December 19, 2011 Journal Entry. How God led me to write

Precious Savior, the stories of my life have become so incredible that I fear no one will ever believe me. Yet, through Your Word, You repeatedly remind me to write about all the good You have done. Each time my Bible continually falls open to the book of Job and I read, “Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book!”  Job 19:23 KJV  I feel compelled to write. Perhaps no one but me will ever read about the events of my life. Even so, I will have done what I felt You instructed me to do. And, I'll have a record of my journey with You and a reminder of Your constant, unfailing and faithful guidance!

Today, I find myself writing about the events of this past week, that have once again, filled my heart with joy.  It all started one day when our now seven-year-old son, Travis blurted out, "I miss my friend." I knew right away that he was speaking about a teenage foster girl who used to live down the street from us. Each day, the beautiful thirteen-year-old girl walked up the street to our home and brought with her all the squealing excitement of any typical teenager. Within a few visits, she had become family.

For hours, the young girl and my son would sit right next to one another while playing video games and watching television shows. After several visits, we began to anticipate her arrival after school. Each day the same routine. She’d enter our home, offer hugs and kisses, open the refrigerator, get a snack and plop down on the couch, remote in hand. Her laugh was contagious! Travis and I couldn’t help but giggle too!

            Sadly one day, the young girl said she was moving to a new foster home. Troubles had mounted at her current home. Then without notice, she was gone without even a chance to say, “Goodbye.” We had lost a good friend. Months passed since we had seen the sweet young girl. Although I had heard that she moved north. But, I wasn’t told where. So, I prayed her where, hoping that one day, we’d meet again. This week, Travis mentioned how he had grown lonesome for his friend.

Simultaneously, my husband called home to announce his next weekend visit. During our conversation, LeeRoy described a longing of his own. Our rescued Chihuahua, Grace, had been spending long hours alone in our new trailer. The demands of his workload had mounted.  “Perhaps we should consider rescuing another dog as a companion for Grace.” I thought as I began to search online for possibilities. Sticker shock! Maybe this was a bad idea after all.

Unsure of Your will, I said a prayer asking for guidance. “LORD, could You be leading us to adopt another dog?" Soon, my mind occupied with thoughts of bringing another homeless puppy into our lives. I had almost completely forgotten about how my young son’s heart was missing that sweet foster child.

A few more days of searching online and soon I had found a puppy in our price range. When I called the number and spoke with the owner of the dog, I immediately felt at ease. She said, "We provide foster care to dogs. My husband and I work with a program called 'Heaven Help Us.' You can see the dogs we have up for adoption if you want. Our home is easily identifiable by the Nativity Scene on the front lawn. We're believers."  Happily, I made an appointment to choose a puppy.

On the day of the appointment, the woman and I shared a few laughs and some tears as I shared my personal testimony. While we spoke, a gentle small and frail puppy approached my side. I picked her up and cuddled her as I spoke to the woman. By the end of the conversation, I just knew. I didn’t have to choose a puppy. The puppy had chosen me.

            As we said our "Goodbyes,” the woman spoke about their other ministry as foster parents to children. She said, “We currently have one teenage foster child, but she will be leaving soon. She is returning home to live with her grandmother next week." I blurted out, "Is her name…?" Amazed, the woman asked, "How could you have known that?" I told her, "God brought the young girl into our lives too and lately, we’ve really missed her. I know I’ve only been walking with Jesus for a few years now, but He seems to orchestrate incredible moments just like this all the time!"

I couldn’t wait to share all that had happened with Travis.  For a couple of days, we waited in suspense to return to the foster home.  Our sweet joyful friend answered our knock upon the door. She immediately threw open her arms. Tearfully and joyfully, we reconnected with the foster child and received our new puppy. 
“You never cease to amaze me Father God! Your ways are so far above my ways! Thank You for this day! And thank You for the sweet new companion for Grace. Your concern for all of us is a very special gift indeed!

We adopted a puppy for Christmas and God blessed us!

