Joseph

I have been feeling the need to write down my feelings for days. My blog has become a journal of sorts and I have felt the Spirit strongly. Telling me to document this wonderful miracle that has occurred so that one day Joseph may read of the AMAZING love that our Savior has for him and the beautiful tender mercies that he has blessed us with in bringing Joseph to the United States and into our family.

Since the day I met Ben he has carried with him a heavy burden. The joy of having a son but not being able to be an active part of his life. Separated by the miles of living in a different country and speaking a different language all Ben could do was pray and think of his son everyday. From the day Ben and I married till this very day we have prayed for Joseph. We prayed that he would happy. That he would know we loved him. That we would one day see him soon. Most importantly we prayed that he would know he has not only an earthly father but a father in Heaven who loves him very much. Almost 5 years we have prayed and had faith. I will admit sometimes we wondered if we would ever get a chance to know Joseph. If Ben would ever be able to reunite and hold his son and tell him how much he loves him. To tell him there has not been one day in his entire 13 years of life that Ben has not thought of him and missed him.

Last Monday Ben and I were blindsides with an email from Tomoyo letting us know that Joseph desired to come and live with Ben and I as soon as possible. She asked us to love and support him in this decision and of course that was not a problem. Next week Joseph will come and join our family here in El Paso. He will be living with us indefinitely. I have never received a greater Christmas present. I am so grateful to this gift that his mother has given us. I know she loves Joesph very much. I know this is the hardest thing she has ever done and I feel so honored to have the opportunity to get to know Joseph. To love him, help raise him and have him be part of our life, part of our family. Oh Lord, How Great Thou Art.

As we have prepared the last week for Joseph to come it has been apparent that the Lords hand has been there. When I called to register Joseph for school they were so excited to have another Japanese student in the 7th grade. There is a Japanese girl that is really struggling because she is having a hard time picking up on English and has no one to speak Japanese with. I am sure it is no surprise to anyone that here in a town that borders Mexico most students in the English as a second language program speak Spanish. It is not often they have 1 student let alone 2 that speak Japanese and are in the same grade. What a tender mercy. We also have found that we have 4 families that speak Japanese in our ward. Including our Bishop. Again, tender mercy. Then as Ben and I were at tithing settlement with our Bishop we found that not only did our Bishop serve in the area that Josephs family lives in. Josephs grandfather was his Bishop when he was a missionary in Japan. Again, tender mercy.

I am so grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel so blessed to have a Heavenly Father that knows us and knows what is best for us. A Heavenly Father that loves us and blesses us even when we grow impatient. A Heavenly Father that knows the deepest desires of our hearts and prepares us to receive them. My heart is so full of joy and love that my cup runneth over.

Especially at this time of year my mind turns to our Heavenly Father who gave his only Begotton Son so that we could live and have Eternal Life.

My testimony of my Savior has grown as I have seen his hand personally in our life. I know that I may not always receive blessings in the way I want or the way that I think I should but that the Lord blesses me with what is best for me. I know that God lives. I testify of his love. His Infinite Love.

Oh Lord, How Great Thou Art.