Five Loaves and Two Fish

I'm going to take a break from stories about my trip to Uganda for a minute.

I'm going to rest a bit.

I'm going to retreat from the pain and heartache.

I'm going to refuel my tired, weary body and soul.

Are you liking these words...

...take a break...

...rest...

...retreat...

...refuel...

We all know that adoption and orphan care is exhausting work - 

physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

And, we all know how hard it is for tired mamas to get an opportunity to...

...take a break...

...rest...

...retreat...

...refuel...

As you meditate on those four beautiful words, 

let me tell you a story.

It's a story about a mama

who has a gigantic heart for orphans and adoption,

and for mamas that have gigantic hearts for orphans and adoption.

She needed to retreat for a weekend.

To escape reality for a few days and

refuel her Spirit with some time with the Lord.  

She, like Jesus in Matthew 14:13, 

needed to find a quiet place 

to rest and retreat 

with just a few of her close friends.

But, just as in this familiar Bible story,

the crowds heard about her little retreat

and followed.

Okay, so there aren't 5,000 that followed her.

At first it was 25.  

Then it was 250.

Then it was 450.

Then it was over 600!

How on earth was she going to be able to care for over 600 mommies?!?

But, her heart responded just as Jesus' in verse 16:

"Do not send them away."

She obeyed.

And Created for Care was birthed.

Truly, when she followed the Lord's leading for this retreat,

she had planned for 25 folks.

But then word got out.

And the retreat filled up with 250 women in just one day.

That was last year. 

This year, when registration opened up,

400 women signed up in 9 hours!

And 200 went on the wait list.

This mama prayed and prayed....

how could she leave the 200 on the wait list

and not care for them?

But, as in the miracle of the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish...

God provided!!!

There is going to be a 

SECOND 

Created for Care retreat!

March 23-25, 2012.

Registration begins September 28, 2011.

Seriously, if you have adopted,

are in the process of adopting,

desire to adopt, 

love and care for mamas who adopt,

this is it!!

The women I met last year have grown to become some of my closest friends!

Like minded mamas, 

who love the orphan,

who love Jesus,

who laugh,

who cry, 

who hug,

who sing,

who pray...

This is a little glimpse of heaven, I'm sure!