I wrote this post 2 days ago… then I got the most amazing news yesterday… something I need to share first, before anything else…

I can officially say the Medical Clinic in the village of Ascension in Dominican Republic is FULLY FUNDED.

Can I shout it from the rooftops please? Can I get an Amen? Maybe a hallejuah? A praise God?

THANK YOU for all your prayers and your generosity 🙂 I will continue to update you about the project. I know Go MAD is sending me some pictures of the work progression really soon. And I know they are so grateful. What a blessing it has been to watch this unfold the last few weeks. Much more to come….

Back to the blog post… it’s a good one too 🙂

It starts with a dream…

I had the most amazing dream. I was invited to a night out with my Joshua. We were at the event, people were singing a beautiful song, they were happy to be there. Then the guest speaker was being introduced. It was me. I was off in the background of the location, puttering around with something, but I was holding a stack of Discovering Hope books. I wasn’t going to take the microphone. They were waiting. Josh knew I was terrified. He went to the podium and started to explain why I wasn’t responding to the invitation to speak. Something in me decided it was time. Even though I didn’t know what to say, or what words would come out once I put the microphone to my mouth, or how they would sound – I took the stage. And started talking. And stumbled. And did my nervous laugh. And didn’t make any sense. And then talked some more. And eventually I got to the point, the reason for speaking, the message that was on my heart to share with you…

I have been surprised by joy.

As I have pursued the discovery of hope – set my sights on the good, my focus on what HAS come, my vision on what IS YET to be – I have also found joy.

It can only be God.

Where once I could only see the bad, I could only focus on what HAS NOT come, I could only envision what was LOST – now there is so much more.

There is life in place of death.

There is light in place of dark.

There is hope in place of despair.

There is joy in place of sorrow.

Joy is new for me when it comes to Caleb. I have discovered ways to hope, ways to celebrate, different perspectives, restoration, and renewal.

But I’m not sure there was ever joy.

Just like in my dream as I was surprised by the invitation to come forward and share with the audience.

Just as I was so unprepared for what was coming.

Just as I had to make a decision to put one foot in front of the other and see what would happen.

So it is with Caleb – I am surprised by what he shares with the people who meet him, I’m unprepared for the ways he touches this world, and I’m in awe of every step we take as we decide to grab hold of God’s plans for him.

My son surprises me, my God surprises me – I am so surprised by joy.

Now that is a message I can share any day.