Tuesday October 7th...11:30 pm

Adoption Day
Sometimes our trials come through our physical bodies, like, pancreatitis for example. Sometimes our trials come through broken things, like, VANS for example. Yesterday Robert and I ran some errands in Salem and on the way home our transmission stopped working, out on the highway, right about 5:30 pm when the traffic was very heavy. I pulled over onto a very narrow shoulder, with vehicles whipping past us at 65 miles per hour. After the warning light did not go out, we determined we should not drive it, and we called for a tow truck. Besides seeing dollar signs floating before my eyes, the worst part for me was the large Starbucks ice tea I had finished about an hour earlier. I got out and seriously looked for a tree to hide behind, but (fortunately for me) the poison oak has started to turn red and was obvious around every tree, so I decided there was no safe spot. We had the van towed to our mechanic (who does not work on transmissions) and after checking it out today and discussing it with his favorite transmission man, and the warning light stayed off, he decided it was working fine...for the time being...but advised us against leaving town in it, just in case it would happen again. So off I drove and I stopped at the store on the way home and it was working fine. But after leaving Safeway, when I slowed to turn onto our street, it shifted with a clunk...and the warning light came back on. :(
I think this means now we tow it to the transmission shop in Salem. When Robert was in ICU, in the midst of a serious illness, my faith kicked in, and I "rested" in my Sovereign God - I trusted Him to take care of everything and everyone. I believed He could meet our every need. In fact, 2 days ago I blogged about how God HAS met our needs. But when our van suddenly needs a major repair, I fall apart. I instantly started worrying...wondering how in the world we will pay for another bill. And right now I want to say "enough".
Then I remembered what day this is - October 7th - Adoption Day..."Celebration Happy" day. The day, 17 years ago, we went to court to finalize the adoption of our 2 kids. The day when the judge declared us to be the legal parents of Rosanna and Robby, and birth certificates were issued, reading the same as if they had been born to us. We call it “Celebration Happy” day because, just hours before guests arrived, five-year-old Rosanna told me she wanted to sing a song at our Adoption party. When I asked her what song, she hesitated a moment, then on the spot started to sing (to the tune of Happy Birthday) “Celebration Happy, Celebration Happy, Celebration, I’m adopted, Celebration Happy!” Today was a day to remember the special relationship we share with our children, all because of the legal action of a judge.
Today makes me remember the special relationship I have with my Creator, who by His Son, has made it possible for me to be His child. I am adopted, all because of the legal action of The Judge - He has declared it to be so. And because of my relationship, based on faith in Jesus, I can enter into my Father’s presence and say “daddy, I’m scared” …”daddy, it hurts”…”daddy, how much more?”
And I hear my Father say: “…for you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” - and - “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” - and - “…keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”
As I listen to His Words, I feel the anxiety draining from me and find myself relaxing in the arms of my Father and once again I rest in my Sovereign God…and sing "Celebration Happy" with joy!