People need to know that we do not believe we are making these decisions when, where and who to adopt on our own. I wish I could truly share with people how much we believe the Lord is calling us, but theres nothing more that I can do then just tell you.
As we have thought before, we thought we were done adopting. When the seemingly sudden desire to adopt again started to grow within both Dan and myself, I had a sneaky suspicion it was the Lord, being that we were both on the same page at the same time once again but I do not say these words easily, "yes, I believe it is the Lord". If I'm not certain it is, I will not say I am certain. So as we've done in the past, we moved forward in faith, praying and believing the Lord will clarify if it is Him or us. I can say today with all certainty that I ABSOLUTELY believe the Lord IS calling us to this little girl. Now does that mean that SHE will be the end result? I can't say that. I can only say what direction I believe the Lord is leading us.
It was the same way when we adopted Marni. I knew if I thought long and hard about adopting another child, a little one with Down syndrome no less, that I would determine that it made no sense for us. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that I refused to do that. I'm not saying to throw all logic out the window, I'm just saying I can either trust God or I could look at my worldview and determine what "seems right". No thank you, I am, grateful the Lord has blessed me with such great faith and I intend to allow Him to use me and my life to glorify Him through it.
I know there are people in our lives, who love us (some believers, some not) who are concerned. They are concerned that another child will be too much. But honestly, they are the same people who can't imagine having as many children and needs we already have. I think some people think how difficult it would be for them and assume it must be for us. But I do not do this in my own strength, if I did, the kids would rule the house lol the Lord led us to adopt each and everyone of them and I could not be more thankful that I trusted the Lord rather than other people's concerns.
Also, I have some fabulous friends and acquaintances in the adoption community with HUGE families....12 kids, 15 kids, 27 kids!!! don't tell me that God doesn't call some families to love and adopt many, many children. He does! And why not us? We are not perfect, we are not wealthy in money but we are willing and faithful...is that not all that He needs us to be?
I am thankful for our MANY friends who are supportive and encouraging!
"I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, O God
So if you say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
And show them who you are
Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself Oh I could choose
Not to move
But I refuse " - Josh Wilson, I REFUSE
Friday, December 30, 2011
Shopping at Lowe's
Sisterly love!
Monday, December 26, 2011
It's Official...we are adopting again!!
We have begun the process to adopt once again. This time we begin our journey to our next little girl, not in Ukraine but elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Adopting from another country, a Hague country at that, is all new to me. It makes me a little nervous only because I have to learn something new, though I am told it is a very straight forward fairly predictable process. Ukraine, while extremely unpredictable, I know the routine well...I could do the dossier in my sleep!
What I like about this other country is our ability to make an official commitment to a particular child right out the gate. That darling child is "Abbie" http://reecesrainbow.org/29835/abbie-21-9
I really thought we were done. I really thought that we would continue to work in orphan ministry but not adopt anymore children of our own except "Flower", should God open that door. Then, a few weeks ago, somehow it came up in conversation between Dan and I, I don't even remember the details. It just seemed like we both arrived at the same place at the same time, we would start looking into adopting another little one.
As usual, we strongly considered adopting from foster care. We have nothing against adopting from foster care. Financially and logistically it seems to make the most sense. We started looking online. My heart, however, has a desire to adopt another child with Down syndrome. I don't know how that would be adopting from foster care but I was open to other special needs similar in nature.
Of course, I began to do what I usually do...I started checking out the cuties on Reece's Rainbow. Then somewhere along the way, I started having discussions in private messages with another friend of some beautiful special needs, adopted kiddos. My friend told me about this other countries adoption program and my ears perked up. I checked out what I could online, about the process and was immediately drawn to the idea. At first I thought it was just me, but now I am convinced it is the Lord.
I made contact with the ministry volunteer for this country's program and began inquiring about a few children listed on RR. None of them seemed to be our child. So I asked if we could be notified of any new kids, fitting the age and description we were looking for, became available. I hoped that we would know if we saw our child.
I could not believe it when in just a matter of days an email came about a new profile of this little girl. The brief, loose description sounded like a match...I opened the file attachment with her photo and started to cry. She is absolutely precious!! In my heart (and in my email to Dan, who was at work) I felt "It's her! It's her!"
So not to drag out the story, Dan quickly was on board! As usual, we intended to take steps of faith. We figured we could afford to update the homestudy and the rest we would pray God to provide as we needed...until, we realized that with a Hague adoption, we needed to commit to an agency, submit an official commitment for the child which meant a commitment to the program, AND update our homestudy. The grand total for that initial step of faith would be roughly $4300!!! My heart sank. We don't have that money today. :(
Dan walked into our bedroom and found me sitting here, wondering what to do. I was thinking that perhaps I was wrong, perhaps she isn't our child and its just what I wanted but not God. I told Dan the dilemma. He said we could put it on the credit card (later I learned this would not be an option). While I was so very thankful that he was committed enough to pursuing her, I wondered if this was Gods will or not. I DO think sometimes God provides by giving us the ability to use a credit card but just because we have one, doesn't mean that's what we are supposed to do and I certainly don't want to do something that is out of Gods will...especially if in the end it leaves us with debt and no child to show for it.
So I prayed. I prayed that night that God would provide the funds another way if it was His will. I needed to know that THIS IS His desire for us. We have a lot on our plate, we can't add to our family unless He is in it because it will only be by His strength and provision that we will be able to do any of this.
The next morning I was driving 4 hours to Atlanta to pick up a group of Ukrainian orphans for our orphan ministry to be hosted in the Carolinas. My heart leaped with joy when I realized WE DO HAVE THE MONEY! As a matter of fact we have exactly what we need to take those initial steps!! The money is in an account we contribute to monthly but do not pull funds from...except when we began Marni's adoption. And so, we have stepped out in faith and committed.
