Baby Steps

The first of our adoption documents have started trickling in. I am giddy with excitement! The growing packet of papers is a tangible reminder that bit by bit, we are getting there.

We have been watching the list of waiting children that our adoption agency posts, and are awestruck as we gaze at each hopeful expression that longs for a family. It's both exciting as well as intimidating that one day, we will welcome one of those tiny faces into our home. It also makes me feel small and helpless to see how many there are, just waiting... longing...wondering if someone will make them their own. It's my prayer that one by one these precious lives with by united with families that will fill their lonely hearts with love and acceptance. It begins with one...

We have been reading through the descriptions of the special needs that many of these boys are burdened with. We talk about what kinds of needs we feel we are capable of handling. While we are blessed with the motivation and resources to provide for even the most serious disabilities, we also believe it's important to always consider how each challenge or health risk would affect our other four. We want to put the safety and comfort of all our children at the forefront of our decisions.

Another exciting development is God's provision of a bigger vehicle for us. We were able to trade in my sardine can of a car for a spacious Honda minivan, which in spite of being, well, a minivan (which I swore I could never be persuaded to drive) is so roomy and comfortable, the kids are convinced we bought them a limo! It's a relief to have them all able to sit without touching each other, as well as have a safe place for a new baby, in addition to still being able to save room for more. God is so good to us. He provides in ways we never imagined.

Please leave me a comment; it lets me know you're listening!

Seeking...

Praying, seeking, asking, discussing. Searching for answers that seem so big, and yet may be so simple. This is someone's life we're talking about. Uprooting a little child from all they've ever known to start them over a world away in what we believe will be a life that will offer them much love and hope. That's a pretty big deal. It's a position we want to know God wants us in, and know we are going about it in the way He has for us. We see Him daily in the little things; that's how we know His hand is in the big things too.

Mark and I talk. We plan, we dream, we wonder, we read. We see so many choices and pathways out there in regards to adoption, and we know we must wade through it all and come out the other side with a reasonable plan. God has been whispering to our hearts...   

 We want to adopt an older child, past the infant stage, and are going to submit a package for special needs, which could range from anything such as skin discolorations, or major heart or limb defects. God has enabled us to provide, and we are choosing to trust Him to show us what needs we can best meet.

Life is a mysterious and thrilling adventure for us that has brought us to many challenges we are humbled to say we have made it through. Each new step brings us closer together as we revel in the excitement of what we have been ordained for.

All Pinked Out

At the halfway point of my pregnancy, things are running smoothly. With frequent check-ups and the most up-to-date treatments, my doctors are ever-vigilant in doing everything possible to ensure our baby GIRL stays cozy inside for as long as possible. That's right, more ribbons and curls! I have to admit, this news stunned the little ones a bit. In fact, my heart ached to see Jacob's deep sobbing and his pitiful plea that "I have been waiting for a brother for 8 years!!" When we found out we were expecting, Mark and I talked about if it was a girl, would we still choose to adopt a girl over a boy. The answer at that time was yes. However, now that the possibility of a houseful of 4 girls exists, I find my heart stirring again. Wondering if Jacob's loneliness and this little baby's triumphant presence is God's hand gently leading us toward a little boy that waits for a family. I just don't know, but it is constantly in the back of my thoughts. All to do for now is to pray...and seek...and wait. In the meantime, we are readying our hearts and our home to welcome our newest daughter to the family.

Seeing Double!

So there seems to be a little confusion about the tiny people we are adding to our family... it is true, in addition to the little child growing in our hearts as we pursue adoption, my belly is also growing as we are pregnant as well! God never ceases to amaze us by changing our plans when we think we have everything under control:) Mark and I are ever so grateful for the extra space we are blessed with in our new home. We are praying for good health and protection as we expand in size and in love.

Although our newest addition will push our adoption timeline a bit, we will continue to work on our paper trail and have some time to relax and enjoy the new arrival while we wait on a referral.

God is so good and we feel so blessed to be the parents he chose for our little ones.

HOPE

What is HOPE?

“Confident Expectation”

“If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Romans 8:25

Christopher Reeve once said, “Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” I believe in that so strongly, I have it engraved around my wrist. Our HOPE…our confident expectation that God will provide all we need to bring our sweet little one home.

"I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

His Word holds true.  9+ years so far, God has faithfully been shaping, molding, and refining Mark and I together. Trials we thought would tear us apart, fears we thought would never allow healing. Perhaps people can't change, but God can change people. He can and He has. Clearly there were plans for Mark and I set long ago, plans for our relationship to change and heal and survive... and hopefully be testimony to others in our shoes. We are a couple of cracked pots, praying the blessings poured into us will spill through our cracks and reach many lives beyond us. We are so thankful God chose US.

"A Father to the fatherless,
a defender of widows,
is God in His holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families."

Psalm 68:5