Lord, Establish Our Steps

I'm having an unexpected day at home this Sunday morning after Emmy spent yesterday and today not feeling her best. While she is sleeping soundly upstairs, I thought I would take a quick moment to post a long-overdue update. Emmy has continued to thrive lately! She is not yet crawling, but for the first time today, I saw a tooth poking through on her bottom gum! She continues to be a studious girl who examines things, people, and situations quite seriously, but we see hundreds of those sweet smiles and hear several of those sweet giggles daily now. My husband has been playing piano for her more and more, and she just stops dead in her tracks to listen. She's also becoming quite the singer - opening her mouth for a nice round "Ahh" sound, lifting that soft palette, and getting some extremely wide vibrato going daily (usually at dinner time). My husband and I usually join in loudly which only encourages her to proceed at the top of her lungs. I'm not sure this is our wisest decision, but it sure is fun!

Emmy has proven to be a most wonderful traveler. We keep her on her toes most days with new adventures all the time, and most of the time, she does quite well being flexible and just continuing to be a joy to be around. All of this leads me to my primary prayer request which is much the same as in previous posts, but it's becoming more and more of an imminent reality.

Emmy has a family member who continues to be very unpredictable in his desire to adopt. We really don't know what will end up happening there. DFACS is going through a home evaluation process to potentially approve him to be a temporary placement until Emmy is adopted. What I gather (which could be about as accurate as a crystal ball, mind you) is that unless we declare our intention to adopt Emmy, they will most likely move her to her family member's home as soon as the home evaluation is complete. Why this would ever be in the best interest of a child, I do not know, but with DFACS, blood runs thicker than just about anything, and it is pretty much always best for children to be around biological relatives.

Like I said, I could be hearing false information or drawing false conclusions, but regardless, we feel a bit more urgency (and we're being asked with a bit more urgency) about our decision whether or not to adopt Emmy if the option presents itself. Needless to say, my husband and I have poured over this decision. In full disclosure, we have probably spent entirely too much time thinking about the practical implications of all of this and not nearly enough time in prayer, but we are turning to the Lord more than ever and seeking His wisdom and guidance in this decision. I don't necessarily feel comfortable outlining any of the specific thoughts we have had, but please join us in praying about this, and we will continue to keep you posted as decisions are made along the way.

More and more each day, the Lord is knitting our hearts together with this little girl, and it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine our lives without her in them! Praise God that He has seen fit to use us - with all of our many imperfections - to provide a healthy, strong family attachment for this sweet baby. On the flip side, we recognize that obedience to His will may, in fact, require us to release our control over her future and leave it entirely in the Lord's hands. Either way, we know that He is good and that He is sovereign over all things. My prayer and my comfort lies in the Truth revealed in these verses - that no decision I make is going to thwart the plans of God. If we make a decision that is outside of His divine will, may He shut the door quickly, and though it may be painful to endure, let us praise His name and take heart that He is directing Emmy's steps.

"The heart of man plans his way, 

but the LORD establishes his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand."

Proverbs 19:21

"I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself,

that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps."

Jeremiah 10:23

"Who has spoken and it came to pass,

unless the Lord has commanded it?"

Lamentations 3:37

Thank you for praying.