While there was some uncertainty initially about whether this was God calling us to adopt again or not, I have since been convinced that He is. I don't know how He will provide the rest or how 2012 will end but I truly believe we are taking the steps He desires us to take right here, right now.
And if that isn't exciting enough, there is a PLAN coming together to get "Flower" out of foster care and into our forever family this year too!! She will be 16 this summer, so time is running out. We knew this before we agreed to move forward to adopt elsewhere but we had no plan and no idea if God would open that door. It wasn't until AFTER we were convinced that pursuing "Abbie" is God's plan for us did we learn of a way that we might be able to bring "Flower" home.
This is 2 completely separate adoptions, in to different countries. Absolutely insane! We do not need to start approvals for "Flower's" adoption for a few months, and need to check on things to make sure she is on board and put things into place but talk about $$$$$ needed to make this happen.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray with us for both Abbie and Flower. Please pray for the FINANCES, LOGISTICS, THE PROCESS, DOORS TO OPEN and most importantly GODS WILL AND WISDOM. I truly believe it has only been with the help of our friends and readers prayers that we've been able to bring any of our children home. This year will be the biggest obstacles of all with 2 adoptions and adding 2 more children (we need to finish an additional room in the house too), we will NOT be able to do this alone.
What I like about this other country is our ability to make an official commitment to a particular child right out the gate. That darling child is "Abbie" http://reecesrainbow.org/29835/abbie-21-9
I really thought we were done. I really thought that we would continue to work in orphan ministry but not adopt anymore children of our own except "Flower", should God open that door. Then, a few weeks ago, somehow it came up in conversation between Dan and I, I don't even remember the details. It just seemed like we both arrived at the same place at the same time, we would start looking into adopting another little one.
As usual, we strongly considered adopting from foster care. We have nothing against adopting from foster care. Financially and logistically it seems to make the most sense. We started looking online. My heart, however, has a desire to adopt another child with Down syndrome. I don't know how that would be adopting from foster care but I was open to other special needs similar in nature.
Of course, I began to do what I usually do...I started checking out the cuties on Reece's Rainbow. Then somewhere along the way, I started having discussions in private messages with another friend of some beautiful special needs, adopted kiddos. My friend told me about this other countries adoption program and my ears perked up. I checked out what I could online, about the process and was immediately drawn to the idea. At first I thought it was just me, but now I am convinced it is the Lord.
I made contact with the ministry volunteer for this country's program and began inquiring about a few children listed on RR. None of them seemed to be our child. So I asked if we could be notified of any new kids, fitting the age and description we were looking for, became available. I hoped that we would know if we saw our child.
I could not believe it when in just a matter of days an email came about a new profile of this little girl. The brief, loose description sounded like a match...I opened the file attachment with her photo and started to cry. She is absolutely precious!! In my heart (and in my email to Dan, who was at work) I felt "It's her! It's her!"
So not to drag out the story, Dan quickly was on board! As usual, we intended to take steps of faith. We figured we could afford to update the homestudy and the rest we would pray God to provide as we needed...until, we realized that with a Hague adoption, we needed to commit to an agency, submit an official commitment for the child which meant a commitment to the program, AND update our homestudy. The grand total for that initial step of faith would be roughly $4300!!! My heart sank. We don't have that money today. :(
Dan walked into our bedroom and found me sitting here, wondering what to do. I was thinking that perhaps I was wrong, perhaps she isn't our child and its just what I wanted but not God. I told Dan the dilemma. He said we could put it on the credit card (later I learned this would not be an option). While I was so very thankful that he was committed enough to pursuing her, I wondered if this was Gods will or not. I DO think sometimes God provides by giving us the ability to use a credit card but just because we have one, doesn't mean that's what we are supposed to do and I certainly don't want to do something that is out of Gods will...especially if in the end it leaves us with debt and no child to show for it.
So I prayed. I prayed that night that God would provide the funds another way if it was His will. I needed to know that THIS IS His desire for us. We have a lot on our plate, we can't add to our family unless He is in it because it will only be by His strength and provision that we will be able to do any of this.
The next morning I was driving 4 hours to Atlanta to pick up a group of Ukrainian orphans for our orphan ministry to be hosted in the Carolinas. My heart leaped with joy when I realized WE DO HAVE THE MONEY! As a matter of fact we have exactly what we need to take those initial steps!! The money is in an account we contribute to monthly but do not pull funds from...except when we began Marni's adoption. And so, we have stepped out in faith and committed.
While there was some uncertainty initially about whether this was God calling us to adopt again or not, I have since been convinced that He is. I don't know how He will provide the rest or how 2012 will end but I truly believe we are taking the steps He desires us to take right here, right now.
And if that isn't exciting enough, there is a PLAN coming together to get "Flower" out of foster care and into our forever family this year too!! She will be 16 this summer, so time is running out. We knew this before we agreed to move forward to adopt elsewhere but we had no plan and no idea if God would open that door. It wasn't until AFTER we were convinced that pursuing "Abbie" is God's plan for us did we learn of a way that we might be able to bring "Flower" home.
This is 2 completely separate adoptions, in to different countries. Absolutely insane! We do not need to start approvals for "Flower's" adoption for a few months, and need to check on things to make sure she is on board and put things into place but talk about $$$$$ needed to make this happen.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray with us for both Abbie and Flower. Please pray for the FINANCES, LOGISTICS, THE PROCESS, DOORS TO OPEN and most importantly GODS WILL AND WISDOM. I truly believe it has only been with the help of our friends and readers prayers that we've been able to bring any of our children home. This year will be the biggest obstacles of all with 2 adoptions and adding 2 more children (we need to finish an additional room in the house too), we will NOT be able to do this alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)