letting go...

With an extreme amount of craziness going on since...ummmm...late March...blogging has kind of taken a back seat. Not that I was an "on top of it" blogger before, but things have gotten really bad lately (sigh)...But, I guess that's life. Sometimes I think you have to do what you can do in order to make it through and hold on tightly to the rope you feel is unraveling. :)

Nothing terrible has been happening in our lives. In fact, just the opposite. Warren and I are doing amazing...God has healed our hearts, He has blessed us with so much, we are so thankful for so many things that are happening in our lives right now.--But, I think that "so many things" is probably the reason I am up at 12:45AM typing this...unable to sleep. I *hope* (fingers crossed) to learn one of these days to really let go ...let go of control, let go of trying to have back up plan A, B, and C, let go of trying to have everything in order before big events take place, let go of certain fears and worries (based on past experiences) that creep in and attempt to steal my joy, and let go of thinking I have to have everything figured out...

...I want to replace my fears, worries, and stresses with trust, peace, hope, and reliance on the One of whom this life is really about. I think everyone struggles with this battle at some point...but, I think some of us learn more quickly than others (I would be an "other") :) that worrying does not get us anywhere...that stressing out will not solve all of our problems...that it is ok to make mistakes (it's how you handle the mistake afterward that counts)...and that there are some things in life you just have to learn as you go--trusting that God will equip you with exactly what you need for every situation.

I love and am clinging to this prayer by Priscilla Shirer (in the study "One in a Million"):

God:
According to Philippians 4:19 I believe that You will meet all of  my needs according to Your glorious riches in Chris Jesus. Lord, thank You that You are a shield around me. You are my glory and the lifter of my head (Ps. 3:3). As I journey, Lord, please reveal Your love for me that, according to Ephesians 3:17-20, surpasses knowledge and fills life with Your fullness. Thank You for being able to do immeasurably more than I can ask. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Photo Shoot Raffle!

I know I've shared this before, but God has blessed Warren and I with some amazing people to walk alongside us in our adoption journey (some who live far away, others who are close by)...one of those individuals is our sweet friend Shanna. What a source of encouragement she has been to me! I greatly admire this mother of two (with one more on the way!!)...she is full of the love, grace, and wisdom I desire to posses as a mother and woman of God. On top of her being an amazing person, she has generously offered to give of her time and talents in helping us continue to raise funds for bringing our baby home...

So thankful for God's provisions and blessings!...and that we are not in this alone...

Email me (warrenandjill@gmail.com) if you have any questions regarding the raffle.

(p.s. Shanna has a website that is currently under construction...I will share that info as soon as it becomes available)

(p.p.s. I'm not sure why, but I could not get the raffle image centered...sorry!...things like that bug me!) :)

Wilderness Journey...

I don't have long to write today, but I wanted to share a thought out of a study (recommended by a sweet friend/co-worker) I've been doing called "One in a Million" by Priscilla Shirer. The study is on the Israelites journey to the promised land and, in turn, relates back to our personal journeys to our own promised land. Here is what she said on Week Two, Day One...

"When lifted against the backdrop of our own standards, thoughts, and expectations, the road God chooses for us is often not the road we might expect. He often chooses a wilderness journey for us to give us an opportunity to experience Him in a way we might miss in a place of ease and convenience." 

God's goal is to make us more dependent on Him...to deepen our relationship with Himself...so that when we make it to our "promised land" (whatever that may be for each of us) we will have a rich faith and a deeper joy...and know Him in a way that was foreign to us before. I am thanking God for this wilderness He has led Warren and I to...Like the Israelites, I don't understand why our road to parenthood could not be a little easier, less bumpy, not as disappointing...but, also like the Israelites, I have no clue what God might be protecting us from and what He is preparing us for...So, I must trust in the middle of what I cannot see...I must be content where He has us...

I needed to be reminded of this verse Pricilla shared today in the study...

"The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

My prayer is that I will get out of God's way...that I would be willing to allow Him to direct my steps... even if I can't see the final destination.

birthday road trip...

Our two-fold road trip (to spend time with friends/celebrate my 30th birthday and to volunteer at the Passion Conference) could not have come at a better time. We have been worn out and most definitely were in need of some refreshment!

