Sorry that I haven’t blogged in a while…..after our yard
sale (which we raised over $4,000 for our adoption!!) Joel and I dove into
wrapping up the end of school. Now that we have finished school, we can spend
some more time getting ready for the baby!
One of the things that has happened in our adoption
journey is that one of our mentors, Tricia Lillard, passed away in May. This
was devastating news as she had just returned home from a complicated procedure,
and had picked up living life right where she had left off. Her death was unexpected.
At first I was really upset (and angry). How can someone
who literally lives and breathes Jesus in her life be gone? She, along with her
family, have truly honored Jesus with their involvement in adoption and orphan
care. They have mentored so many families in their adoption journeys and
countless others through foster care. Out of all the people, why her?
Then I went to her celebration service. WOW. More funerals
need to be like that. The entire celebration glorified God by discussing Tricia’s
life. One of the songs has the phrase “running to Your arms” (talking about Jesus).
She was a woman who truly sought Him in everything she did. Not only was it a
celebration, it was a challenge to live life to the fullest through Jesus. We
were all challenged to live on through her legacy-serving the fatherless, the
orphans, and the needy.
You want to talk about a conversation starter! Are we
truly living a life that at honors God’s command to serve these people? We know
the legacy that Tricia gave to her family and to those who knew her. This is something
that Joel and I have had to talk about…..what legacy do we want to leave for
our family? What will it look like? How are we going to honor God’s commands
with our family?
