This has been a big and busy week for our little man, Noah. He has been trying hard to roll over and has accomplished it (at 4:30am!). He began crying and when Dan went in there he was has rolled over on his back.
Yesterday he had cereal for the first time. He wasn't real sure if he liked it or not, or if it was even something that should be in his mouth :).
Friday, December 24, 2010
An Amazing Year in 2010 . . .
I get a little emotional when I think of this year . . . in January we really began our adoption process full fledge. There were many ups and downs in the next 7 months, but as I sit here I can positively say it was all worth it! Dan and I were able to attend an adoption conference up in Asheville in March (thanks to my mom for coming up and keeping the kiddo's for the day!). It was so awesome to be surrounded with other individuals who had the same vision and pasion as us! I was thrilled to meet Dan Cruver, who helped start Together for Adoption http://www.togetherforadoption.org/.
We were matched twice within 3 months, in which both cases fell through. It was hard to understand why but as we sit here with our sweet son, Noah, we understand completely why! God is sovereign!
The summer for us stayed very busy, as Dan took 3 classes for his MBA- we felt like we hardly saw him all summer!
He had just finished his last summer class and we went on a short weekend vacation to the Isle of Palms- we all needed it! We really enjoyed that time together as a family and the Isle of Palms is a favorite spot of ours! We returned home and began getting geared up for the upcoming school year. My mom, who is also a teacher decided to come up for two days before going back to work. I will never forget that day, my mom came up in the morning and we enjoyed the day together visitng and talking. That afternoon around 3pm Dan called saying that our attorney might have a baby for us in Pittsburgh- I will admitt, I got excited and then blurted out on the phone, "It's not going to work out, it's too perfect!" (Dan's is from Pittsburgh and all of his family lives there). Dan called me back and said another couple was in the running before us so that it probably wouldn't work out, but that there was an 18 month old in Alabama. I still didn't take either case serious and my mom and I went on with our afternoon. Around 4:30pm Dan called back and said the other family chose to take the older baby in Alabama and that the newborn in Pittsburgh was available but that we would have to be up at the hospital by 10am! This meant meeting our attorney, having a phone conference with the birhtmom, packing for 5 people and traveling 10 hrs to Pittsburgh! It seemed impossible! Everything fell into place and we traveled through the night and arrived up at Dan's family at 6am. We showered and made our way up to the Hospital- nervous, anxious, happy and everything in between! We stopped at a local florist and bought the birthmom a beautiful bouquet of roses and a steelers bib for Noah. As we made our way to the hospital, we received a call from the birthmom- things had taken a different turn as she had a family member die and she upsetedly left the hospital. We continued to go on with the plans and met the social worker at the hospital. I won't forget the sweet head nurse that was there that day, she took us back and we met our son for the first time- it was all so surreal and he was just perfect! Exhausted both physically and mentally, we stayed there until after 5pm working out all the legal details so that we could take Noah with us. I would admitt, I felt strange at first but I am just so thankful for everything we experienced. We had Noah for the 4 days, all the while keeping in touch with his birthmom just praying for God to work out his perfect will in this situation. On Monday evening we received a call from her attorney that she had signed her parental rights over. We took a picture and were all very happy!
Well let me back up just a bit, we were able to actually meet with Noah's birthmom on Sunday and take her out to lunch. What a humbling experience to sit there with her- the woman who carried our son and chose life for him! I will always be very appreciative to her for that!
The next 4 days were continuous ups and downs of legal paperwork. We were praying to be able to take him home with us at the end of the week. God answered our prayer and we headed home on Saturday.
The process of him legally being our son still continues. The birthfather's rights have yet to be terminated. However, we treat Noah as our own son and couldn't imagine him any other way. He fits right in to our family and his brothers and sisters love him to pieces!
Adoption isn't easy, but it just takes effort and patience (which doesn't come easy for me!) and it has such an amazing outcome! Not only do we have an amazing new son but we also hope to get to continue to get to know his birthmom and share the sacrifice of Christ giving His Son.
I am here to tell you that if you have ever thought of adopting, prayerfully continue to consider it. Not only will you help a child but trust me, that child will change you as Noah has done for me already over the last 4 months!
God has really worked on me, not just in the area of adoption, but in many other ways through this process as well!
The year 2010 has been a different and an absolutely amazing year that I am still in awe of!
God is soveriegn and works all things out for His good!
.
We were matched twice within 3 months, in which both cases fell through. It was hard to understand why but as we sit here with our sweet son, Noah, we understand completely why! God is sovereign!
The summer for us stayed very busy, as Dan took 3 classes for his MBA- we felt like we hardly saw him all summer!
He had just finished his last summer class and we went on a short weekend vacation to the Isle of Palms- we all needed it! We really enjoyed that time together as a family and the Isle of Palms is a favorite spot of ours! We returned home and began getting geared up for the upcoming school year. My mom, who is also a teacher decided to come up for two days before going back to work. I will never forget that day, my mom came up in the morning and we enjoyed the day together visitng and talking. That afternoon around 3pm Dan called saying that our attorney might have a baby for us in Pittsburgh- I will admitt, I got excited and then blurted out on the phone, "It's not going to work out, it's too perfect!" (Dan's is from Pittsburgh and all of his family lives there). Dan called me back and said another couple was in the running before us so that it probably wouldn't work out, but that there was an 18 month old in Alabama. I still didn't take either case serious and my mom and I went on with our afternoon. Around 4:30pm Dan called back and said the other family chose to take the older baby in Alabama and that the newborn in Pittsburgh was available but that we would have to be up at the hospital by 10am! This meant meeting our attorney, having a phone conference with the birhtmom, packing for 5 people and traveling 10 hrs to Pittsburgh! It seemed impossible! Everything fell into place and we traveled through the night and arrived up at Dan's family at 6am. We showered and made our way up to the Hospital- nervous, anxious, happy and everything in between! We stopped at a local florist and bought the birthmom a beautiful bouquet of roses and a steelers bib for Noah. As we made our way to the hospital, we received a call from the birthmom- things had taken a different turn as she had a family member die and she upsetedly left the hospital. We continued to go on with the plans and met the social worker at the hospital. I won't forget the sweet head nurse that was there that day, she took us back and we met our son for the first time- it was all so surreal and he was just perfect! Exhausted both physically and mentally, we stayed there until after 5pm working out all the legal details so that we could take Noah with us. I would admitt, I felt strange at first but I am just so thankful for everything we experienced. We had Noah for the 4 days, all the while keeping in touch with his birthmom just praying for God to work out his perfect will in this situation. On Monday evening we received a call from her attorney that she had signed her parental rights over. We took a picture and were all very happy!