We made our way from Georgia to Mississippi to stay the night w/ Candice and Scott and see their two precious little ones....(Bella pictured below). Candice is one of my dearest friends...she is one that will always be there to listen to me and pray for me...I am so very blessed to have her in my life

Before leaving Mississippi, we were able to have a hilarious lunch with my precious friend Lindsey Smith (who, by the way, is incredibly talented and has a CD that is soon to be released) and her boyfriend. Sadly, I was laughing so hard I forgot to take a pic. :(

We then headed to Texas!!!! Once there, we met my amazing friend Amie for some fajhitas at Pappasito's (one of our favorite places)...

Amie and I met on our grad school tour...and became fast friends once the semester began. I l-o-v-e this girl for many reasons...some of which include her adventurous spirit, love of music, and her ability to have fun doing the most mundane things. Every time I talk to her on the phone or see her, she brightens my day. So thankful for Amie (and thankful she let us crash at her pad during our stay)!!

The next day was a big day for me...my 30th birthday!! I assumed earlier this year that I would be sad on this (slighly monumental) day...but, I that wasn't the case. I felt so blessed that I was able to spend the day surrounded by my husband and some of my best friends. The day basically centered around food and shopping (what more could a girl ask for?!)...Starting with breakfast at Mimi's Cafe w/ Amie, Courtney, and Cici while Warren and Logan played golf...

Then we met Warren and Kendra for lunch at Panera...

We had dinner at a new Mexican Restaraunt in downtown Fort Worth...

...Then walked a couple of blocks over to have dessert on the rooftop at The Reata...

(We are so thankful to have Logan and Cici in our lives. Warren and Logan are cousins, but I *love* that the four of us our good friends. We share special memories together as we dated, were engaged, and married all around the same time. I'm so exicted that their 2nd child is due in September!)

(Above are some of my dearest friends from grad school...love each one of them!)

The next two three days were spent volunteering at the Passion Conference...it was such an amazing experience to see almost 10,000 college students gathering to worship and grow in their faith...

(by the way...see if you can count how many times I wore this gray and white cardigan! ha! I bought it when we arrived in Texas and it came in handy as I had not packed for the somewhat chilly weather we experience once there)

Amie, Amber, and I in the "Go Center" where students were able to give towards translating scripture into the heart language of a people group in Mali.

Courtney is "my person." She is one of my very best friends. You know that friend that knows your most terrible of thoughts and actions, yet loves you the same?!...this is Courtney. She is one of my biggest encouragers and prayer warriors. We can be laughing our heads off one minute and having the most serious of conversations the next...that is what I love about our friendship! She is such an amazing person and I am blessed to have her in my life.

After Passion was over, I was able to have breakfast with an amazing young woman...



...Martha was in 8th grade when I was a youth intern at a church in Fort Worth. Now she is a sophmore in college at TCU (yes...I feel old). What an beutiful person she is, on the inside and out! I was so thankful to be able to spend time with her!

We then had lunch at Joe T Garcias...which is where Warren and I had our first date and where he took me for lunch the day he proposed.

What sweet memories!!! I love this man and I'm so very thankful he chose me to be his wife!

The next morning I had a "good bye" breakfast with Courtney at La Madeline (another favorite Texas spot)...

(quiche lorraine and a fruit tart...so yummy)

(there is that gray and white cardigan again) :)



On our way out of Texas we stopped at another favorite spot that we don't have nearby...Chipotle!

Whew! Congratulations if you made it through this extremely long update! Besides volunteering at Passion, our trip was centered around friends and food...two of our favorite things. On our way home, we were able to stop and see Tiffanie and Mike (another best friend from college) in Louisianna. Tiffanie and Mike are also pursuing domestic adoption and it was such a blessing to be able to spend a little bit of time with them.

After a couple of long and challenging months in our adoption journey, it was so nice to get away, to be refreshed, and spend time with some of our best friends. When we are in the middle of a trial, it is so easy to allow that difficulty to consume us...and it is often so hard to keep an eternal perspective...to focus on what God has done and what he will do. This trip was a reminder of God's goodness to us. He is near to us and He has blessed us with so much. We are grateful....and continue to rest in Him...