Loss for words

I usually find plenty of words to share my thoughts and feelings.  Ask me a question about something and most the time I can give you a five minute answer when a thirty second one will do.  Typically I suppose you could say that I have the gift of gab.

Except for when I don't.  Sometimes things simply blow my mind and I struggle to find those words that typically flow.

Some examples of such times?  That particular moment when Ian got down on one knee requested me to spend the rest of our lives together; standing at 3568 m while skiing Les Duex Alpes in France and suddenly realizing in my heart of hearts for the first time how HUGE my God is and how he cares for TINY little me; the flow of emotion in those first moments meeting my children whose faces I studied for two, four, and eleven months before finally seeing them in person; and Ian having a new job two weeks and two days after his company shut down.

Yeah, I did just say that Ian already has a new job.  Have I not mentioned that already?  I've wanted to shout the news since he accepted the offer, but words have been failing me as I have so desired to make sure that God is glorified as I share the news.

And I still can't quite find the words, but essentially it goes like this.  The peace we prayed for sustained us during the time Ian was unemployed.  We had friends, family, and even some anonymous folks reach out as the hands and feet of Christ to see that our needs (especially the medical bills) were met.  (Saved by Grace, your gift will be "paid forward").  And also so important, we prayed ~ and asked others to join us in the prayer ~ that God would give us discernment to know what door He had open for us to walk through so that we wouldn't waste time beating down the door that was simply cracked open.

Exactly two weeks after Ian came home with his personal stuff boxed up from his office, he had two promising leads for new employment.  The next day he had an interview with a company ~ actually the first one he sent his resume to ~ and he also had an interesting proposition with some of his former co-workers.  Both had some real positives and I could see the struggle going on in Ian's mind as he tried to decide ~ using human standards ~ which was going to be the best career move.  So we spent some time praying again for that discernment.  By the time he came home from his interview God had very clearly opened one of the doors and gently, but firmly, showed Ian that He was closing the door on the other one.  Neither of us had a doubt which was the right choice for Ian at this particular time.

Several exciting things about this new job include: While the health plan is different that any we have ever been on, because of the increased medical costs of our children right now, this plan is going to be so much better for us than our previous health benefits; the hours expected are much more "core hours" and so Ian won't be pulling 10+ hour days on a regular basis, giving us more time to enjoy family time on weeknights; less time at the office also means more time for Ian and I to further explore what our role in orphan ministry looks like.

I just love it when God shows up in such a mighty way!

And I really wish I fully had the words to express it...