On Coffee, Color, and Adoption

On Coffee, Color, and Adoption

I've been known to say that I don't like people.  I'm not a people person.  I'm an introvert.  But do you wanna know a little secret?  There are some people that I really like.  Like really like.  And it's not just some.   There are quite a few people who I would love to have coffee with at least once a month.  So many, in fact, that if I had a coffee date every day of the month I wouldn't have enough days.  If I've chosen you as a friend then know this:  I love you deeply.  I don't know how to do things half way.  It's All or Nothing.

A few weeks ago I had coffee with Wanda.  Wanda is the kind of people I love to have over.  I needed to make 40 pies that day (Don't ask.  I do crazy things) so Wanda came and sat at my island and chatted with me while I measured, stirred, and pinched pie crusts.

She brought her babies and some blank paper.  Because she was menu planning.  We know how to socialize and get things done at the same time.  So we chatted and baked and kept little boys alive.  We talked in circles, one topic blending into the next until we came back around to the first one.  She looked thru my recipe book, snapping pictures of things that sounded good and adding them to her menu plan.  I was the recipient of one of her newest necklace designs.

Wanda makes fantastic jewelry.  Most of it has words on it.  Jewelry and words are at the top of my list titled "Things I Love".  Ok, I don't actually have a list like that but if I did that last sentence would be totally true.

The last photo.  LOVE.  I'm not buying any clothes/accessories for myself this year but if someone wanted to get me a present...blue *cough cough* or yellow *cough cough*.

I'm rocking a Pearls N Joy creation right now as I blog.

You can't see the words but the circle says "Be still and know".  It's something that I'm struggling with right now.  Not the knowing part.  But the being still.  Just typing those words though causes my breathing to deepen and slow.  I am drawn by the idea of being still.  

But back to pies and menu planning and rambunctious boys.  Wanda asked me if I would be interested in blogging to promote something called Build the Nest.  In order to explain this best I need to back up a bit.

Wanda and her husband Matt are the proud and delighted parents of six adorable children.  Who all have beautifully different skin tones.  The six Graham kids have all joined Matt and Wanda's family the same way; by adoption.

This photo.  I just can't even.  They are the most gorgeous family.

Anyway, they are part of this organization called The Sparrow Fund.  What it boils down to is this:  The Sparrow Fund is there for adoptive families.   They provide training opportunities as well as grants for adoptive families in financial need.  Every May The Sparrow Fund does a fund raiser, their only fundraiser, called Build the Nest.  What happens is businesses commit to donating 10% of their sales for the month of May to The Sparrow Fund.  So you can spend some dollars, get some cool things, and know that you are helping to make a difference in the lives of children who are waiting for a forever family.

Wanda's Etsy shop is one of the businesses committed to Build the Nest.  So if you like what you saw above visit her site at https://www.etsy.com/shop/pearlsnjoy

As I was perusing the other Etsy shops that are linked up with Build the Nest, I came across one called 4 One More.  

Oh.My.Goodness.

While I was on a walk this week I came to a realization.  I have a thing for color.  Maybe more than a thing.  Like a wild, deep, passionate connection.  There were red tulips, yellow daffodils, green grass.  Flowering white pear trees, red Japanese maples, purple dogwoods.  Puffy white clouds, blue sky, brown plowed earth.  I wanted to fling my arms wide and spin in circles until I was so dizzy I fell down.  And then, in someones driveway, I saw it.  An old pick-up truck.  It was the coolest shade of teal.  I totally would have driven it even though it was a Chevy.

This etsy site, https://www.etsy.com/shop/4onemore, gave me the same feeling.  So much color.  So many repurposed things.  I love to see the old, the broken, the worn out given new life.  Isn't that what Jesus does?  Some days I feel destined for the junk heap.  The burn pile.  The landfill.  My heart feels old, broken, worn out.  My thoughts, my words, my actions betray the fact that I am, indeed, a sinner.

But I'm a sinner saved by grace.

And as long as I have breath in my lungs and a beating heart in my chest it means one thing.  Jesus still has a purpose for me.  He offers me new life.  His mercies are new every morning.

Here's the thing.  Jesus doesn't offer these things, this love, this grace, because I was born into his family.  Nope.  I've been adopted. 

 "...the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry "Abba, Father."  Romans 8:15b

God decided I was worth the risk.  He knew I'd do things that would break his heart.  He knew there would be times I would question his methods.  He knew there could even come a time that I would turn my back on him.  But he brought me into his family anyway.

I have a lot of friends who are adoptive parents.  I have very dear and precious family members who are related to me because of adoption.  And after listening to their stories I think it's fair to say, adoption is not all sunshine and roses.  It's tough.  It's painful.  It's heartbreaking.

There can be piles of paperwork.  Many miles driven to and from court hearings.  Hours given to meeting with social workers.  But I think they would all say the same thing.

It's worth the risk.  It's worth the effort.  It's worth the blood, the sweat, the tears.

There's a blogger I read, Momastery, who uses the word "brutiful".

Brutal + Beautiful.

I think that might be an accurate word to describe adoption.

If you are stirred by adoption, would you consider supporting The Sparrow Fund?  Do some shopping with Build the Nest?  You won't regret it.  I promise.