Written originally on 3-17-11
I love how God communicates to his children. Sometimes He uses metaphors to bring revelation—sudden, clear understanding—to a complicated situation.
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I read every comment that’s posted on my blog. Sometimes a new commenter catches my attention and I see a link posted back to his or her blog. Usually they are other similar home blogs. A few months ago I got a comment from my now BF (blog friend, hehe) K. Her blog name piqued my interest so I clicked on it. When I finally had the courage to write K an email a few weeks later, after spending hours reading her family’s story, I told her that finding her blog felt like God was opening a new door in my heart.
It’s become more and more clear that God is leading Jason and I into a new phase of our lives, a new adventure that will be exciting, difficult, wonderful, horrible and more important that anything we’ve ever done. I’ve been looking for God’s confirmation and guidance. This morning (3-17-11) He gave me a vision of what’s behind that door.
My God is a creator, a builder, an artist. It’s no surprise that He made his children also to be designers and inventors. And it’s also no surprise that He would use mid-century modern interior design—my hobby, (my specialty?), to speak to me about what He’s doing in my life right now. The current state of my heart is a result of nearly 27 years of building, designing, rearranging, decorating, spring cleaning and upgrading all done by the Master Designer. There are many different rooms, different dimensions that are purposeful and together form a unique house unlike any other. My heart.
Behind the newly discovered door is a room. The room was formed when I was a child. Back then it was just an empty shell. The structure was there but I had no idea what it’s purpose would be. Had I opened this door too soon I wouldn’t have made any sense of it; it wasn’t ready yet. In recent years, God has started filling that room up with furniture. He’s a collector. Some of the pieces in the room are vintage, sturdy, time-tested and reliable. Some of the pieces are new, never-used, and in perfect condition. The Master Designer pulls all the artful pieces together into one cohesive room, a space with a specific purpose, a beautiful mix of old and new.
When I cracked opened this door a few weeks ago and peaked into the room (figuratively…follow me?), my heart leapt! Where had this room come from? I hadn’t known it was here! My Father, who delights in giving good gifts to His children and who conceals matters for the joy of His kids finding them, had created a surprise for me. A dramatic room reveal. And yet, stepping into the room, I started to remember bits from my past. Yes, I remember when this room was built. I remember the time that piece was added, and that one. Yet, I had been completely oblivious to the beautifully designed space my Father was making in my heart.
This place in my heart is not for me, though. God has some specific people planned for it. I don’t know them yet but I long for them. Did you know you could miss someone you’ve never met? I long for them to fill this lovely room with their energy and joy. I, just like my Father, look forward to revealing this beautiful room to my future children. I long to see the delight on their faces when they discover what has already been created specifically for them, a place that no one can take from them, a place that’s safe and bright, a mix of past and present, a place to grow.
Jason and I also have a physical equivalent of this room in our house. It’s purpose is not clearly defined yet. It was an office, a guest room and now it’s a storage room. We call it the spare room. But, we have plans for this room. Design ideas. A mix of old and new. A safe, relaxing, functional and creative space for some littlies we only dream about.
Have I confused the heck out of you yet? Here’s the B&W:
Jason and I are becoming certified as foster parents!
myMCMlife.com 
This makes my heart leap with joy! We have dear friends and some cousins going through the process right now! It has been encouragement to see them prepare for this. Their hope is to adopt and we are excited to be along for the ride. I look forward to reading your posts about this.
P.S. I am a new reader and rarely comment (but love the blog)! =)
Thanks Natalie! I’m tentatively planning to post about our foster parenting journey on Thursday. Thanks for reading my blog! 🙂
Woo hooo! I am so excited for you guys.
Thanks for sharing your story, K! It obviously played an important role in this process for us. I love how things like this seem to have a ripple effect. Looking forward to the day that there are foster parents on waiting lists because there are no kids in our country waiting for good homes!
Wow! That’s awesome, Martina! I just said to Roger yesterday that I wondered if that’s what you guys were up to! We’ll be praying for you and Jason as you embark on this incredible journey. And here to help in any other ways we can!
Thanks, Susan! I may be asking your advice on kids products since your crew has make you an expert on all things baby and toddler, I’m sure!
you can delete the duplicate if you want to.
Are you going to foster all ages or little ones or you don’t know? I honestly have no idea how the process works. I’m so proud of you guys. This is really, really wonderful.
At some point I’ll write a post about how the process works. We’re going to be open to newborn – age 5, possibly a sibling set.
[…] exciting post from my newest online friend… Did you know you could miss someone you’ve never met? I long […]
What a lovely post, Martina! We’re excited to be taking this journey alongside you and Jason. I always told you God had big plans for you!
Thanks, mama! I know you did… this must be part of it. You’re going to be an awesome grandmother to “Sprout” and all the rest!
Love reading this. Wow! You guys will have a great time and make the grooviest parents. 😀
Wow!! This is so exciting 🙂 YAY!!!
How exciting! I was thrilled to read through this beautiful post. There is such a need for good foster homes, so I am so happy to see that you and your husband are beginning the process!
I am almost sixteen years old and my family began the process of becoming foster parents in January 2009. We got our first placement on April 3, 2009. It was a beautiful three day old baby girl. (“A”) She was supposed to be a short term placement, but of course, like it happens in foster care, things changed. God had other plans for her life. After an over one year long journey, Alanna was adopted into our family on June 2, 2010. We are so blessed and thankful for her. She brings so much joy to our family and others.
We took a break from fostering for several months, but in November 2010 we opened our home back up. (much to my DELIGHT! 🙂 ) Since then, we have recieved around four or five calls. Most of them didn’t work out simply because by the time we called back (after mom and dad had talked about it), the agency had found another home or a relative had stepped up. However, a few weeks ago, we had the wonderful opportunity of caring for a two year old little girl and her 8 month old brother for a week. We even recieved another call today for an 8 year old boy. However, having a six year girl in our home, my mom didn’t think that would be the best fit…
Anyways, if you have time, please check out our blog. The address is: http://as-for-me-and-myhouse.blogspot.com. I would love for you to see A’s adoption video. It is one of the pages underneath the blog title. It’s kind of like watching our journey in 13 minutes. 🙂
I am so excited for you and your husband as you start this journey! It can be physically and emotionally exhausting, but it is SO worth it when you see a tramautized two year old laugh, or a little baby begin to attach. You will be in prayers as you continue on with this journey.
Looking forward to following your story,
Bella
Thanks for sharing this, Bella. I’ll be adding your blog to my Google Reader! Sounds like you have a wonderful family and God has given you a big heart for taking care of children in need. Bless you, girl!
oh my GOSH!! how did i miss this post! this brought tears to my eyes! i knew it was going to be something about kids…but not your biological kids…i couldn’t tell till the end! i had to literally position the paragraph i was reading at the bottom of the screen so i couldn’t see what the end revelation would be. i am SO excited for you guys. i’m so glad we get to share a little of each other’s lives so far away. we may have grown apart, but i will not forget the time we shared together and being present for your wedding! so excited for you both. ❤ ❤
Aw, thanks Amy! I’m glad that we can still stay connected through the internet, too. Thanks for sharing our joy and excitement! 🙂
I missed this too! I don’t officially know you but this is very cool. I have friends in Nashville in the process of adoption) and is something we have talked about too.
[…] read that right the other day (if you made it all the way to the last line), Jason and I are becoming foster parents. I feel the […]
[…] kind of in love with this room. It was so much fun to put together. It’s a mix of new and old. It’s a mix of patterns, textures and colors (mostly blue, green and gray … our favorites). […]