I have waited until now to post an update for December 1 since it was such a bummer. More to that in a moment, but first a few short thoughts.....I showed up at Tuesday boot camp this morning and no one was there yet, so I walked a block over to the beach and as I came over the boardwalk, I was greeted by the most beautiful scene. It was low tide and the sun was reflecting on the waves and on the packed white powdery sand, there were tons of tidepools and sandbars and only two other people in sight. As I walked down to the water, I saw many dark starfish that had washed up to the shore. As I threw some back in the water, I decided to run a couple of miles and then return to boot camp. As I ran (very slowly as usual, ha ha), I started to think about Him. Not the little boy we are going to adopt next year, but to Jesus. On this Christmas Eve morning, I stared out into the vast ocean, the same vast ocean that touches Africa, and realized that my life is so much bigger than my disappointment over the December update, bigger than my frustration over our wait, bigger than so many things. It has been so easy to let this adoption take over my mind and thoughts, it has even taken over as a distraction from the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating Him. I am so thankful for the 30 minutes this morning that took my mind to a different place, a place that I felt at peace. I pray that with the craziness that I expect 2014 to include, I will make time for many moments like this morning, moments where I show up at one place and end up at a place even more beautiful than expected. I will be celebrating Him tonight and will also be thinking of our little son or daughter and his or her's birthmom an ocean away and will pray that they are warm and healthy and know that they are loved.
A quick note about the December update. We were the same number, #23, this news definitely didn't cause dancing like last month, what a roller coaster! Didn't move a spot. Another lesson learned in patience, another lesson learned on how to not let my mind run away with fear. I am excited about 2014! I don't think our referral is too many months away, especially since #14 got a referral this week! Can't wait to share a January update. Merry Christmas Friends! MELISSA
