Starting a new life

We got good news today from Colombia. Julian was given an out from the military--a pretty costly one that we'll help him pay, but at least it's an out. Now he can officially move on and take the steps to begin a whole new life. Looking back over all the scenarios he could have found himself in, what a blessing to see how God provided for him and kept His hand upon him. Not only is he in a safe place with very open communication with us, but the person he's living with is having a godly influence on him daily. He's learning how to cook a few things, has someone to help him learn how to track his spending and keep a budget, has a fellow companion that shares his love and fascination with music, and he's learning SO much English, SO fast. I told him he's got three months till we get there to learn to communicate more easily with Mike and David. :) (I probably should be ordering those airline tickets already, huh?)

Tomorrow morning he has a job interview--hoping this one works out well for him because it sounds like a job very suited to his personality and interests.

We're all just so relieved to know which direction his future does not HAVE to go now.

I've gotten some really nice feedback on the book so far. I've only actually heard from one person that finished it (who said she was awestruck by such an amazing story), but others that are in the process of reading it have all basically said the same thing......"I just didn't know the depth of what you all went through and the relationship you had with those kids." Others have said they can't stop crying (and they're not even to the sad part yet!), it's hard to read through it and feel it all with me when they know what's coming, and that it's the kind of book you can't read through quickly--it's one that you have to take your time to really absorb it all. I've also gotten some nice comments on the poetry. (Those are my kindred spirits). The first six chapters were all pretty much the story that everyone knew--just maybe not in the depth that I shared it in the book. It's the last eight chapters that many people never knew about, so I'm anxious to hear more feedback on their reactions to those eight chapters (and, of course, the ending). I'm very anxious for the book to arrive at its destination in Colombia so Julian can have his story in his hands, and so the missionary he's living with can read the story that she had no clue God was going to have her become part of.

Challenge of the night

Lastnight was our fourth night together in our study of Experiencing God. The conversation and discussions that have taken place in that room each week have been so amazing and inspiring. It's my favorite place to be and my favorite night of the week. After spending a week studying the fact that it is God who pursues a love relationship with us, not the other way around, we were left with this challenge.....

"Early each day I have an appointment with God.......How does He feel when he asks, 'Rachelle (or your name), where are you?', and I am not there."

Let me just say, there was no pressing snooze on that alarm clock today.

Busy, busy

It's been a busy place around here. My hardback books that came with my publishing package arrived on Friday, and now today all of the softcover books came. Now the sales begin for those that didn't/couldn't order one online. I'm humbled by how many people are interested in our story. I always used to wonder....if I ever wrote a book, would anyone really want to read it? I guess our story was so unique and heartbreaking that so many just want to know the whole story. What really happened? How did it start in the first place? What went wrong? How in the world did you survive such a loss? Well, it's all out there now. Even the lady in the Mail Mart where we went to mail every single document, letter, or package to Colombia is interested in the book and told me she wanted to order one. Let's just watch and see just how far God takes this....Years ago, as we began the adoption process, I was praying the prayer of Jabez, asking God to enlarge my territory. Little did I know.....

Last Wednesday our dearest Julian (Camilo in the book) was finally "exited" from the orphanage. Thankfully (miraculously), God was once again ahead of all of us and opened up a room for him in the home of a missionary. Rather than losing contact with him, I've been able to call and talk to him every single day. They have been busy getting to know one another, he is very happy to be learning English from her, he's been learning so many, many new things and responsibilities....and today when I talked to her for the first time since he moved in, she said, "I can't even begin to tell you how glad I am that he is here. He's just wonderful. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to get to know your son." (Another one of those moments that made my heart just melt). She now has a LOT of questions about the whole story, so I sent a book her way. :)

This coming Wednesday he has an appointment with the military once again to see if he will have to serve. We're all pretty nervous, really not knowing what to expect. But this week that God has provided for him to not be stranded somewhere, all alone, has been a huge reminder that God will be with him wherever he goes. Even if it happens to be in the army.

My other son, my little boy who happens to be sitting right beside me building with legos, is getting ready to go on his first mission trip without Mom and Dad. He'll be going to Waco, Texas for four days over spring break, where they'll be doing several service projects, working with a homeless shelter, and experiencing a church that meets under a bridge to minister to the homeless. He is really serious about this trip, and I'm so proud of how seriously he is taking it. He's received some financial support from a few people, so that has made him very aware of the fact that it is a ministry that others have invested in, as well. It's not something he can take lightly or goof off about when he knows that others have sacrificed their money for him to go. I'm so glad to be part of a church that begins teaching the kids about missions at such a young age.

We've just started up with a new growth group at church, and all I can say is...Wow. God knew what he was doing when he matched us all together. I'm absolutely loving getting to know them all in a deeper way. I still miss my growth group from the Rockwall campus, though. They were and will always be some of my greatest prayer warriors.

So, life got pretty busy recently, but it's a good kind of busy. :)

You Raise Me Up (with lyrics) - Selah

It was this very song, and a picture taken of me standing on a mountain looking over a valley in Bogota, Colombia, that inspired me to write our story and turn it into a book.

Up on the mountain

Be Still and Know - Steven Curtis Chapman - Worship Video w/lyrics

The Invitation - Steven Curtis Chapman

Welcome! Bienvenidos....

Welcome to my blog, a place where I can share the songs of my heart (the poetry God gives to me through different seasons of my life), and where I can just be very real about how I see Him at work in, around, and through me. I've come to learn that life is just one divine encounter after another. My family has been on a journey of faith for several years now, and what I've been convicted of more than anything is that I need to just stop planning my life away. I need to just let go and let God. The more I seek an intimate relationship with Him, above all else, the more I will experience His ultimate purpose for me, written in and on the pages of HIS story (not mine). Following God's guidance for every single step is an exciting, thrilling, scary place to be, but it's so worth it once we realize what we would have missed if we had settled with our own plans (as well-planned and thought out as they were). I hope you'll join me and follow me on this journey, and that you, too, will find your part in God's story and will join Him. He will take you places you never dreamed, will lead you through the dark valleys, and will be your comfort and your refuge when you have no where else to turn. But before you know it, you will find that He has already granted the desires of your heart and has done more with, for, and through you than you ever could have asked or imagined. He is a faithful God, and He can be trusted, no matter what.