What to do while you wait...get chickens?

I've had this conflicting feeling lately. I feel a little guilty every time we do something new because #4 is missing out. I somehow feel that we should put everything on hold until she comes home. She's missed so much already & I don't want her to miss out on anything else. I realize as I type this that it isn't practical, but a lot of times our feelings aren't practical. They are what they are & we feel them either way. I read in a devotion book from Show Hope that we shouldn't make our existing families wait because we are in the waiting process. What? Does someone know about this? Are you telling me that I'm not the first mom to go through this adoption waiting process! haha. Sometimes knowing someone else has been there helps, sometimes it doesn't. I'm still waiting & they can't change that. But, it can help me deal better with the circumstances I find myself in. To not take my kids to the pool, or not go out to eat, or not see a movie because we are waiting for another child is like pouting to God. It's like me telling Him "All this is not enough. All that You've blessed me with, I don't care. I want this & I want it now." Ouch. Not particularly the attitude I'm teaching my children to have, right? Isn't there somewhere in the Bible where it says that we should be content in our circumstances, not wanting, that God provides for all the birds of the earth & He will take care of us, His children. And that's when it hits me. His children. Our #4 is His child, not just ours. Doesn't He want what's best for her? Won't He provide for her needs while we cannot? I can do all things through Christ...even this. It's gonna be alright. I've waited for lots of things. Eventually, the pieces fall into place & we realize the timetables match up for things to have worked out perfectly. I just hope that I'm getting better at this wait thing. Why struggle through it & gain nothing. That's a waste.  What about having fun? Yes, it's even ok to have a little fun while we are waiting. It's not only ok, be good to enjoy the blessings we've been given even if #4 is not with us yet.

What are we supposed to do while we are waiting? We were told early on that waiting is a big part of the adoption process. We had better get used to it & learn to embrace it now because it doesn't get any easier. In fact, it's one of the things about adoption that can drive you insane if you let it. God knows the plan. The whole plan. But, I can't help but wonder-will we get the call tomorrow? Maybe it'll be next week. Or it could be next month...well, I do have some VBS plans & there's the conference, but we can work around that, right? OK, I'll fess up-I JUST WANT TO KNOW! I'm not good with this waiting thing, in fact I've never been good at this waiting thing! I'd really, REALLY like to know when this is going to happen. While we're at it, I also want to know how this will all play out. When will we travel? Will we have all the money we need? Will the travel times be extended? Will the people like the gifts I brought? What will our little girl look like? How old will she be? What size will she wear? Will she like the snacks we bring? Will she take right to us or grow to accept us slowly? What about the kids. Will they travel well? Will they get along with their new sister? Then I realize why God doesn't give us all the info up front. It's exhausting & overwhelming & we haven't even gotten the call yet! God gives us one piece at a time when we need it. It's like unwrapping a gift. Each unfolding movement reveals another look at this precious gift we are given. I need to be pateint. Well, I'm not going to be praying for that. The big joke about new moms is that they all pray for patience. Then they find themselves in all sorts of situations that require them to learn to be patient. Truth be told, I think I am more patient now than when I was a new mom. Maybe He does know what He's doing, ya think?

It's also occurred to me that this waiting process is not just for us. It’s also for all of those around us. We are waiting. Our families are waiting. Our friends are waiting. Our little girl is waiting. I’m praying that God will use this waiting period to prepare our hearts for our daughter. I pray that He will prepare her heart for us. I pray that the hearts of all our family & friends will be ready to accept & love her when she finally comes home.

So, what's a family to do while waiting for the call? For our family, the answer is: get chickens. I'm going to guess that this may not be the typical answer. But, then again, we are not the typical family. We're Christians, mom doesn't work & we don't even send our kids to school! I know, we break all the American rules. :o)  So, we get chickens. Believe it or not, our suburban town allows 4 chickens (hens) per households-no roosters. We have several friends who have chickens. I have a few friends that have horses, etc. I even have a friend that just bought an entire farm! (She has chickens & a rooster!) We can do this. My cousin, who is an urban chicken expert, says chickens are easier to raise than cats. We have cats! We CAN do this! As you read this, our bath tub is filled with wood chips & 4 adorable little chicks. They are so cute! They make cute little chirps behind the shower door which keep our 2 cats on their toes. The kids have named them & renamed them. Without any further ado, I give you: Spots, Clucker, Elizabeth & Marsala. Never a dull moment at the Henson House!

 Clucker

 Spots

 Elizabeth

 Marsala