Well let me back up just a bit, we were able to actually meet with Noah's birthmom on Sunday and take her out to lunch. What a humbling experience to sit there with her- the woman who carried our son and chose life for him! I will always be very appreciative to her for that!
The next 4 days were continuous ups and downs of legal paperwork. We were praying to be able to take him home with us at the end of the week. God answered our prayer and we headed home on Saturday.
The process of him legally being our son still continues. The birthfather's rights have yet to be terminated. However, we treat Noah as our own son and couldn't imagine him any other way. He fits right in to our family and his brothers and sisters love him to pieces!
Adoption isn't easy, but it just takes effort and patience (which doesn't come easy for me!) and it has such an amazing outcome! Not only do we have an amazing new son but we also hope to get to continue to get to know his birthmom and share the sacrifice of Christ giving His Son.
I am here to tell you that if you have ever thought of adopting, prayerfully continue to consider it. Not only will you help a child but trust me, that child will change you as Noah has done for me already over the last 4 months!
God has really worked on me, not just in the area of adoption, but in many other ways through this process as well!
The year 2010 has been a different and an absolutely amazing year that I am still in awe of!
God is soveriegn and works all things out for His good!
.
Monday, September 27, 2010
1st Month . . .
Noah,
You are growing so fast and changing every week! You met your Pediatrician for the first time on September 2nd. Dr. Yelton thought you were precious! You weighed 8lbs 3oz.
You are on a regular 3 hr feeding schedule and eating 4oz at each feeding.
You are trying so hard to sleep through the night, but just not there yet!
About 2 weeks ago you started cooing- we love hearing your little voice! Your sister, Camille, says "He's talking to us" when she hears you coo.
Nick, Camille and Carlee all love you so much and try to be the best helper with you. Carlee loves to hold and feed you and occasionally Nick will ask to help too.
We are looking forward to watch you grow and I can't wait to see you smile in the next month or so!
You are growing so fast and changing every week! You met your Pediatrician for the first time on September 2nd. Dr. Yelton thought you were precious! You weighed 8lbs 3oz.
You are on a regular 3 hr feeding schedule and eating 4oz at each feeding.
You are trying so hard to sleep through the night, but just not there yet!
About 2 weeks ago you started cooing- we love hearing your little voice! Your sister, Camille, says "He's talking to us" when she hears you coo.
Nick, Camille and Carlee all love you so much and try to be the best helper with you. Carlee loves to hold and feed you and occasionally Nick will ask to help too.
We are looking forward to watch you grow and I can't wait to see you smile in the next month or so!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Purpose of Adoption . . .
Before I write anything on the Purpose of Adoption, our little Noah turned 1 month old last week! I am looking forward to watching him grow. He is changing every week and getting bigger. Today he was watching me as I was talking to him (probably thinking how goofy I look!) and he almost cracked out a smile, but couldn't quite get it out. Hopefully in another month he will start that.
As I was doing my quiet time I began reading in Ephesians 1. I pulled up a sermon by John Piper on Ephesians 1 (here is the link to his website www.desiringgod.org). In verses 3-6 it says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
The first statement that Piper makes is this: "Adoption is one of the most profound realities in the universe. I say "universe" and not "world" because adoption goes beyond the world. It is greater than the world, and it is before the world in the plan of God, and it will outlast the world as we know it. Indeed it is greater than the "universe" and it is rooted in God's own nature."
As I thought about this statement, it hit home and is SO true! God had a knowledge of those he adopted as his sons- those whom he drew to himself and those whom have accepted him as Lord and Savior of their life. Adoption is an awesome thing to comprehend because it was created by God before he even created the entire world and universe! That makes my adoption in Him very special.
I see this in relation to our experience in the process of adopting Noah. It is a profound thing to come across a human who will go through 9 months of carrying a part of them and then sacrificially and selflessly being willing to give up that child so that that child may have a better life. Our hope is that He will grow up to be a Christian man and in building our relationship with his birthmom that she may come to know Christ one day as well (if she already doesn't). This is how adoption goes beyond the world and universe. It is eternal!
Another neat factor is that God had little Noah planned to be apart of our family long before we ever thought of adopting. God is soveriegn and knows all things. God had him placed in our family long ago! This is why we are trying to keep our focus on the conviction of why we chose to adopt rather than the "what if's". In obedience to God He will take care of all things! We are simply called to obey Him.
As I was doing my quiet time I began reading in Ephesians 1. I pulled up a sermon by John Piper on Ephesians 1 (here is the link to his website www.desiringgod.org). In verses 3-6 it says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
The first statement that Piper makes is this: "Adoption is one of the most profound realities in the universe. I say "universe" and not "world" because adoption goes beyond the world. It is greater than the world, and it is before the world in the plan of God, and it will outlast the world as we know it. Indeed it is greater than the "universe" and it is rooted in God's own nature."
As I thought about this statement, it hit home and is SO true! God had a knowledge of those he adopted as his sons- those whom he drew to himself and those whom have accepted him as Lord and Savior of their life. Adoption is an awesome thing to comprehend because it was created by God before he even created the entire world and universe! That makes my adoption in Him very special.
