A Banner Year

In early January, my pastor and dear friend, Mike, sensed God saying that this would be a banner year for our community! He has continued to have that sense throughout this year. I was reflecting on my last post and realizing that even though this year hasn't been the "banner year" I would have dreamed of - it has, indeed, been a banner year!
It's just like God to surprise us! To provide a banner year in unexpected ways. If you would have asked me what my hopes were for a banner year back in January, it would have gone something like this - my sweet Hannah would be home with me in early Spring and I would have spent the Spring and Summer bonding with her - enjoying being a mom. This type of banner year did not materialize for me - God had other plans.
Here's a few highlights from the type of banner year He had in mind for me...

• I had the privilege of being foster parent to two sweet little girls for the month of January
• In March, when it became clear that adoptions would not resume anytime soon, God put it on my hear to pray that Hannah's family would return for her so that she would not miss anymore of her childhood in an orphanage and that she would not have to be moved to the older kids orphanage on her 4th birthday in July.
• In May I received that call that distant relatives had returned for sweet Hannah and she had gone to live with them as her forever family. I rejoiced in the answered prayer and sobbed over my own personal loss - I really wanted to be her mama!
• In May I had the opportunity to spend 4 days with my dear friend, Elisabeth, hanging out in Virginia Beach - God was near.
• In June I spent a wonderful long weekend with two dear friends in San Diego - as I mentioned in my last post - letting life "unfold" - what a wonderful place of rest!
• In July I served with WOTH for a week - ministering to missionaries home on furlough! An amazing privilege! I will never forget it and hope to serve with them again!
• Throughout these months I have learned to be "more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him" (see Phil. 3:10)
• I have learned to more "fully rely on Him" (see 2 Cor. 1:8-9)
• I have clung to the truth of who I know Him to be in spite of my circumstances which would lead me to believe otherwise! (see the packet of verses on 4x6 index cards that I now carry everywhere with me)
• I have experienced a community that fully accepts, loves and supports me even when they don't quite get what God might be up to in my life!

And these are just a few of the ways it's been a banner year - plus....the year isn't over yet! How has it been a banner year for you? Leave me a comment - I'd love to hear!