happy Tuesday [I almost said Monday, because it feels like a Monday around here]  Well after 11 days of being out of town spending time with family, I’m back.  Back to life. reality. laundry. dishes. grocery store. email. mail. ya know, back to the daily grind.  I’m one of those people who can’t get back to “work” until my house is in order and everything is put up.  So, I feel pretty good about that and now I’m back at my computer.  I’m feeling behind, stressed, overwhelmed [and not just at my email] just in life – in all the things that are going on in the lives of people around me.

Do you ever feel like you can’t pray enough?  like it overwhelms you how much you need to pray about that you just get stuck?  I’m feeling overwhelmed a little bit this morning, but trying to focus my mind on Christ and be thankful + in His presence.  So.  I wanted to finish a post I started last week, something that brings me great joy and hope!  are you tired of hearing about our Fotolanthropy film yet?

last week, Fotolanthropy premiered the short film of our adoption story! It was something we’ve been anticipating for a while…something to physically watch that tells our story, something that would make our story come to life!

I am not sure how the Fotolanthropy team did it, but they managed to take 2 full days of filming and interviews [plus video and pictures from meeting the babies + bringing the home] and make it into a 8.5 minute film.  just wow!  I can’t describe the feelings I had the night before.  I was nervous, anxious, wondering if I had said the wrong thing, if I had said too much.  Wondering how we were going to appear, wondering if my true and raw emotion could be felt through the screen.  The next day I woke up ready for the day, excited to watch how God was going to USE this, to use our story and to use this beautiful film to reach people.  to inspire them, to encourage them and to challenge them.

I had a 10 minute warning from the foto girls, and I locked myself in my moms office [I’m was at home all week!] and watched it for the first time alone.  [[super sad Stephen was flying home from Colorado, but we will watch it together soon!]]  I cried.  I nitpicked myself the first time.  [you look fat, your teeth are messed up, make up is all over your face!]  stupid.  until my husband reminded me, “it’s not about us Wynne”.  and he was right.  it’s NOT about us- it’s been about God USING us and about us being brave and telling our story to “the world”.

The events of the day sorta seem like a blur now, but we have just been blown away at the response.  Excited by the questions we’ve gotten about adoption, encouraged by the women who are in the same place NOW that I was THEN- yearning to be a mother, wondering if adoption is what God has for them.  Peoples comments have helped me put into words what I feel, like this one from my friend Christy, “what a precious gift to have forever documented your gloriously ruined life”  YES!  It IS a precious gift and I can’t wait for Camp + Asher to watch this one day and see, I mean REALLY see how we felt, what we went through, how deeply they were hoped for and prayed over.

I was also encouraged by the people that this video encouraged – the people who maybe sounded like they had given up hope in the system, but this story served as a reminder of all the good that is in the world still.  I hope and pray this encourages families who are in the thick of the wait – I hope it reminds them that there IS a child to the end of this crazy process.

“Our lives have been completely changed from saying yes.

I think my encouragement to people who are on the brink of something that could radically change their lives is do it, say yes, don’t be afraid, you really can do it.”

I think the thing that MOST encouraged me, were the questions it raised up in peoples hearts.  Questions like, “what is MY yes?” From my quote in the film above, obviously my biggest encouragement is to say YES to whatever God is calling you to do!  I love that our story + this film has encouraged friends to ask questions like, “wondering what my yes is…” or “Praying for the courage and faith and discipline you have to listen to His whispers and to jump out in faith to follow His plans.  Goosebumps and tears welling in my eyes as I dream about what that YES will mean!”

YES YES YES friends.  Say YES to God.  Say YES to dreaming big.  Say YES to praying circles around your biggest dreams and greatest fears.  Say YES!  

I want to continue this conversation.  I want to know what you are dreaming about!  I want to know what YES you feel like God is calling YOU to!  So friends, where are YOU and your YES?! 

[all photos by the fabulous Katie Norris of Fotolanthropy]

I wanted to say thanks too to the wonderful fabulous blogging community who has been so supportive and helped get this story out!  McCall, Lauren, Casey, Alison [whoa!], Lauren, and Lyndsy  THANK YOU for sharing!  Love you all!