I see this in relation to our experience in the process of adopting Noah. It is a profound thing to come across a human who will go through 9 months of carrying a part of them and then sacrificially and selflessly being willing to give up that child so that that child may have a better life. Our hope is that He will grow up to be a Christian man and in building our relationship with his birthmom that she may come to know Christ one day as well (if she already doesn't). This is how adoption goes beyond the world and universe. It is eternal!
Another neat factor is that God had little Noah planned to be apart of our family long before we ever thought of adopting. God is soveriegn and knows all things. God had him placed in our family long ago! This is why we are trying to keep our focus on the conviction of why we chose to adopt rather than the "what if's". In obedience to God He will take care of all things! We are simply called to obey Him.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Meeting my NeeNee and PaPa for the first time!
This past weekend my Parents were able to come up since it was Labor Day weekend and spend Sunday afternoon and night with us and most of the day on Monday too.
I was really looking forward to their visit, as I usually am, but this time they were meeting little Noah Jackson- our newest member of the family!
When my parents arrived, I didnt' even get a hug or a hello :)- my mom, aka NeeNee, was so thrilled to finally meet Noah! In fact I dont' think she even put him down for a minute the whole weekend!
My dad enjoyed holding him and seeing him for the first time as well!
This is just another experience to add to our wonderful experience of adding to our family through adoption!
I was really looking forward to their visit, as I usually am, but this time they were meeting little Noah Jackson- our newest member of the family!
When my parents arrived, I didnt' even get a hug or a hello :)- my mom, aka NeeNee, was so thrilled to finally meet Noah! In fact I dont' think she even put him down for a minute the whole weekend!
My dad enjoyed holding him and seeing him for the first time as well!
This is just another experience to add to our wonderful experience of adding to our family through adoption!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The black dress . . .
As I was doing laundry and hanging up some clothes, I came across this black dress. I couldn't help but to stop what I was doing for a moment and just look at that black dress of mine. It was the dress I wore the Sunday we went to go and meet the birthmom of little Noah.
I couldn't help to remember how nervous I felt on the way there . . . not really knowing what she would look like or how she would react to meeting us and seeing Noah again for the first time since the hospital- would she rethink her decision and possibly change her mind!?!
Then I recalled actually meeting her there outside the mall - she was about 5'8" and caramel in color and dressed rather plainly and her hair simply all brushed back.
Then there sitting in Applebees, where she chose to eat lunch, little Noah woke up and I asked her if she wanted to hold him and she did . . . and I even got a picture of it!
Then as we sat with her and waited for her ride to come and pick her up, we chatted a little and gave her a small gift- a memory book of our family and a necklace that had a pendant of a heart and in the middle of the heart was a silhouette of a mother and a baby.
Then came the hardest part- saying goodbye. Well, it wasn't hard for me to say goodbye to her because I really don't even know her but the emotion of her saying goodbye to her son, who she carried for 9 months and delivered. I couldn't even imagine going through all that to only say goodbye.
The black dress reminded me of something good . . . something SO selfless, and a genuine love! She loved her son so much that she wanted for him to have a better life than she could give him (her words). How amazing to be so selfless and to make such an amazing choice of choosing life!
I couldn't help to remember how nervous I felt on the way there . . . not really knowing what she would look like or how she would react to meeting us and seeing Noah again for the first time since the hospital- would she rethink her decision and possibly change her mind!?!
Then I recalled actually meeting her there outside the mall - she was about 5'8" and caramel in color and dressed rather plainly and her hair simply all brushed back.
Then there sitting in Applebees, where she chose to eat lunch, little Noah woke up and I asked her if she wanted to hold him and she did . . . and I even got a picture of it!
Then as we sat with her and waited for her ride to come and pick her up, we chatted a little and gave her a small gift- a memory book of our family and a necklace that had a pendant of a heart and in the middle of the heart was a silhouette of a mother and a baby.
Then came the hardest part- saying goodbye. Well, it wasn't hard for me to say goodbye to her because I really don't even know her but the emotion of her saying goodbye to her son, who she carried for 9 months and delivered. I couldn't even imagine going through all that to only say goodbye.
The black dress reminded me of something good . . . something SO selfless, and a genuine love! She loved her son so much that she wanted for him to have a better life than she could give him (her words). How amazing to be so selfless and to make such an amazing choice of choosing life!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Newborn life . . .
So, we have now been home for a week and 2 days now with our newest family member, Noah Jackson. The first few days were a little tough- just everything hitting us, being gone and little sleep and the kids having to start school, but now we seem to be getting into the groove of things (a little :)). I don't do so well with little sleep and having to be on the go all day so Dan has been a PRO in helping with the night time feedings. This whole process is definitely something we have all gone through together and I am just really thankful that God brought me Dan- he is an awesome person, hubby and daddy!
A few things that occurred last week . . . Noah's belly button fell off on Tuesday. While grocery shopping at Walmart on Wednesday I got my first strange response for having a child of a different race. I had just stopped my buggy at the deli meat section to grab some ham and I hear my little Camille telling another shopper "hey". When I heard the lady respond back I turned and it was an African American lady about 50 years old or so and then an African American man and women in their 30's. The older woman was pretty consumed with Camille and I noticed the man casually walk over and look at Camille and then peep in the back of the buggy into the infant seat. He did a double take and then looked up at me and said, "Hmmm."
It was a little humorous to me!
The kids love little Noah- can't seem to keep their hands off of him! Camille one day last week even went in the other room and took it on herself to pick him up out of his seat and hold him. Needless to say Dan ran in in a panic and put Noah safely back in his seat.
Noah really is a blessing to me and our family. As I was driving today I heard the line from a popular Christian song, "you must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain." I just couldn't help to think how true that is! I dont' really consider our experience a true "valley" but there were some tough and trying times in the process, and are still trusting in God to allow the rest of the adoption to work out smoothly in our favor.
