Change

On the one hand, I find change to be exciting and fun...

but on the other hand (the more dominant one - heh)...

I like comfortable!

Now, I totally recognize that my current comfortable would have been oh so un-comfortable in my previous life!

However, the Lord has eased me into this new comfortable...

this 7 kid, 4 dog, 2 crazy cat comfortable...

His comfortable...

 and I like it, but...

 I was comfortable and it was, apparently, time for a change.

So, when the call came...

I was not unprepared.

I was still saddened but not shocked...

cause bit by bit, day by day, even night by night (4:00 a.m. every night to be exact)...

He was readying me for this change.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed

1 Corinthians 15:51

I have loved being an adoption advocate for Lifeline Children's Services but my time there as an employee has come to an end.

What a blessing it has been to be able to serve in this way and to be able to serve along side faithful friends who are simply put...

 mighty warriors for the Lord and for all whom they serve!

So, while I am no longer Annie H., International Adoption Advocate for Lifeline Children's Services...

I am still Annie H., Orphan Advocate and I will continue to advocate, until or if He tells me otherwise.

For now, Wonderful Waiting Kids will remain open and active, although maybe a little less active for a while as I spend some much needed time with my family.

Because, I am also Annie H., wife, mother, daughter, friend and lately...

Annie H., "Maggie and Lucy" advocate.

I truly believe that part of this redirection is a gift from Him...

the gift of more time for my family, because He is just so good like that and because...

this one will be a senior next year...

Sigh...

and this one is learning how to drive...

Yikes...

and this one is starting to actually care about the clothes he wears...

sigh and yikes...

and this one can wear my shoes... 

almost...

and this one just needs me...

all the time...

and these two have 4 days of therapy appointments...

every - single - week...

and this one just misses his wife...

and I miss him.

I have loved my time at Lifeline and am awed everyday at all that these amazing people do and how hard they all work, for these children and for the Gospel.

If you have not done so already, please go here to get to know this incredible ministry and read about all that they are doing all over the world as well as right here at home.  Their Unadopted Program is near and dear to my heart and a perfect way to help for those who do not feel called to adopt but still feel the burden for these kiddos!

Yep, change...

not always fun or "feel good" but always an opportunity for continued dependence, trust and growth...

an opportunity to marvel as He just does His thing!

It is times such as this, that you are able to most clearly see His hand in everything, in every circumstance and in every detail.

We may not always, at first, understand the "why" behind change but if that change is His change, then we don't really need to understand, do we, because He never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8