Adoption and Advent?

God has taught me so much about His Father's heart and my spiritual adoption as His son through the miracles of my children's physical adoption, but this Christmas season I realized afresh that His entire redemptive plan hinged on it.

The Gospels start with "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:"  Matthew starts his writings about Jesus with a listing of his heritage. He does this because at least seven distinct prophecies about the Messiah speak of his royal bloodline. If Jesus was not of the tribe of Judah and more specifically in the line of King David, the rest of Matthew's story would be about a great man and teacher but not the Messiah. So Matthew sets the table for the whole story of redemption in a genealogy. There is only one problem...Jesus wasn't genetically related to Joseph!

Both Luke and Matthew trace Jesus' linage through Joseph, yet both authors tell of the virgin birth of Jesus through Mary. How then could Jesus be the Messiah? Only through adoption! According to the Jewish Talmud, "whoever brings up an orphan in his home, scripture ascribes it to him as though he had begotten him. (Talmud Mas. Sanhedrin 19b)

Eight days after his birth, Joseph gave him the name Jesus and presented him to the temple to be circumcised.  By bringing up Jesus in his home as his son, that is exactly what Jesus became, his adopted son! "Isn't this the carpenter's son?" (Matt 13:55)

Joseph didn't plan on being so entwined in the salvation of the world. In fact Scripture shares of his reservations before his obedience (a very early example of 'ReluctantHusband Syndrome'?). But aren't you glad that he became Jesus' earth father so that God could become our heavenly father?

CS Lewis said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God."

If I can presume to edit CS Lewis I would write, "The Son of God became the son of Joseph to enable men to become sons of God."

What a beautiful picture... the miracle of adoption at both ends of God's redemptive story!! 

-- Nathan

Friends, Family and Football!!!

Playing catch up on photos from our Ohio visits!

LEFT, ABOVE: It was a treat to visit my Aunt Miriam, Uncle Don, and cousins Derek and Luke (who was up from Alabama for Thanksgiving).
RIGHT, ABOVE:  Reni acting goofy with Nancy Landerholm

Below:  We were blessed to share at Faith Memorial Church in Lancaster a week ago Sunday!  This is Mom and Dad Waggoner's home church and where we worship whenever we are in town.  We received a very kind endorsement from Pastor Morgan and met some lovely new people.  It's wonderful to be at a church that values missions!

The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Day, Steve, Rachel and the kids arrived from Delavan...  Ellie and Reni were thrilled that "The Cousins" had arrived!

 A beautiful table decorated by Mom...

I hope this becomes our new tradition... FOOTBALL after lunch.  So. Much. Fun.  For "touch" football, I fell down A LOT!  Maybe it had something to do with Nathan and I playing on opposite sides.

Relaxing in the basement, watching something (Funniest Home Videos? I can't remember)

Then brunch and 'goodbye' on Friday...

After The Cousins left, Reni was looking at a photo of all the grandkids together and asked, "Which one is that?"  Ha!  Someday he'll get their names all down. :-)  After all, we did have ten kids here under the age of 12!

Ever heard of geo-caching? This may be a new family activity while we travel on homeland ministry... Nathan had the brilliant idea to leave Albanian lek coins as our contribution at each spot.

Once you locate the cache, you can swap out items in the container and sign and date your name that you've been there.  Nathan also found a place online to document our discoveries.  We like cheap/free fun whenever it can be found!

Trying to keep my eyes up

Trying to make the best of it, but it's hard when all four of us are not up to par. Plans have changed. Sleep has been short.  I'm also trying to keep my eyes up, but it's hard for me not to wallow in selfishness when I don't feel productive and have a good case of cabin fever.  Just a few more days left in Ohio, hoping we can maybe still see a few of the folks we were supposed to see today and tomorrow but not wanting to share this with others. ; )  It hurts to have angles knocked off this Type A who has a hard time relinquishing control.  Whoever named personality types A and B were more right than they knew.

Yeah, I'm a prime candidate for culture shock.  At least I know and can make a plan, right?

Can you help us?

Since we've now made it through Thanksgiving, I feel I have permission to start planning for Christmas and beyond... I know December is going to pass in the blink of an eye!

Our next big road trip will commence in January and so we're looking at reconnecting with friends and family, and making new friends along the way too, while we share about our calling to Albania!  I have a suspicion that we have some 'lurker' friends out there who read our blog but haven't yet had the courage to say 'hi.'  This message is for you too!

Below is our tentative schedule... if you'd like to see us while we are in your neck of the woods, please send me a message at cydilwaggoner [at] gmail [dot] com!  We'd love to see you, your small group, Sunday school class, youth group, children's church, mom's group... whatever! ; )  Help us fill our calendar!  We love sharing about the passions that God has put on our heart and His story that He's writing for our family.  Our hope is that He is glorified and the Church re-enthused for the purposes God has for it in expanding the Kingdom of God locally and globally!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
January 19-25: Central and Western Tennessee
January 26-February 1:  Central Kentucky
February 2-3:  Toccoa, GA
February 3-8:  Atlanta and surroundings
February 9-13:  Jacksonville, FL
February 14-17:  Gainesville, FL
February 18-21: Orlando and Ft. Myers
February 23-24:  Tallahassee
February 25:  Alabama

Friends in the East?  We'll be headed your way in the spring!
If you want to hear an 8-minute audio of our presentation, click here to download it.