A few things that occurred last week . . . Noah's belly button fell off on Tuesday. While grocery shopping at Walmart on Wednesday I got my first strange response for having a child of a different race. I had just stopped my buggy at the deli meat section to grab some ham and I hear my little Camille telling another shopper "hey". When I heard the lady respond back I turned and it was an African American lady about 50 years old or so and then an African American man and women in their 30's. The older woman was pretty consumed with Camille and I noticed the man casually walk over and look at Camille and then peep in the back of the buggy into the infant seat. He did a double take and then looked up at me and said, "Hmmm."
It was a little humorous to me!
The kids love little Noah- can't seem to keep their hands off of him! Camille one day last week even went in the other room and took it on herself to pick him up out of his seat and hold him. Needless to say Dan ran in in a panic and put Noah safely back in his seat.
Noah really is a blessing to me and our family. As I was driving today I heard the line from a popular Christian song, "you must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain." I just couldn't help to think how true that is! I dont' really consider our experience a true "valley" but there were some tough and trying times in the process, and are still trusting in God to allow the rest of the adoption to work out smoothly in our favor.
Friday, August 20, 2010
God is in control! ~ August 17-20
August 17-
The next step is for the paperwork to now go to Harrisburg, PA to be looked at. Once it is approved in Harrisburg it will be overnighted to Columbia, SC and then to our attorney. This part will be a test to see if it can all get approved before Friday!
It gets started in the mail today at 6pm!
August 18-
According to our attorney, the paperwork was tracked and made it to the Harrisburg, PA Interstate Office. We heard nothing from them on the 18th . . . Sure hope it gets out in the overnighted mail to the Columbia, SC Interstate Office soon!
August 19-
So, we are a little dissapointed . .. no news on the paperwork! Our attorney is actually having trouble with finding the tracking number which means one of two things- it was either remailed in a different shipping package or it is non existent! Uggghhh! Frustrated and really ready to go home! We have to call our attorney first thing in the morning.
August 20th-
I feel a bit emotional and frustrated this morning. After Dan called our attorney we found out that the packet is STILL in Harrisburg, PA and hasn't even been touched yet. We are now making plans for staying here in PA another week . . .
Our attorney says she is going to work hard to work something out!
Our attorney has contacted the Harrisburg, PA Insterstate Office and asked them to put our paperwork on top priority. She has asked them to email all documents to the SC office to have them approved. If all works out we get to go home tomorrow! If not, then I and the 3 little ones are headed to York, Pa and Dan and Carlee are headed back to Spartanburg.
3:30pm . .. YAY! We have such an awesome attorney and legal assistant!!! Paperwork has arrived via email to the SC Interstate Office and has been approved! Homeward bound tomorrow!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't looked more forward to taking a 10hr trip home!!! God is Good!!!!
The next step is for the paperwork to now go to Harrisburg, PA to be looked at. Once it is approved in Harrisburg it will be overnighted to Columbia, SC and then to our attorney. This part will be a test to see if it can all get approved before Friday!
It gets started in the mail today at 6pm!
August 18-
According to our attorney, the paperwork was tracked and made it to the Harrisburg, PA Interstate Office. We heard nothing from them on the 18th . . . Sure hope it gets out in the overnighted mail to the Columbia, SC Interstate Office soon!
August 19-
So, we are a little dissapointed . .. no news on the paperwork! Our attorney is actually having trouble with finding the tracking number which means one of two things- it was either remailed in a different shipping package or it is non existent! Uggghhh! Frustrated and really ready to go home! We have to call our attorney first thing in the morning.
August 20th-
I feel a bit emotional and frustrated this morning. After Dan called our attorney we found out that the packet is STILL in Harrisburg, PA and hasn't even been touched yet. We are now making plans for staying here in PA another week . . .
Our attorney says she is going to work hard to work something out!
Our attorney has contacted the Harrisburg, PA Insterstate Office and asked them to put our paperwork on top priority. She has asked them to email all documents to the SC office to have them approved. If all works out we get to go home tomorrow! If not, then I and the 3 little ones are headed to York, Pa and Dan and Carlee are headed back to Spartanburg.
3:30pm . .. YAY! We have such an awesome attorney and legal assistant!!! Paperwork has arrived via email to the SC Interstate Office and has been approved! Homeward bound tomorrow!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't looked more forward to taking a 10hr trip home!!! God is Good!!!!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday ~ August 16th
The big appointment is at 4pm today! We really wished it was sooner but that is just a part of it!
The good news is in the morning our attorney's office called to let us know that her attorney contacted them to say that Ashley, the birthmom confirmed that she was still meeting at 4. Good news for us that she is still committed!
I was amazed by the love of my friends - One sweet friend in particular let me know several times that she was praying and at 4pm I knew she was on her knees for us!
4pm rolled around and we were praying! We were anticipating the phone call from her attorney.
We decided to go out to dinner as a family to wait on the call.
Over two hours later we still heard nothing! We began to really wonder and doubt . . . but God was still in control!
Finally around 7:30pm (we were actually picking up some things in Walmart) my phone rang and it was the attorney. She signed!!! We were ecstatic! Thrilled!!!! I wanted to cry, scream, pick him up and hug him but it seemed so surreal!
I called my mom as Dan called his parents and everyone was so excited!
I fought back tears as I continued to get my items so I could get out of the store!
God is so good! All the time! Even in the hard times he has a plan! He is sovereign in all things!
Noah Jackson is amazing and perfect! We are thrilled to have him as a part of our family and so are our kids!
The good news is in the morning our attorney's office called to let us know that her attorney contacted them to say that Ashley, the birthmom confirmed that she was still meeting at 4. Good news for us that she is still committed!
I was amazed by the love of my friends - One sweet friend in particular let me know several times that she was praying and at 4pm I knew she was on her knees for us!
