Sweet Home ...Alabissippi?!

While I have always considered Mississippi to be "home", my parents somewhat recent move to the Mobile, Alabama area has caused me to pause when telling people where "home" is. Growing up in the Marine Corp always left me telling people where I was from versus where I was at that time. It was as though people wanted to know if you were one of them, or were you just a visitor in that place. I think that it is just human nature to desire to be a part of something that is bigger than themselves. A history, a past and a future. I know that our daughter may struggle with the concept of "home" even more than this old military brat. Will her home be Ethiopia, will it be wherever we are, or will it also be Mississippi/Alabama? Is home just what you have always known...or is home where the heart is...or is home where you are physically from...or is it so much more than any of those things. Although Mississippi will always hold a special place in my heart, I am so thankful that whatever earthly coordinates I most closely relate to, I know that my true home is with my Heavenly Father.

BFF

What a blessed two weeks we had together. As many of you know, Doug has been gone on a deployment since September of last year. He was able to come home for two precious weeks for rest and relaxation. I was concerned that with everything on our to-do list, that it would be anything but. Our prayer from the beginning was that God would multiply our time together, light our path and order our footsteps. We had SO much to do for our adoption while Doug was home and we didn't want it to be all-consuming. Our time to reconnect and for the kids to get filled up with Daddy lovin' was on the top of our list. We knew that God would have to move mountains in order for it to all happen. He is so faithful! For those of you in the adoption world, you will understand the compexity of what we had to accomplish in two weeks...home study, USCIS (which happens to be 7 hours each way south of us in Anchorage), ALL of the dossier and passports for Doug and for the kids! You can see where we had to place all of our trust in the Lord!!! But, would we really want it any other way? I just kept thinking what affirmation God was giving us by allowing it to all get done in such a brief window. Amazingly, we did complete everything that was necessary while Doug was home and as the pictures show, still had plenty of time for one another. When Doug left, we felt peace about his visit and about our time together. I know for those not in the military, you can not fathom a year apart from your husband. But, He is always with me, He never departs from me. Hear the song again with new understanding of who our best friend is.

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.


Ooh you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you you're all I see
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

Ooh you're the best friend that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine and I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh you're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

Ooh I've been wandering round
But I still come back to you
In rain or shine
You've stood by me, girl
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me
I got you to help me forgive
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

You're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love the things
I really love the things that you do
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

I'm happy at home
You're my best friend
Oh ya
Oh you're my best friend
Ooo you make me live
You you're my best friend.

R and R