A Day of Indulgence

I quite possibly have the best staff in the world. For my birthday this week, my team got me a Spa Day of Indulgence at my favorite solitude location: The Montage at Laguna Beach.

For the past 5 years or so I've been coming to the Montage almost every month to create space to reflect, dream, and listen to God on matters of my life and ministry. I come here because the views are breath-taking and nature energizes me. I come to the same bench every month because it's now like holy ground with God. I come because I live at Mach 2 speed but want to live more centered and focused on eternal things. I come because I need the rest. I come because I want the people I lead to have more of this in their lives.

So, after my birthday lunch this week, my team said "Every month for the past several years, you've been coming to the Montage as an outsider looking in. Tomorrow we want for you to be on the inside. So tomorrow you will hang out at the Montage all day, get a massage, have lunch on the pool deck, and have sunset yoga facing the ocean." Are you kidding me!??! I still can't believe it. It was the most magical, exquisite day. **This DOES have an adoption application. Check out the pics first and then read about the connection.

Views from the spa pool deck...

The whirlpool with a sauna room, steam room, and plunge pool nearby...

The bathroom...
LUNCH! Ahi Tuna on field greens for an appetizer and Mahi Mahi sandwich. Delicious!!!

On my way to the beach, I couldn't stop singing "How He Loves Us" by David Crowder Band and "Oh How He Loves Me" by Rita Springer. I just couldn't get over how loved I felt by my team and by my God.

While at the Montage, I was thinking about that phrase "a day of indulgence". Indeed it was on every level. I wouldn't mind spending a day a week there. But I also thought about how indulgently God cares for me and our babies everyday. He's orchestrating lavish love on our entire family right now in ways that we know and do not. God can't help it. He's just an indulgent, extravagant, decadent God. Though our kiddos probably didn't spend yesterday at the spa on the beach, his love isn't limited to spa days. It goes deeper than that.

I'm so grateful for the day of indulgence yesterday and how God spoke to me about his love for us! Be indulged today by God's reckless love for you.

Blog to Book

I've been meaning to write this for a long time, but keep forgetting (do you know me? hahaha). Many of you have been so great about commenting on my posts - so appreciated! Mostly, though, people comment on my Facebook posts about the blog or email me responses back. And I haven't saved most of those comments.

SPECIAL REQUEST: A while ago I decided that I wanted to capture for our little ones the journey their parents were on to bring them home. Thus the blog. But beyond that, I want to re-purpose the blog into a book just for them to read someday. I want them to know how thought of, prayed for, longed for, hoped for, and dreamed of they were. I want them to see the thousands of people who helped bring them home via donations, prayers, blog hits, etc.

So, from now on would you post comments on my blog? I want for them to see your names, comments, prayers, and dreams for them, as well as what their momma wrote about them.

African villages get it right:
it takes a village to raise a child.
And we want them to know how big and loving their village really is!

Rub My Belly

Today at Newsong I ran into another adoptive momma-to-be and a very supportive mom, and immediately we started chattering "adoption updates". This other family just accepted a referral for 2 little Korean boys. I started going on and on about my year-long nesting craziness. We were laughing, they were giving me tips, and I was just soaking up being around these wonderful moms. Then, Maria spontaneously put her hands on both our bellies and squealed (if you know Maria, that's SO Maria) in delight, "You are both SO pregnant. It's like you're in the 3rd trimester. You're both so close to having your babies home!" I laughed back that I was in more like my 5th trimester, and wasn't taking offense that she said I looked like I was in my 3rd trimester. We all laughed! I was having so much fun in our conversation with Maria's hand rubbing all over my belly, that her act/words didn't even sink in fully. Driving home minutes later, I started tearing up.

[That's Maria in the black t-shirt, hugging me in the white hoodie]
God knows. God remembers. He knows that I LOVE touch, and I would've loved to have had my belly touched for 9 months of pregnancy. Maria doesn't even know that, but the Spirit prompted her in the moment to rub my belly. She was also sensitive to our other friend's referral news, knowing that it might strike me hard. It didn't, but as a mom she knows the aching of a momma for her baby.

Today could have been painful for a number of reasons, but God brought Maria and Jessica along for a great dose of laughter and belly touching.
I am grateful!