4pm rolled around and we were praying! We were anticipating the phone call from her attorney.
We decided to go out to dinner as a family to wait on the call.
Over two hours later we still heard nothing! We began to really wonder and doubt . . . but God was still in control!
Finally around 7:30pm (we were actually picking up some things in Walmart) my phone rang and it was the attorney. She signed!!! We were ecstatic! Thrilled!!!! I wanted to cry, scream, pick him up and hug him but it seemed so surreal!
I called my mom as Dan called his parents and everyone was so excited!
I fought back tears as I continued to get my items so I could get out of the store!
God is so good! All the time! Even in the hard times he has a plan! He is sovereign in all things!
Noah Jackson is amazing and perfect! We are thrilled to have him as a part of our family and so are our kids!
Sunday ~ August 15th
Today is a big day . . . we are meeting the birthmom and taking her out to lunch.
2:30pm came around pretty quickly (thank goodness!) and I know I was more nervous about trying to figure out what she was thinking at this point about everything.
We met her at the mall and ended up taking her to Applebees up the street. She was kind of quiet and laid back. We small talked about things and then once the baby began to stir I asked her if she wanted to hold him and was able to get a picture of them together. We had a nice time together and I felt a bit better after meeting her.
Before we left, we handed her her gifts- the necklace and a photo book we made of our family for her. I teared up in saying bye as I couldn't imagine saying goodbye to my newborn child not knowing when I would see him next. I just couldn't even imagine!
2:30pm came around pretty quickly (thank goodness!) and I know I was more nervous about trying to figure out what she was thinking at this point about everything.
We met her at the mall and ended up taking her to Applebees up the street. She was kind of quiet and laid back. We small talked about things and then once the baby began to stir I asked her if she wanted to hold him and was able to get a picture of them together. We had a nice time together and I felt a bit better after meeting her.
Before we left, we handed her her gifts- the necklace and a photo book we made of our family for her. I teared up in saying bye as I couldn't imagine saying goodbye to my newborn child not knowing when I would see him next. I just couldn't even imagine!
Still Waiting . . . August 14th
We knew as of Thursday evening that the birthmom had contacted her attorney to request that she not meet to sign any papers on Saturday, but that everything wait until Monday.
However, her attorney was going to call and try to make an attempt to get together with her on Saturday to sign papers.
Luckily we were with family on Saturday which made it a little easier. We didn't hear anything from the attorney . . . doing our best to be patient and waiting!
At this point, we were praying that the birth mom was not changing her mind. We were a nervous wreck!
Dan and I went out together and also picked out a sweet heart necklace that had a mom and baby in the middle of the two hearts. It was very unique and we felt it reflected the selflessness and love in her decision.
However, her attorney was going to call and try to make an attempt to get together with her on Saturday to sign papers.
Luckily we were with family on Saturday which made it a little easier. We didn't hear anything from the attorney . . . doing our best to be patient and waiting!
At this point, we were praying that the birth mom was not changing her mind. We were a nervous wreck!
Dan and I went out together and also picked out a sweet heart necklace that had a mom and baby in the middle of the two hearts. It was very unique and we felt it reflected the selflessness and love in her decision.
Waiting . .. August 13th
What a cutie! The kids have taken to him and he is an amazing little baby boy! Friday was nothing but a day of waiting. Waiting to hear if the birthmom would reconsider signing sooner . . . waiting in hopes of not hearing any bad news. Prayer also played a huge part! I know God was in total control the entire time and honestly at this point, I was begging God to allow us to keep this sweet baby.
I did hear from Ashley, the birth mom once on this day. She was having a very hard time with the death in the family. I was just hoping that this wouldn't cause her to rethink her decision.
She also requested that we get together on Sunday to meet. We will be meeting her for lunch with the baby.
The next few days seemed SO long!
I did hear from Ashley, the birth mom once on this day. She was having a very hard time with the death in the family. I was just hoping that this wouldn't cause her to rethink her decision.
She also requested that we get together on Sunday to meet. We will be meeting her for lunch with the baby.
The next few days seemed SO long!
What!?! ~ August 11th
My mom came up for a few days to spend some time with the kids and I before starting back to school. Around 3:30pm Dan called me on my cell phone and said that Ray (our attorney) called him and said we possibly just missed out on an awesome adoption opportunity by a hair. There was a birthmom that delivered a baby boy in Pittsburgh just the day before and decided not to keep him. However, Ray then said that there was another family in the running but that he would let us know. In the meantime Marion (our legal assistant) called with another african american 15month old boy that needed to be picked up in Alabama by Saturday. Our minds were going 100 miles an hour. She told us that if we felt interested in either that we should start packing our bags just in case because we would need to leave that night. At this point I personally had mentally given up on the Pittsburgh baby boy as that seemed to good to even be true- it would never work out!
Within the next 2 hours, we were in the midst of a whirlwind . . . packing to get on our way to Pittsburgh! I was all so surreal!
After driving all night and feeling worried, anxious, nervous etc. We arrived in PA at our families house around 6am. We were exhausted but ready to face the big day!
We headed up to the hospital to meet the birth mom around 9am, and on the way stopped to get her a beautiful mixed bouquet of roses. We had to be at the hospital at 10am to sign papers per the birth mom.
On the way, the attorney called to tell me to call the birthmom, so I did. This is where things began taking a different turn. The birth mom was upset and crying - apparently a family member had been at the wrong place at the wrong time and was killed in a drive by just a few days earlier and this was the day of the funeral.
Upon arriving at the hospital with a beautiful bouquet in hand and nervous as nervous can be, we found our way up to the maternity floor.
We met the sweetest nurse named Donna- she informed us that the birthmom had just left and checked herself out of the hospital. Our day began taking a much different turn . . .
