption certification in California is being finalized as I type. And yesterday, I received a phone call from our social worker. The voicemail I picked up later (I'm going to be re-thinking that technology-free meeting during this "labor" period of our process), it didn't start with the "You're certified!" I expected.
Instead, it was "There are three children..."
*insert heart rate increase here*
And then she began to describe them a bit, their current situation, that they are adoptive free (aka - their .26 hearing to terminate parental rights has already taken place), and that she has info pages to forward to me if we'd like.
For months - well, honestly, YEARS, we've been waiting for this phone call. And here it is, before I thought it would arrive. But at the same time, what we have to pray through, discern through, is whether or not it's really labor - if these are really our kids about to arrive. Because there's also a good chance it's just false labor, and this too, shall pass.
That may sound cold and inconsiderate - it's not. We need to hear from God on what is best for these three adorable kids, and whether our home and family is going to be that. We know what we feel God has already placed in our hearts, so if these cuties don't line up with His direction - we have to make those decisions.
Keep breathing, Kathy.
Just keep breathing.
Because it's definitely not a time to push.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is."
This is not a political statement, or a bash session. Or at least, I'm not bashing who you might think.
In September of 1998, Bill Clinton made that famous statement: "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is." {I remember this whole era well because it was my senior year of high school, I was highly attuned to the poltical and government world being an Extemporaneous Domestic Affairs Speaker (nerd speak for the fact that I competed in public speaking competitions and talked about government and social issues in America) and later that Fall I was sitting in the House of Representatives gallery as below me history was made when they voted to impeach the President, something that had only happened once before.}
But back to my point.
This is not a presidential inquiry. There is no parsing of words here.
There are things in my life that just plain "is."
And they are wrong.
And they shouldn't exist.
Because we often pray, "Father, search me, know me, reveal any sins that I need to take care of," just to cover up the fact that we really do know about the sins we are avoiding taking care of. Those that are blatant in our own hearts.
Our church is entering a time where the Holy Spirit is moving on a grand scale, working, and not just corporately, but individually. So as we come in humility and repentance, asking God to let us be a part of all that He has for us... let's not purger ourselves by denying what is obvious, even if it's only obvious to God & the deepest, most honest recesses of our own hearts.
"So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life." - James 1:21 (as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message)
In September of 1998, Bill Clinton made that famous statement: "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is." {I remember this whole era well because it was my senior year of high school, I was highly attuned to the poltical and government world being an Extemporaneous Domestic Affairs Speaker (nerd speak for the fact that I competed in public speaking competitions and talked about government and social issues in America) and later that Fall I was sitting in the House of Representatives gallery as below me history was made when they voted to impeach the President, something that had only happened once before.}
But back to my point.
This is not a presidential inquiry. There is no parsing of words here.
There are things in my life that just plain "is."
And they are wrong.
And they shouldn't exist.
Because we often pray, "Father, search me, know me, reveal any sins that I need to take care of," just to cover up the fact that we really do know about the sins we are avoiding taking care of. Those that are blatant in our own hearts.
Our church is entering a time where the Holy Spirit is moving on a grand scale, working, and not just corporately, but individually. So as we come in humility and repentance, asking God to let us be a part of all that He has for us... let's not purger ourselves by denying what is obvious, even if it's only obvious to God & the deepest, most honest recesses of our own hearts.
"So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life." - James 1:21 (as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message)
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