God at Work

One of the "larger" qualms we had with Joe changing jobs was losing a very sizeable grant that his employer gave for adoption. AND, being the planner that I am, I had PLANNED on that grant to help us reach our goal for this adoption. I saw it as a huge deal and was really praying that God would work that into something like a signing bonus with Joe's new job. But no, God didn't choose to work that way and Joe still took the job, and I saw it as a way to sit back and watch God work. He's moved mountains for us before - I know He can do it again. SO - in my "sitting back" time, I got the mail and there was a letter from Shaohannah's Hope. Shaohannah's Hope is a wonderful adoption grant that people can apply for to help with financial aspects of an adoption. We applied with our first adoption and were declined as they had run out of money, but I thought I would try again this time. The letter was very thin - I assumed it would be another rejection - but it doesn't take a thick letter to let you know you were chosen to receive money!!! Yes, God provided for us again!! AND - it is more than the grant would have been from Joe's previous employer. That is how I love to see God work and then I love to share that news with others BECAUSE, we CAN NOT do this on our own!!!! We need God's big hand, and I'm glad He's there to guide us and help us.

The other thing that really touched me about this is that yesterday we received a newsletter from Shaohannah's Hope in the mail and it had staggering statistics - 1,140 couples applied for a grant last year. Only 480 were chosen to receive a grant. Shaohannah's current adoption assistance fund total - $1,500,000. What's needed to assist every qualified applicant each year - $3,420,000. Staggering - reminds me again of how even if people don't feel "called" to adopt, they can be used by giving financially to organizations such as these - there are lots of families that are "called" and need the financial help!