She did sign for us to be able to hold, take pictures and see the baby, so we did. We ended up spending the rest of the day there in that muted pink hospital room . . . it seemed like that day would never end!
I did have the privilege of speaking with the birthmom several times on the phone and we were praying that things would continue to go as planned.
After meeting with social workers and going over documents and health records and finally meeting with her attorney, around 5pm baby boy and us were discharged! Exhausted, happy and anticipating what the next day would bring we were on our way back to see family.
Within the next 2 hours, we were in the midst of a whirlwind . . . packing to get on our way to Pittsburgh! I was all so surreal!
After driving all night and feeling worried, anxious, nervous etc. We arrived in PA at our families house around 6am. We were exhausted but ready to face the big day!
We headed up to the hospital to meet the birth mom around 9am, and on the way stopped to get her a beautiful mixed bouquet of roses. We had to be at the hospital at 10am to sign papers per the birth mom.
On the way, the attorney called to tell me to call the birthmom, so I did. This is where things began taking a different turn. The birth mom was upset and crying - apparently a family member had been at the wrong place at the wrong time and was killed in a drive by just a few days earlier and this was the day of the funeral.
Upon arriving at the hospital with a beautiful bouquet in hand and nervous as nervous can be, we found our way up to the maternity floor.
We met the sweetest nurse named Donna- she informed us that the birthmom had just left and checked herself out of the hospital. Our day began taking a much different turn . . .
She did sign for us to be able to hold, take pictures and see the baby, so we did. We ended up spending the rest of the day there in that muted pink hospital room . . . it seemed like that day would never end!
I did have the privilege of speaking with the birthmom several times on the phone and we were praying that things would continue to go as planned.
After meeting with social workers and going over documents and health records and finally meeting with her attorney, around 5pm baby boy and us were discharged! Exhausted, happy and anticipating what the next day would bring we were on our way back to see family.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Continuing to Wait on His perfect timing . . .
So, it has been quite some time since I have posted anything on the blog. We are back at the beginning with our process, but in that God is good!
We never did get to talk to Alicia and 2 weeks after we were matched with her, our attorney received a letter from her stating that she was backing out of the agreement and wanting to keep her baby. We were a little shocked, but in that, God does have His perfect timing and His perfect plan. He is soveriegn in ALL things!
We are praising God that a week ago Friday, we received a check in the mail refunding all of our money that we had paid toward that adoption situation.
We are back with our attorney starting over again. This process has proved to be much different and a bit more tasking than we imagined, but we know that that is a part of the refining process as Christians. When we are called to do something in His name, then sticking with it and allowing His will to be done even when the going gets tough is how we grow deeper in Him.
We are continuing to pray that God use this for our good!
We also pray for that sweet baby that is due in just 2 weeks and for his mom, Alicia.
We never did get to talk to Alicia and 2 weeks after we were matched with her, our attorney received a letter from her stating that she was backing out of the agreement and wanting to keep her baby. We were a little shocked, but in that, God does have His perfect timing and His perfect plan. He is soveriegn in ALL things!
We are praising God that a week ago Friday, we received a check in the mail refunding all of our money that we had paid toward that adoption situation.
We are back with our attorney starting over again. This process has proved to be much different and a bit more tasking than we imagined, but we know that that is a part of the refining process as Christians. When we are called to do something in His name, then sticking with it and allowing His will to be done even when the going gets tough is how we grow deeper in Him.
We are continuing to pray that God use this for our good!
We also pray for that sweet baby that is due in just 2 weeks and for his mom, Alicia.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
We have been waiting since Thursday to have a conference call with the birthmom, Alicia. We heard from her case worker this morning- that our conference call would be today at 2:30pm. How perfect . . . naptime! We have really been able to see God's hand in this.
The case worker called at 2:30pm as planned and we had a brief "get to know you" phone conversation with Alicia. She was very quiet and didn't have much to say. We briefly told her about us and our family and asked her a few short questions about her pregnancy, the decision she made to adopt and we also asked about having an open adoption.
After getting off the phone, her case worker talked to her about how she felt about us and then called us and asked us the same.
Both sides were good, so we are moving forward with the process.
God is so good!
Please continue to pray that the rest of the process goes smoothly.
The case worker called at 2:30pm as planned and we had a brief "get to know you" phone conversation with Alicia. She was very quiet and didn't have much to say. We briefly told her about us and our family and asked her a few short questions about her pregnancy, the decision she made to adopt and we also asked about having an open adoption.
After getting off the phone, her case worker talked to her about how she felt about us and then called us and asked us the same.
Both sides were good, so we are moving forward with the process.
God is so good!
Please continue to pray that the rest of the process goes smoothly.
Friday, May 28, 2010
So today while the two little ones were napping, I had a talk with Carlee about the adoption. We have been explaining things to her about the process and it is really neat to see how positive and excited she is about the adoption.
Today I was re-explaining why sometimes people have babies and can't keep them. I went on to explain that the baby of course wouldn't look just like us, but could possibly even be a different skin color than our family. I then asked her what she thought about that and her response was, "That's ok because God made the baby however he was made." In other words, God made the baby to love just like He loves us- no different.
It is truly amazing to see her grow in her understanding of Jesus, and also neat to see her be so receptive and open during this whole process.
Today I was re-explaining why sometimes people have babies and can't keep them. I went on to explain that the baby of course wouldn't look just like us, but could possibly even be a different skin color than our family. I then asked her what she thought about that and her response was, "That's ok because God made the baby however he was made." In other words, God made the baby to love just like He loves us- no different.
It is truly amazing to see her grow in her understanding of Jesus, and also neat to see her be so receptive and open during this whole process.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
It has been a few weeks since I have posted any updates. There really hasn't been much to update on though.
I have been in prayer . . . prayer for the process as a whole - that God will work it all out in His perfect timing and give us clarity when we receive a call. I have also been praying for the biological mom of the baby- that somehow we can be a witness to her. Then of course for the baby- that the birth go well and the baby be healthy.
