A Stranger in Wal-Mart...

I just wanted to take a minute and journal for myself how amazing it is to me to know that God has been using me and our family’s story throughout our journey to Evan.

In August, (I have been meaning to post this for a while) I was in Wal-Mart uploading pictures when I noticed St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, in the woman’s hand next to me. So I said, “Excuse me, I have to ask…I see St. Basil’s are you adopting? My husband and I adopted our son from Russia.” The lady next to me was a complete stranger but before I could tell her our last name, she asked me if we were the Hodges! Yes! I said…how strange I first thought. Then after talking she told me that she kept up with our journey through others who were praying for us while we waited. She said that for the longest time (while we were still waiting) whenever, she would tell people that they were adopting, people would say, "Do you know the Hodges?" That just shows how many prayer warriors we had on our side. She then told us that she read about us in the Covington News when we got home, which is comforting to her. That day in Wal-Mart we met a life-long friend, her name is Gina and she and her husband are adopting their son from Russia. Their first trip was in February of this year.

I have thought several times now how neat it was for God to place us both at the photo machines in Wal-Mart at the exact same time. I needed to stop by Wal-Mart earlier in the day and didn't have a chance, God knew that we would not meet if my plan had worked out..."For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 This is a reminder to me of how God is always working for our good and using us even when we don’t know it.

This is an insert from an Email that Gina sent me….we decided in August 2004 to adopt and Russia is the place we feel God led us. One thing that is kind of neat, when I was at a Bible Study at Susan Capps house your mom was there and had a picture of Evan when he was a small baby, when Phillip and I decided to adopt and Russia was our country, I told everyone about your mom and how her daughter was adopting from there. So it has kind of come full circle, your adoption inspired us. : )

[Isaiah 43: 1, 5-7 posted on our blog] This just proved to me that God is always working; there is no doubt in my mind that God had our paths cross that day at Wal-Mart. Thanks for always being a source of comfort and showing me the peace that I needed these last few day.

I believe that God had us meet for a reason and that it is very important. Maybe it is for me to help her continue through the process or maybe it is for her to remind me what a special blessing I have on the days of toddler tantrums ;-) either way I firmly believe it is part of Gods plan.

I just had to post this because it is so amazing to me….how a stranger in Wal-Mart can become a life-long friend!

Please pray for our dear new friends…Gina and Phillip are waiting for Luke to come home.

God truly is amazing and is working all the time!