Making Macaroni Wrapped in a Prayer Shawl

I know that we can't live in the "mountain top moments" all of our lives, but boy, I would like it if we could. On Friday morning, when I got the call saying that we could pick up Jasmine for good, I couldn't contain myself. I was jumping up and down...really, I was...Becca was there to see it! The children that I had been praying for for years, ("God, I lift up to you my children. All of the children that you have planned for my family. Whoever and wherever they are, I pray that you hold them in your arms and protect them until I can do that and so much more."), were finally under one roof, and I was praying with them. Amazing day! For me it truly felt just like the day that each of my biological children were born...but without the pain, sleepless nights and hospital stay. :)

A dear friend told me that I was "glowing". Just right for a new mom.
Another great friend wrote on my facebook, "The only thing better than reading about this was getting to see your face when you told me in person!!!! I wish I had a picture of that for you:)"

I wish I could bottle that day up to save forever, but here I sit, on a new day, making macaroni and cheese for the kids while wrapped in the prayer shawl I was given at church today. Back to the laundry and cleaning and meal making that I call life. Don't get me wrong...I love it all, and I am blessed beyond anything I ever imagined for my life, I just feel myself heading down from that mountain top bit by bit. It reminds me that life goes on and after spending some time in pure joy and fulfillment, the rest of life always goes back to just plain normal. I take tons of pictures and journal about it all so that on some of those normal days, I can go back and grab a piece of the experience.
In one of my favorite Rob Bell videos, he compares life to a hospital. In one room a new baby brings ultimate joy, in another someone dies and grieving begins. Although we spend some time in each of those rooms at one point or another in life, we spend most of our time in the hallways. In between the peaks and the valleys. Living normal days.

So, before I forget all of the glorious details, here is how the went on Friday, September 10, 2010, when I went to pick up my 7th child, and our family was finally complete. (Disclaimer: Unless God has other plans of course, but in my heart and mind, we are complete.)

On Thursday evening I had the honor of driving Dave and my father, Ron, out to East Bay camp for a Great Banquet Retreat Weekend. This, in itself, felt like a mountain top experience as Dave was giving his first ever "talk" and never in my wildest dreams did I think that my father would attend a spiritual retreat. Over a year ago, God was nudging me to invite my dad, and I kept telling Him no. I had a million excuses why my dad would not be interested, and why he was just not the right person. So, God did what He does best. He turned from a gentle nudge to an in my face, "I'm not asking you, Cara. I am telling you!" So, I did it, I asked my dad, he said yes, and now he is there having what sounds like a great weekend. I'll know more tonight when I go to pick them up. :)

But, the reason I mention that is because I drove them to the camp and I left them there for the weekend, which meant I was solo parenting 5 kids Friday-Sunday. Survivable, but not ideal.

Lindsay, my amazing daycare assistant, came in early because I had a meeting scheduled at Prairieland to discuss how Brice was adjusting and how we could help him succeed in kindergarten. I ended up bringing Wren with me to the meeting and to hear Dave's talk just so that she could have some extra "mom time". Dave's talk was to be at 9:15, so Pastor Becca picked us up from the school and we drove out to East Bay from there. As we got close to camp, on this beautiful, clear, sunny, 70ish degree morning, we looked up near a cloud, and there was a tiny baby rainbow just hanging there. God sends rainbows to remind us that he keeps all of his promises. I didn't know it yet, but God was about to make good on a promise that I had been doubting since our first adoption was unsuccessful.
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

Dave was nervous and excited for his talk, "Discovering Priorities", but he was happy to see us. We prayed for him before his talk, and it was just such a special time. It was one of those moments where I was just so proud to call him my husband. He went off to give his talk, and we were able to remain in the chapel and listen as he spoke. He gave the talk that God wanted him to give. Dave was such a wonderful extension of God as he spoke.
Then, I noticed the missed call on my phone. Dave was on his way back to the chapel, so I decided to wait to call her back.
Dave came in, we prayed him down from his talk, and then he went to change into more comfortable clothes. Becca was gone, too. I think she went to raid the snack table! ;-p
As I stood with just Wren in the chapel, I called my voicemail and heard the message I have been waiting since July to hear. "The waiver is complete, and you can pick up Jasmine anytime to transfer her to your home!"
I yelled, I jumped, Wren looked at my like I was nuts! I ran down the hall to find someone to tell. Becca was just coming back through the door and it was so fun to share my excitement with her. She has prayed us through so much. The day that Brandon, Monay and Kia, were adopted by another person, Becca was the one who sat with us and prayed. She has been praying with and for us ever since then.
Then, I ran into tell Dave. He was just done changing and I said, "We get to keep Jasmine! The waiver is done!!!!" His response, "that's cool." I can't even capitalize it because he was so mellow about it. :) I think he was on overload from the weekend and the adrenalive rush from having just given his talk. But, that was it. He went back up to the retreat, I headed home to prepare my heart and mind for Jasmine's permanent arrival.
The rest of the day for me went by in a blur. Daycare was open, and the plan was to get Jasmine that evening, so I scurried around the house, unable to focus or relax all day.
We headed to Danville, IL, to get Jasmine around 4pm.
Although Halie, in a time of missing her former foster parents, had told me, "When we go back to Grandma Nancy's, I am going to hide somewhere where you can never find me!", we still decided that we would all go back to the house where they have lived the past year of their lives, the place they consider home. When we arrived, Jasmine ran out to give hugs to everyone and many family members and friends were there to greet the kids. They had spent the afternoon blowing up balloons, and preparing for the "sending off" party. What I had feared might end up being a tough time for Halie was nothing but a complete blessing. I will share many more details and pictures of that soon. For now though, it was just a perfect ending to a perfect day. As I carried each of my kids into the house, fast asleep, one at a time, I thanked God over and over for keeping his promise, for loving me, and for blessing me so incredibly.