5 until .... 7 Days of Grace

What is an elder of a church?  Titus in the Bible shared that an elder should:

Show hospitality, love what is good, and be reasonable, ethical, godly, and self - controlled.

My husband is an elder in our church.  He hasn't always been an elder and he hasn't always been interested in this birth family journey.  But I must say - his wisdom is priceless.  His ability to love what is good is a driving force in our family.  And the support and detective work this man has done has made the difference.

One of my favorite pictures of us - taken in September 2018

A goal he has had for his role as an elder is to have people in our home.  That is exactly what we have done - we have invited people to our home for dinner.  We try to do this once at least every 2 weeks.  We have about 40 church members that are identified as part of Kerry's group.  On March 7th - we had

5
church members in our home.

You need the background story ....

After Kerry was willing to bet the safe - I really needed confirmation.  So I got a court order from the Dallas county court to unseal my adoption file.  This file would have my birth parents names.

After getting the court order - I was required by Texas law to meet with an adoption counselor for an hour. Then all the requirements are met and I will receive my file about a week later.  During that meeting I requested that I be given my birth parents' names.  I explained that I believed that we had in fact found the birth mother - but before I jumped out and did what I wanted to do - I needed the final confirmation.  (evidently a gun safe isn't enough for me ...)

Remember March 6?  I wanted to send her a birthday card for her birthday.  I needed confirmation before I disrupted a world!!! And confirmation I received .....  So on Monday, March 4th - I mailed a birthday card.

It is important to note that I did not have ANY recent information about my Mother.  In our internet detective work we found that she had residence in this place in 2016 - but we really did not have anything since the 2016.  Since I had recently experienced a medical situation with my Mom and I knew that many times family members open mail - I wanted to leave this enough generic that if someone else opened the card - it really would not matter.

Please note my birthday at the bottom of the card.  

I honestly expected that it would be months - if not longer before I heard from her.  My prayer was to not get the card returned in the mail.  So on Thursday March 7th when we had 5 church friends at our home and my phone rings - I look where the call is from - glance at Kerry and tell him that I have to take the call - I have never been more thrilled and surprised all in one evening.

Oh  my word.  I left Kerry and the guests to get the food to the table (Kerry missed the mashed potatoes - we had to come back to those - and Tennessee family - do you say "mashed potatoes" or "creamed potatoes"???) - Kerry and the guests - got the food and sat down to eat.

I was in the driveway talking.  Heaven knows cell phones do not work in our home.  We talked for over 30 minutes and I am sure I cried pretty much the entire way through the conversation.

I never can recall a story in order.  Never.  And this time I really cannot either.  But it was maybe the best conversation of my life.

Upon reflection - here are some things that are coming together for this 5th day of Grace:

The description at the beginning of the chapter says:   A pilgrimage song.  

My mom (DJ, Jeanette) is the best role model for any mother of an adopted child.  Seriously - many could learn from her.  She always knew that I needed to know that I was adopted - always told me.  And for as long as I could remember she told me that if I wanted to find my birth family - it would be with her blessing.  I think I now understand that why as a young girl growing up in church that Romans 8:28 was my verse.  

Last night Her son (my 1/2 brother) talked to my mom.  He told her thank you.  It was perhaps the most amazing conversation I have ever listened to.  It was beautiful.  My mom is so thankful for the Love she is being shown.  

As unusual as all of this - here is my suggestion.  Just read and roll along.  We are on really new ground.  I know there are other adopted - birth family stories but I have never read any of them.  For me it is about telling our story and honoring 2 amazing women in my life.  

And this blog is about me.  As hard as that is to write because I pretty much never do things with me as the central focus.  

My dad left earth in July of 2016.  He was my cheerleader.  Really he was. It still makes my eyes sweat to think of him gone.  And he would have loved this journey.  He would have been so happy for me.  If I would have asked him at the beginning what he thought - he would have said "Have you prayed about it?" Before it was a trendy thing to do - my dad was asking "what would Jesus want you to do?".

When my dad left - we wanted their gravesite to be one that represented who they were - so we chose to add scriptures.  My dad's is John 3:16 - always his go to verse. 

I always loved the verse my mom chose for her side.  I thought it was meaningful and I love hearing her recite it in the King James Version.   I certainly never imagined where her pilgrimage would take me.  Funny - the version I chose for the scripture below uses the word "mountains" - She wants to see the mountains too - I hope I have the chance to take her one day.

I am slowly but surely figuring out that both of my families have leaned on that understanding in Jesus.  

What a wonderful story to have.

7 Days of Grace

5 days until I am in Tennessee

5 church friends

4 to Love

That is NOT a typo.

I moved the flight up a day.

I will SEE Her on Saturday!  

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.