Soli Deo Gloria

i've thought about adoption a couple times: that at some point in the future i'd like to adopt a child or two. but it's become reality in my famliy as over the past year or more, my brother and sister-in-law have fully completed the adoption process. from first applying, to attending conferences, to inspections and interviews, on saturday they brought home their baby girl from the hospital.

last night i met my new niece on skype. i wept as i met her. my weeping wasn't because i wasn't there with her (though that played a role!), but because i've witnessed my family through the years praying for a baby, not receiving one, going through this process, and finally coming home with a child.

and so i've also seen the nitty gritty part of adoption. it's not as romantic as i'd like to assume; it's difficult, and full of sorrow, but full of joy. in this process, remember that a mother loses her child. it's agonizing and heartbreaking. and yet, full of love...this child was first loved by her mother, who decided that her child deserved life, and a better life than she could offer.

these are why the tears rolled down my cheeks last night. because through that sorrow of a mother feeling the sting of loss, my family is able to rejoice in new birth and to love that girl with all that we can.

her name is Gloria.

the intention behind her name wasn't solely in the phrase "Soli Deo Gloria," but her name reminds us of it. (check out this song!) Soli Deo Gloria means "for the glory of God alone!" and really that's what this whole process is...for God's glory to be shown. thankful beyond words and tears for how God has worked.

my own pictures?!

it's been a while since i actually took my own pictures and didn't steal tessa's own. but my camera battery lasted me for more than five minutes last week, and i managed a couple shots of my time in prague.

before school started up, i wanted some time away for a bit of a personal retreat. so i took off to prague for a few days.

tessa and i spent a night at a friend's house. this friend, however, just so happens to be 84. quite fitting for two 20-somethings who act as though they are 84 year olds.

the national theater is the big buiilding in the middle; Jarmila lives just to the right.

my 84 year-old friend (her name is Jarmila - Yar-mill-uh) and i have a mutual friend, an american who's also 80-something (i just realized how many 80 year-old friends i have!). she got Jarmila and i connected, and a few weeks ago i went to meet Jarmila. she lives in a beautiful apartment in ritzy prague, right beside the national theater.

the view from Jarmila's living room.

the trip was exciting for us two hillbillies, especially because we had just watched "Anne of Green Gables," and i had just read the book. consequently, our imaginations were running high, and it was euphoric to be able to stay in such a beautiful location. tessa and i snuck out to the balconies during the night to get some pictures.

Jarmila's living room

and as if the location of the apartment wasn't good enough, the whole thing is decorated with antique Victorian furniture. that just pushed our little girl excitement over the edge.

the first day in prague i spent visiting friends, and i came across this site. here's a before and after picture:

pre-Christmas tree

post-Christmas tree

statues we saw on our walk

my friend Barca lives in pardubice but studies is Prague, so we celebrated her finishing an exam with a stroll around prague and a coffee.

Karel Schwarzenburg

i also went to an outdoor concert/rally for a presidential candidate. his name is Karel Schwarzenburg. i have no idea what was being said most of the time, but i was excited to be part of Czech history - it's the first time the people have voted directly for their president! however, in true czech fashion, the people were more excited about the concerts and beer and hot wine for sale in the nearby markets.

the Vltava

the least crowded i've ever seen the Charles Bridge

and then on my second day, i was able to enjoy reading, praying, and thanks to tessa's Christmas gift for me - drawing! i also went for a run around Jarmila's block. i don't usually running, but when it includes running along the Vltava river with the castle and national theater in view AND running over the Charles bridge, i'd say it's a pretty good run. i even called it...ahem...romantic. may i never call running romantic again.


after overstaying my welcome with Jarmila, i moved onto another friend's house in Prague. here's the view from her window, and coincidentally where the concert had been a few days earlier:

blue skies and a light snow. i also got some time to myself at her place to read and draw and pray, and got to enjoy the company of friends. and after overstaying my welcome with this friend, i grudgingly dragged my feet back to parubice where i've again been enjoying real life :)

I have so much fear!

I wrote that in my journal entry tonight. It's amazing how much fear I have. Sometimes I can ignore it and not wrestle with my fear, but other times it's like having a knife buried in my side...no ignoring that.

Thankfully God is way greater than that...here's what he says:

I sought the Lord and he answered me;
he delivered me from my fears
Ps. 34:4

There is no fear in love. But prefect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19

But the angel said to them, "do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."
Luke 2:10