A few answers to prayer from the beginning of the process are that God has given me a renewed excitement for having a newborn. We were convicted to adopt, but my desire to have a baby again needed to be renewed.
Also, as many of you know, my 3 pregnancies weren't easy (for those of you who don't know I had Hyperemesis Gravidarium- a nausea/vomitting pregnancy disease). This whole process would probably not be near as easy if I had easy pregnancies and could have more of my own. So, as hard as it was, I am thankful!
We received a call Tuesday evening from Marian, our legal assistant. A 22 year old mom due August 8th. She will be having a boy (which is what we have requested) and is willing to have somewhat of an open adoption. Right now we are working on all the details and have to get confirmation from her that she accepts us. At this point we are praying that if this is the one for our family, that God work out all the details and just really be in the middle of it all.
I am thankful for friends and family that are so supportive and there for us in prayer!
I have been in prayer . . . prayer for the process as a whole - that God will work it all out in His perfect timing and give us clarity when we receive a call. I have also been praying for the biological mom of the baby- that somehow we can be a witness to her. Then of course for the baby- that the birth go well and the baby be healthy.
A few answers to prayer from the beginning of the process are that God has given me a renewed excitement for having a newborn. We were convicted to adopt, but my desire to have a baby again needed to be renewed.
Also, as many of you know, my 3 pregnancies weren't easy (for those of you who don't know I had Hyperemesis Gravidarium- a nausea/vomitting pregnancy disease). This whole process would probably not be near as easy if I had easy pregnancies and could have more of my own. So, as hard as it was, I am thankful!
We received a call Tuesday evening from Marian, our legal assistant. A 22 year old mom due August 8th. She will be having a boy (which is what we have requested) and is willing to have somewhat of an open adoption. Right now we are working on all the details and have to get confirmation from her that she accepts us. At this point we are praying that if this is the one for our family, that God work out all the details and just really be in the middle of it all.
I am thankful for friends and family that are so supportive and there for us in prayer!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Waiting . . .
During the first few months of this whole process, I definitely thought that the paperwork and getting all the correct forms together would be the hardest part . . . . that was definitely not true!
We are definitely in the hardest part right now! Not so much the waiting, but the waiting for the right child/circumstance, which means using discernment and having to say "no".
Last night Marion, our legal assitant, called with a case of a younger mom (21) who is pregnant again with her 2nd. She is unsure of the father of the child, and the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy are not good- one of the potential fathers is involved in drugs and crime, and the other possible father doesn't want to nor can care for the child. The girls mom is giving her a hard time about adopting her baby, but yet they are all very poor with minimal education. Despite the opinion of her family, she has decided from the beginning of the pregnancy to put the baby up for adoption to a loving and stable family with children.
The situation for us seems so much like we wanted, but yet the detail of the process - that we would have to be down in Alabama (where the mom/baby is located) for 7-10 days - throws a whole different perspective on it. It would take us several days to a week to plan what to do with our kids and yet we have to tell our attorney this morning.
Please pray- that since we can't take this child due to planning, that God give this child a loving Christian home and keep him/her safe from the circumstances of his biological family. Pray that God keep our hearts positive through this process. Pray that God gives me patience.
Psalms 38:15 -
But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
Is. 40:31-
but they who wait for the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
We are definitely in the hardest part right now! Not so much the waiting, but the waiting for the right child/circumstance, which means using discernment and having to say "no".
Last night Marion, our legal assitant, called with a case of a younger mom (21) who is pregnant again with her 2nd. She is unsure of the father of the child, and the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy are not good- one of the potential fathers is involved in drugs and crime, and the other possible father doesn't want to nor can care for the child. The girls mom is giving her a hard time about adopting her baby, but yet they are all very poor with minimal education. Despite the opinion of her family, she has decided from the beginning of the pregnancy to put the baby up for adoption to a loving and stable family with children.
The situation for us seems so much like we wanted, but yet the detail of the process - that we would have to be down in Alabama (where the mom/baby is located) for 7-10 days - throws a whole different perspective on it. It would take us several days to a week to plan what to do with our kids and yet we have to tell our attorney this morning.
Please pray- that since we can't take this child due to planning, that God give this child a loving Christian home and keep him/her safe from the circumstances of his biological family. Pray that God keep our hearts positive through this process. Pray that God gives me patience.
Psalms 38:15 -
But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
Is. 40:31-
but they who wait for the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Watching the children play ~
(This is from about 2 months ago)-
It is spring and just gorgeous out! Just about every afternoon I take my kids outside to play. Our street is full of kids, so there is usually quite a crew that gathers to play in the cul-de-sac right in front of my house. Today there are are only 4- my 3 kids and the little boy next door. Our neighbor next door is an African American family. They have a 7 year old son named "TJ", and she recently had a baby last November whom was born early with a treatable heart condition. I was able to reach out to them during his birth and get to know them a little better.
TJ and my kids are just sitting there in the street playing happily together. Having such a great time.
While watching them, 2 thoughts came to my mind . . . 1. This could be what my family will look like in the near future. I didn't mind that at all. 2. Kids are just amazing- how they are just so innocent. You very rarely hear a child talking about how another child looks, or the color of their skin. I love that about kids! Too bad adults aren't the same.
We continue to pray for the sweet child God has for our family, and the birth mom.
It is spring and just gorgeous out! Just about every afternoon I take my kids outside to play. Our street is full of kids, so there is usually quite a crew that gathers to play in the cul-de-sac right in front of my house. Today there are are only 4- my 3 kids and the little boy next door. Our neighbor next door is an African American family. They have a 7 year old son named "TJ", and she recently had a baby last November whom was born early with a treatable heart condition. I was able to reach out to them during his birth and get to know them a little better.
TJ and my kids are just sitting there in the street playing happily together. Having such a great time.
