Our Journey to Africa

i'm doing a Bible study right now on the Proverbs 31 woman.

it's got me doing all sorts of stuff, 

like getting up earlier than my usual early,

and challenging me to think about how I'm 

{looking well to the ways of my household}.

the study has mentioned the {dream} we may have for our lives -

whether it's starting a business or writing a book or a blog or even being a mom,

and how sometimes, 

these hopes and dreams for our future?

they may just be fun ideas,

but sometimes?

they're dreams the Lord has softly spoken to us.

the dream my husband and I are walking now?

the Lord began whispering it deep inside my heart just about 4 years ago right now.

--

{4 years ago}

i sunk into the corner of our couch,

ready to nurse a brand-new-gracie.

as I settled in to feed my sweet baby girl,

my laptop balanced on the arm of our couch,

so i could browse online during the better part of the evening

 that it would take to get our new baby girl fed, swaddled, rocked and shushed to sleep.

i scrolled facebook,

seeing funny anecdotes from friends,

what people were eating for supper,

and the standard Starbucks drink photo.

and sitting there on our tan micro-fiber couch,

holding my newborn baby,

my heart paused.

i saw pictures from an old college friend.

pictures like this

and this.

I read her blog.

she was in a small country in East Africa,

adopting their first young-toddler boy.

she asked for prayer for her journey,

and a specific prayer request -

someone to go with her for the few weeks that she'd have to travel.

and something began stirring in my heart.

i could go!! i'll go! i'll go!!!!!!

i thought over and over again.

i could take a 4-month-old baby to a impoverished country in Africa, right?

or leave her here, and pump on the airplane and in Africa every 2 hours for 2 weeks, right?

i wanted desperately to go with her.

{i needed to go}.

-----

it would take a few years,

and then a few years more,

but i would go.

oh, how i would go!

to be continued.