He surrounds me.

Not too long ago, my parents cleaned out their attic. Their loss was my gain as several boxes of baby dolls, Barbies, school work, trophies, keepsakes and more found their way to our living room.

In one box, I found dozens of birthday and Christmas cards from my parents and grandparents. Many of them were from my Grandma, who my children now affectionately call "Grandma Dink". When I opened one of the cards to read it, a couple sheets of folded paper fell out. I unfolded them to find a poem written in Grandma's handwriting.

The poem is hers...written by her about her own journeys, both physical and spiritual. But I certainly don't think it's a coincidence that I found it when I did...shortly before God set us on this incredible journey of adoption. I find such comfort in the words.

I wrote in my last post that sometimes the process of adoption hurts. There will certainly be more hurts, more heartaches ahead in this journey. There will also be warmth and beauty. And I know we will see His handiwork every step of the way because He surrounds us. In the end, I pray that the One who planned it all will be glorified and honored.

He Surrounds Me
(by Grandma Dink)

I've sailed the wide Pacific blue.

For weeks I've been at sea.

When the mighty wind drove waves aboard,

I knew His hand was holding me.

I've walked the streets of Suva

On Fiji's tropic strand

And watched the palm trees gently sway

On that warm and far off land.

I've strolled along a lonely beach

To find a shell so rare

Where the Indian ocean flows.

And yes, my God was there.

I've crossed the lonely Mullabar,

A long and dreary ride.

But I saw His presence everywhere

On Australian's western side.

I've been dampened by the pouring rain

As it soaked Samoa's land

There I felt the warm and balmy breeze.

In this, God had His hand.

I've sailed the frigid water

Of a place called Glacier Bay

And watched the glistening icebergs

As they drifted on their way.

I've flown above the billowing clouds

And watched a sunrise there,

More glorious and more beautiful.

My God is everywhere.

I've gazed across the emerald hills,

For the Maori's home is here

On New Zealand's northern shore.

I knew that God was near.

I've traveled to a mountain top

On Maui's isle across the sea

And stared into a crater wide.

And lo, God was there with me.

I stood upon a tropic shore

Down the warm Caribbean way

And felt the gentle waves

As they licked my feet at play.

All these things I've done and more

And there's one thing that I know.

This is my Father's world,

For I see His handiwork-no matter where I go.

With His love, He surrounds me.