Have you ever met people who became a family, in part because of how other people did their holiday shopping? Take a look at our picture above, because that is our story.
My husband, Ryan, and I began our adoption journey in early 2020. After researching and praying through avenues to grow our family, we felt an overwhelming peace about pursuing private infant adoption through Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption. There was just one big glaring issue: finances!
Do you have something that just makes your heart happy? While we love preparing and
enjoying delicious food, a thoughtfully set table makes our hearts skip a beat. Some might think
it’s not their gifting or that they don’t have the resources to set a lovely table, but sometimes
simplicity and using what you already have is the way to go.
My guess is that, like me, you have some GOLD friends. You know, the ones who have known you a very long time, who have seen your good days, your bad days… and love you anyway! Oh, you are BLESSED by God if you have any deep friendships like that! When I was younger, I learned a little tune that went, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.”
Vulnerability. Do you shudder when you hear the word? Does your stomach drop like you’re on some terrible roller coaster? Vulnerability researcher, Brene’ Brown, defines vulnerability as: uncertainty, risk, emotional exposure. Nobody likes emotional exposure when the outcome is uncertain. But there is no intimacy without vulnerability.
I like to believe I’m ready and willing to be vulnerable (the good, honest kind!), but truthfully, I’m more willing to be vulnerable with information-sharing than emotion-showing. So, imagine my surprise when simply a sincere, earnest look of compassion made me burst into tears while I was sharing a life update! I was discussing a challenging situation with my Table Group in my typical matter-of-fact fashion, and then BOOM! I glanced at one of the women and she was listening to me so intently, showing such care on her face that the emotions flowed out of me. That was one of the most meaningful moments I had while co-hosting a Table Group. In turn, I wanted to serve our Table Group through intentionally leading our Table Questions discussion and taking part in someone else’s meaningful moment. My hope is to encourage you to consider co-hosting this year!!
My husband and I have been leading various groups at Council since 2012. Our home group at that time was mostly all young married couples with few children. Our time together was full of Bible Study and encouragement with intentional community building. We loved it. Through the years, kids started slowly showing up. One day I looked up and the kids outnumbered the adults! We had continually tried hard to have Bible Study during home group, but it was increasingly becoming a challenge with so many children. One particular group meeting I remember my husband and I introduced a parenting video series and the videos were four minutes long. Surely we could do a four minute Bible Study! However, the first week of that video we had ten different people get up at different times during that four minute video to check on a kid - me included. I felt like a failure as a group leader. At that time, I went to the Lord and asked “what do we do?” I heard Him say, “invest in the families in other ways.”