A day....Full of Surprises

The little penguin above represents an Italian child's favorite surprise filled chocolate. They open it and the hollow little egg has a fun little gift in inside! It reminds me when I was a child and we always begged for a  Cracker jack box just for the surprise on the bottom! (ok well the carmel corn was pretty yum too!)

 Well today...it has been much like a KINDER SURPRISE or CRACKER JACK BOX. 

And I think I may have opened to many???

It has been interesting to say the least. 

It started with some news from Uganda...news I cannot share publicly. It is hard stuff. Adoption is hard. The emotions are hard. The paperwork is hard. The finances are hard...BUT THE BLESSING and CALL is HUGE. So just pray for for the three children, us, whole process in general.

About an hour after getting that news our small group leader Joyce stopped by. We were able to visit and chat and pray. The prayer was sweet...and needed...for both of us. 

Then, I head to the base to meet up with two beautiful friends for a cafe.  This is rare for me. I usually do not "hang out" on base. I go, I get, I leave.

But this was a divine appointment. One...it was just plain 'ole nice to sit with Julianne and Liz and chat about our lives. I love them.  ( sorry ladies that I was distracted by the events that followed)

However, I became distracted. My kids were there and were coming in and out because of the rain.  As I looked over to see them leaving, I saw someone and took a double take.

 Then I stared. 

Then my mouth fell open. 

Then I stared some more. 

I could not help myself any longer and I just yelled "EDDIE???"... 

Not much tact...oops.

But he turned and LOW and BEHOLD I was staring into the face of LONG time friends and CANASTA couple (they are the only ones who will play that game with us) from our first church in VA. And guess what...they MOVED here (2 days ago)!!!

Italy...you just became sweeter!

We invited them over to share dinner with us and Katie and Chris McDonald. It was a BLESSED time!!!

After everyone left I made a phone call to LifeSong who is holding the tax deductible account for our adoption funds. I had someone contact me to make sure that her parents donation had reach the account. It had not...there was a small clerical error  on a pretty large donation and it was fixed quickly and added....WOW, my God just continues to provide!!! a total of $14, 753 now!!!

As if that was not the end of it , I check my email and see that bid, bid, bid, and more bids have come in on the auction.iIn 18 hours of it being open, my measly little goal has already been exceeded. 

I am so excited to see what GOD's goal is because He sure is up. to. something. awesome.....

So that's my day...full of surprises....

Moral of the story... 

God provided BIG today. 

Great Friends (emotional and prayer support), 

Gigantic dollars (provision).

 I am certain God used it all to remind me HE HAS GOT THIS for us!!! 

Uganda may be a battlefield of lots of stuff and bringing three little ones into the family may not always be easy.

...But HE is FAITHFUL,

 HE is VICTORIOUS....

 HE is EL-SHADDAI!!!