        Last week, I heard my seven-year-old say, "I miss my friend_______." He was speaking about a teenage foster girl who used to live down the street from us.
       I knew about the teenage foster girl before I even met her. My neighboring foster parent, who also happens to be the base player at our church, approached me one day after the church service to request prayer support.
       As he considered fostering the young lady, he said, "I am not sure if we can handle a teenager." I simply replied, "Trust God! And, if you need help, call me." It didn't take long before I received that first call. "Can she come over and spend some time at your house?" I instantly responded, "Of course, send her right up."
       Immediately, the thirteen-year-old girl with a beautiful face walked up the street to our home. She brought with her all the excitement and squeal of any typical teenage girl. And within a few visits she felt right at home. She took a liking to our Wii gaming system when she discovered that she could watch a particular show using our subscription to the Netflix movie rental system. Soon, I began to stock the refrigerator with chocolate chip cookies and frozen food.
      After awhile, the young girl had even developed a routine. First, she asked permission to go into our refrigerator to grab a few of her favorite cookies. Then, she asked permission to turn on her favorite television teenage comedy.  She would watch the show and eat her cookies. And as the young teenager filled with laughter and joy, so did our home.
      At one point, I realized the young girl didn't own a bible. Therefore, I purchased one for her. I had the bible personalized by inscribing her name on the front. Later, she began attending our church. She bonded with a few of the other teenage girls who attended our church's youth group. We had bonded to her as well and she became part of our family.  So, when we suddenly heard one day that she would be moving to a new foster home, 40 miles from where we lived, my son and I took the news hard. I was given no contact information. So I simply kept the young girl in my prayers.
       Then out of the blue, this past week, my son said, "I miss ______."  Hearing her name, made me wonder how she had been doing in her new foster home. Yet, that thought only resonated a moment before the ring of our telephone stole my attention.
       I answered the telephone to hear my husband's voice. Exhausted, he shared his concern over the additional work hours he was putting in. He said, "I leave when it is dark and I return when it is dark. I have no time for Grace anymore." Grace, our small rescued Chihuahua is only one-year-old. For over one week, my husband's had been sharing his guilt for leaving her alone for long hours during the day. As a result, I began to think, "Maybe Grace could use a companion."
      I took the issue to the Lord in prayer. "Lord, if it is your will that we should have another dog, please show me the way."  That same night, my young son and I sat down to watch a Christmas special before bed. I flipped through the channels to find something airing on our local television. As God would have it, the "PEANUTS" Christmas special, "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!" was on.  I began to giggle.
      The next day, I decided to search on line to see if one of our local shelter dogs would capture my heart. Yet, after several hours of combing through dogs and cats up for adoption, the only thing that caught my attention was the $300.00+ adoption price tag.
      So, I prayed again. "Lord, if you want us to adopt another dog, please reveal Your will through this next attempt." Finally, I searched the Internets local Craigslist adds for small dogs. In my price range, there were two options. One small dog up for sale, lived only 15 miles away from our apartment. Because of the close distance and lower price, I called the owner and made an appointment to view the puppy for sale. Yet, after I made the call, I had an unsettling feeling about the appointment. As a result, I called the number again and cancelled the appointment. Next, I called the other listed option.
     When the second woman answered my call, I immediately felt at ease. She said, "We provide foster care to dogs. My husband and I work with a program called 'Heaven Help Us.' " Instantly, I remembered my prayer. She added, "You can come see the dogs we have up for adoption if you want. Our home is easily identifiable by the Nativity Scene on the front lawn. We're believers."  I briefly shared my testimony with her and made an appointment to choose a puppy.
      On the day of the appointment, the woman and I shared a few laughs and some tears. I told her my full testimony, and chose our new puppy. Still, I felt as though my visit was unfinished. I started to wonder, "What am I missing?"
      It wasn't until we stood by our car saying our "Goodbyes" that the woman revealed how her husband and her were also foster parents to children. She said,"We currently have one teenage foster child, but she will be leaving soon. She is returning home to live with her grandmother next week." In that moment I felt God's loving hand on my shoulder. I blurted out, "Is her name ____________?" Amazed, the woman asked, "How could you know that?" I told her, "God brought her to us awhile ago and we have been missing her. God orchestrates moments like this for me all the time now."
      As I slowly drove away from the home, promising to return a few days later to reconnect with the foster child and pick up the puppy we chose, I thanked God for His willingness to orchestrate such an event. What I had thought was a simply a Christmas gift for my husband, also turned out to be the sweetest Christmas gift from God, picked out especially for my young son and me!

        Please share your thoughts in the comments section below! 

To read the first written and published personal testimony, 

please go to: http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com/p/store.html