Enlarge the place of your tent
“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child;burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,”says the Lord.Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide,do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nationsand settle in their desolate cities..." -Isaiah 54 
This is a verse God has laid on my heart a few different times in this adoption journey. It's been one that I hold on to....one that gives me hope and a promise that I'm holding on to. Although I do have a husband, I know that God has given me this verse in particular...and just the other day, when I read it again, I felt a swell of joy as I anticipate what is to come. This last month, an unexpected connection lead us to a beautiful opportunity. We were connected,through a friend-of-a-friend, to a local (lovely and courageous) woman who is pregnant with twins. She has known all along that she would make an adoption plan for these precious babies. When she heard about Dan and me, she was truly excited because she had not yet met anyone who was specifically praying for two. She was even more excited to find out that Dan is an identical twin and has always dreamed of being a dad to twin boys. God is so good. So for the past few weeks, we've been communicating with this brave and beautiful woman about adopting her boys. We've met her and had a lot of laughs already, and we are hopeful.
One of the hard things about an adoption journey is that nothing is for-sure. But I think it gives us a clearer understanding of life as it is...nothing is ever for sure. As we humans try to plan and prepare and control our lives, there are certain moments where we realize, 'I have no control over anything!' I may have the illusion that I do...but when it comes down to it, nothing is guaranteed. For this reason, among many others, I'm so so thankful I have a Father who loves me with an eternal love. I'm so thankful I can trust Him fully because He loves me and He is in control. I'm beyond grateful that I know that even if this doesn't work out, He still loves me and still has good plans for us. I believe it and know it - and that gives me the kind of peace that surpasses understanding."...Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you". - from Isaiah 54
If all works out, Dan and I will be the parents of identical twin boys before Christmas! What a gift this will be - one that we've been waiting on for years and years...and now the gift is doubled. :) (thank you Sarah Kathleen for these beautiful photos!)