Friends, Friends and More Friends!

Our time in Ohio has been full!  It's been a blessing to reconnect with old friends and make new ones too!  Ellie and Reni have enjoyed meeting new friends so much that it's not uncommon for there to be tears (usually on Ellie's part) when it's time to say 'goodbye.'

Here's a brief re-cap of some of the week leading up to Thanksgiving.  First up, the Wyche's small group in New Albany.  Sarah was on our very first student cabinet at Asbury in the Fall of 1999.  A few years after graduating she married her husband, Cy, whom we met on a couple of occasions when they made visits to Wilmore.  Last week was our first opportunity to meet their three children!  It was a real treat to visit their small group from church!  The following pics represent a fraction of the couples we met and all of their children!

 (Below)  Sarah and me

The next evening Nathan's parents hosted a wonderful dessert reception for us.  We were extremely touched  by all those who attended, many of which we had not seen for over ten years, including some of Nathan's former teachers from school and church.  I appreciated the chance to have faces for the names of individuals whom Nathan's told me about for many years.

Below is a smattering of photos from some of those who attended...

We kept telling the kids we were going to a "party" that evening.  Right as we were getting ready to share, Reni piped up in a skeptical voice, "Is THIS the party?"

The next evening we visited with some dear friends, the Cooperriders.

 Reni and Sam just being boys...

 Ellie was thrilled to meet yet another dog...

So thankful for all the wonderful relationships that we've enjoyed in our lifetime and the opportunity to reconnect before we leave!

Six years later...

Six years ago today we met and held our Els for the first time.  It's hard to imagine life before this little girl was in it!

Daily she keeps us laughing with her insights and unique view of the world we live in.  She is growing more mature and I am so proud of the little girl she has become. Together we have learned how to "set the table" each day for optimal success and Ellie has gotten so much better in moderating her reactions when life gets overwhelming.  While we mourn the loss that 18 months of institutionalization rendered, God has been faithful to bring healing.  A few years ago I wouldn't have believed how well she has rolled with all of the changes that the past six months have brought and the crazy schedule (or lack thereof) that is typical of our new life.

While there is much I want to remember about Ellie, age seven and a half, some of my favorites are these:  I love how much her little brother looks for her approval.  I love how much she loves people and how good she is at making those around her feel special.  Truly. It's a blessing as her mom to stand back and watch her interact with others, never leaving without giving a hug and learning their names.  Ellie girl, we're crazy about you and thank Jesus every day for the gift you are to our family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2012

Through these doors we are celebrating Thanksgiving with the Waggoner clan.  We have much to be thankful for this year, not the least of which is celebrating together with family.  It struck me this morning that this may be our last Thanksgiving in the States for a while!  

Thanksgiving has long been a special holiday, but made even more so six years ago when we landed in Albania on Thanksgiving Day 2006 to meet our Els.  The holiday and that event will forever be intertwined for us!  

I regret that this holiday is quickly getting passed over with sights set on the commercialism of Christmas.  I love my Christmas lights as much as anyone, but before Thanksgiving?  And starting Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day? Really???  I will never forget a lesson I learned when we were leading English camp in Ch*na 11 years ago.  We were teaching American holidays to a group of middle and high school students and on the day when we discussed Thanksgiving, we asked them to go around and share something for which they were thankful.  We received a bunch of blank stares in reply (from a normally talkative group).  After much thought, a few said they were thankful to their parents for giving them life.  Afterwards we concluded that without faith in God, Creator and giver of all, gratitude is not natural.  It requires acknowledgment of One outside yourself.

In closing, I'll share a familiar hymn sung in church on Sunday (a favorite of my middle sister, Bug, a mother to two 20th generation Mayflower descendants!), including a few verses which may be knew to you:

 For the beauty of the earth, 
 for the glory of the skies, 
 for the love which from our birth 
 over and around us lies; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For the beauty of each hour 
 of the day and of the night, 
 hill and vale, and tree and flower, 
 sun and moon, and stars of light; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For the joy of human love, 
 brother, sister, parent, child, 
 friends on earth and friends above, 
 for all gentle thoughts and mild; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For thy church, that evermore 
 lifteth holy hands above, 
 offering up on every shore 
 her pure sacrifice of love; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For thyself, best Gift Divine, 
 to the world so freely given, 
 for that great, great love of thine, 
 peace on earth, and joy in heaven:  
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

Text: Folliot S. Pierpoint
Music: Conrad Kocher; Arr. by W.H. Monk 



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