| This week, two of my friends received their long- | | | | God. |
| awaited phone call telling them they had precious, | | | | When times were the hardest - both of them, in |
| little daughters waiting for them in China. | | | | their own unique way would turn their attention to |
| These two women, whom I've never met in person | | | | others! I can recall many nights on our weekly phone |
| but who have become friends and prayer partners in | | | | call when they'd be asking about me and my |
| a weekly telephone group, are an inspiration to me. | | | | daughter, praying for our needs. They faithfully |
| When they started their adoption process, the wait | | | | encouraged several of us from the group over a |
| for their referral was to be about 7 to 8 months. | | | | year ago when we were preparing for our travel to |
| That continued to be stretched out longer and | | | | China - and since our return, they have been solid |
| longer, until at last - 17 months later, they got the call | | | | rocks of support as we new moms began to |
| on Monday, March 5th, 2007. | | | | navigate our way through first- time motherhood. |
| They got their call from the adoption agency, and | | | | I thought my 8 months of waiting was an eternity. |
| even in the midst of a tornado of emails and phone | | | | People would tell me how patient and relaxed I was! |
| calls to and from family and friends, they were | | | | What would I have become if that 8 months had |
| faithful as always to phone in to our little group that | | | | been more than doubled? I tell you - their wait has |
| same evening to share in their excitement and to | | | | been the equivalent of 3 back-to-back biological |
| praise God for His work and faithfulness to them. | | | | pregnancies!! These women, and many of you out |
| These incredible women have been amazing | | | | there still waiting, deserve some kind of reward! |
| examples to me of real, practical patience. They have | | | | Well, in just about 7 weeks, my two friends will get |
| trusted, day after day after day, in their great big | | | | their reward when their gorgeous little children are |
| loving God. They haven't been phony, fake "put on a | | | | placed in their arms for the first time. In that swirl of |
| happy face" patient. They've let us see their | | | | emotion, thankfulness to God, and overwhelming |
| frustration and their pain, but through their prayers, | | | | delight - that 17 months of waiting will all become a |
| sharing, and encouraging others - their wondering and | | | | blur. They have allowed God to forge in them a faith |
| doubt always turned into an even more solid trust in | | | | that will be a lifelong example to their children. |