OH How He Loves Us!

There is a song by the Dave Crowder band titled "Oh How He Loves Us!" The song has been stuck in my head all day. The reason, well that requires a story.

The couple in the pic above with Le and I are the Savages. Six months ago, we didn't know them. Six months later, I couldn't imagine our lives without knowing them. I met Amy in August for a fundraiser for Children's Hopechest. She opened her home to me in Cincy for the weekend and she gained fully access to my heart. She is sweet like old fashioned candy, so sweet it puckers your cheeks and you wonder if she's for real but so real you feel like telling her your deepest, darkest secrets because there is no judgment. She is a mommy to two home-grown GORGEOUS angels and the wife of the very adorable man next to Le. Ben is the kind of man you want your daughters to marry. The kind of man that makes you feel comfortable in his presence, like he should be reading you a bed time story or making you belly laugh for no good reason.

Amy and I had a lot to talk about. We were both going to be adopting from Ethiopia. We spent late nights online chatting and talking on the phone. The Savages came to OKC in December, two days after they received their referral for their sweet son, Tariku and five days after Le and I had accepted the referral for Alazar and Ruta. We began joking that weekend how cool it would be to travel to Ethiopia together. Since we are both with different agencies, the idea was laughable.

But as Le and I began to plan our trip to Ethiopia, we talked about how amazing it would be to travel with another couple who were adopting. Someone who could take pics for us and we could return the favor and a couple that would understand our desire to visit all the orphanages in Ethiopia instead of all the museums. Amy and I talked more and more and began openly praying that we would travel together. I admit, I felt a bit guilty. With all that is going on in the world, travelling with a friend to Ethiopia, seemed like a silly request, but Amy and I wanted our trip to be more than two friends travelling to pick up their babies; we wanted it to be a trip to glorify our God.

Last week, when Le and I passed court, I continued to pray that all of the paperwork needed for finalize the Savages' adoption would fall into place. Today, as I sat at my desk, Amy called to tell me that they were leaving for Ethiopia...on EXACTLY the day that Le and I are!!!! We are going to be there to see them welcome sweet Tariku into their arms. And they are going to be there for us as we love on Ruta and Alazar for the first time.

Tonight, I am reminded that our God delights in big miracles, but He also delights in performing small miracles for us, His children. OH, How HE loves us!!!!!!

P.S. there is also another girl that is making this trip, but her story deserves it's own post!