Sometimes you just need to stop and smell the roses.
In any journey, I tend to have a strong focus on the end destination. Get through college to get to the degree. Get through the school year to get to summer. Get through dating to get to the marriage. In our adoption journey, it’s hard not to focus on our sweet precious Baby Burge that will come home one day. Still, there is a need to recognize the journey that Craig and I are on and take time to stop and smell the roses.
So how do I do this? Pause to recognize the blessings in the journey and celebrate!
Scripture is full of reminders to pause and celebrate. In the story of Creation found in Genesis 1, even God pauses and repeatedly recognizes that what He created is good. Beginning in Genesis 12, Abram (later Abraham) is called by God to leave his home and begin a journey. The destination, he did not know. Still, early on in that journey with God, Abram builds altars (see verse 7, 8, and Gen. 13:18) to God pausing to celebrate how He has provided and is providing on his journey.
I want to pause and celebrate too!
In any journey, I tend to have a strong focus on the end destination. Get through college to get to the degree. Get through the school year to get to summer. Get through dating to get to the marriage. In our adoption journey, it’s hard not to focus on our sweet precious Baby Burge that will come home one day. Still, there is a need to recognize the journey that Craig and I are on and take time to stop and smell the roses.
So how do I do this? Pause to recognize the blessings in the journey and celebrate!
Scripture is full of reminders to pause and celebrate. In the story of Creation found in Genesis 1, even God pauses and repeatedly recognizes that what He created is good. Beginning in Genesis 12, Abram (later Abraham) is called by God to leave his home and begin a journey. The destination, he did not know. Still, early on in that journey with God, Abram builds altars (see verse 7, 8, and Gen. 13:18) to God pausing to celebrate how He has provided and is providing on his journey.
I want to pause and celebrate too!
I’ve written before on how God has blessed Craig and me. I don’t want to forget or diminish these (I am still overwhelmed when I think about them!), but today I pause and share some different celebrations from our adoption journey.
 July 20th Celebration: Preliminary application here we go! We're excited and ready to mail off our application to our adoption agency to get things going. |  |
 |  August 2nd Celebration: The journey begins with paperwork as part of the home study. Lots and lots of paperwork! Craig and I spent a day outside with the puppies working... I was celebrating that my paperwork-hating husband was tackling this! |
 August 3rd Celebration: Whose excited about background checks?! We were celebrating that we checked that off the list. |  August 13th Celebration: We've received several cards and gifts from our friends and family excited about Baby Burge. We've especially loved having others as excited as we are. It's such a joy to celebrate together. This was our first card- thanks Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Sandy! |
 September 15th Celebration: We're getting to work on the nursery! Now, each adoptive family is unique. Each has their own situation and what they’re comfortable with. Craig and I decided to do our part to celebrate the journey even if we won't quite know the path. We’ve been doing a little here and there with Baby Burge’s nursery. Here is some artwork I created for the nursery walls. Even a broken arm couldn't slow me down when I made these!  |  October 24th Celebration: Ruby was a great helper as Dad put the baby crib together. She's excited to meet her little brother or sister!  Wait a minute... this doesn't look right. With a little more work the crib is complete! |
This journey isn’t over and there will be plenty of opportunities to pause and celebrate. With each celebration there is hope. Craig and I place our hope in God knowing that He will continue to provide.
Lamentations 3:21-25 (ESV) reminds us of this hope and provision. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.“ I encourage you to call to mind too how God is blessing you in the journey.
Pause in your own journey and celebrate! Take time to recognize what God has done and place your hope in Him.
Smelling the roses,
Beth
Lamentations 3:21-25 (ESV) reminds us of this hope and provision. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.“ I encourage you to call to mind too how God is blessing you in the journey.
Pause in your own journey and celebrate! Take time to recognize what God has done and place your hope in Him.
Smelling the roses,
Beth