While watching them, 2 thoughts came to my mind . . . 1. This could be what my family will look like in the near future. I didn't mind that at all. 2. Kids are just amazing- how they are just so innocent. You very rarely hear a child talking about how another child looks, or the color of their skin. I love that about kids! Too bad adults aren't the same.
We continue to pray for the sweet child God has for our family, and the birth mom.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
In God's timing ~
Yesterday I was in the impatient mode.
Our legal assistant, Marion, called about 2pm yesterday to let me know that she did show our profile book on Monday. This particular husband and wife has been married for 17 years and already had 4 kids of their own and just couldn't afford another child.
They ended up requesting to see another family profile book that had less kids.
The baby to be adopted was 1/2 African American and 1/2 Caucassian.
Marion was able to match them with a family want to adopt for a second time. Their first adopted child is the same ethnic mix.
After I hung up the phone, I was a little dissapointed- thinking maybe I should change our book a little, you know, to make it more appealing that a family choose us.
Then I began to think back the last few months, to the few we had to say no to, simply because it wasn't right for us at that time.
God showed me that " all things work according to His perfect goodness and His perfect plan!". I also am so thankful that their are other families out there willing to adopt children in need!
Our legal assistant, Marion, called about 2pm yesterday to let me know that she did show our profile book on Monday. This particular husband and wife has been married for 17 years and already had 4 kids of their own and just couldn't afford another child.
They ended up requesting to see another family profile book that had less kids.
The baby to be adopted was 1/2 African American and 1/2 Caucassian.
Marion was able to match them with a family want to adopt for a second time. Their first adopted child is the same ethnic mix.
After I hung up the phone, I was a little dissapointed- thinking maybe I should change our book a little, you know, to make it more appealing that a family choose us.
Then I began to think back the last few months, to the few we had to say no to, simply because it wasn't right for us at that time.
God showed me that " all things work according to His perfect goodness and His perfect plan!". I also am so thankful that their are other families out there willing to adopt children in need!
Choosing an attorney/ agency . . .
Looking back, it is neat to see how God put us with our adoption attorney we are using.
Back in November, I had an attorney group in mind that is pretty well known in the Upstate. However, after reading through their information we realized that they were much too expensive for us to use! I was dissapointed but after researching local attorney's and agencies, I see God had a different plan.
I began calling different local attorny's and agencies that I had either heard of before, or that someone referred us to. We ended up receiving information from 4 different ones.
One evening in mid-November, Dan and I sat together with the information from each attorney/agency in front of us. We carefully read through each packet, and ended up with 2 different adoption attorney's in front of us that we liked. One was Ray Godwin and the other was a guy in Columbia that someone referred to me. We ended up choosing Ray.
About 2 weeks prior, I met Carlee's class at lunch time to have lunch with her. Her teacher was talking to me casually and I mentioned our adoption to her. She began telling me about a little girl in Carlee's class that was adopted and her mom taught there at the school as well.
At that time I was desperate to talk to anyone who had been through the experience, so I went home and emailed her. I never received a response back. Come to find out my email didn't show up in my sent box, which meant she never got my email. So, I decided to send her a new one. She immediately emailed back and told me to call her.
Karen's story was touching! And come to find out, after our one hour phone coversation, she used Attorney Ray Godwin and had such a great experience!
I knew then that we had chosen the Adoption Attorney group that God wanted us to use.
Ray has been been working adoptions for 20 years. He and his wife, Laura who works along side of him at Night Light Christian Adoptions, adopted two girls themselves.
Check out his website: http://www.scadopt.net/
Back in November, I had an attorney group in mind that is pretty well known in the Upstate. However, after reading through their information we realized that they were much too expensive for us to use! I was dissapointed but after researching local attorney's and agencies, I see God had a different plan.
I began calling different local attorny's and agencies that I had either heard of before, or that someone referred us to. We ended up receiving information from 4 different ones.
One evening in mid-November, Dan and I sat together with the information from each attorney/agency in front of us. We carefully read through each packet, and ended up with 2 different adoption attorney's in front of us that we liked. One was Ray Godwin and the other was a guy in Columbia that someone referred to me. We ended up choosing Ray.
About 2 weeks prior, I met Carlee's class at lunch time to have lunch with her. Her teacher was talking to me casually and I mentioned our adoption to her. She began telling me about a little girl in Carlee's class that was adopted and her mom taught there at the school as well.
At that time I was desperate to talk to anyone who had been through the experience, so I went home and emailed her. I never received a response back. Come to find out my email didn't show up in my sent box, which meant she never got my email. So, I decided to send her a new one. She immediately emailed back and told me to call her.
Karen's story was touching! And come to find out, after our one hour phone coversation, she used Attorney Ray Godwin and had such a great experience!
I knew then that we had chosen the Adoption Attorney group that God wanted us to use.
Ray has been been working adoptions for 20 years. He and his wife, Laura who works along side of him at Night Light Christian Adoptions, adopted two girls themselves.
Check out his website: http://www.scadopt.net/
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
James 1 - How it spoke to me.
Most Christians are familiar with the passage of James 1:27- "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
To put it plainly, this verse not only spoke to me as doing a good deed for a child who is in need, but it goes much deeper than that- that pure religion is how it was before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. God visited this orphan (me) in my own affliction (sin and a life doomed for hell) and raised me up by His grace. It is through Him that I now have that hope of a true deliverance from suffering. He poured his grace and love out on me, how can I not do that for someone else who may never have the opportunity to hear about Christ. I hope that the child who comes into our family will someday see Christ in all His glory.
I want my adoption in Him to be reflected to a child that someday will grow up to have their own family and can share the good truth with them.
The day I read this passage, I compared it with a conversation I had had with a friend that week about adoption. This friend had told me that their family had considered to adopt, but now just wasn't a good time for them, so maybe in the future. James 1:22 says, (I will actually quote it out of my daughters children's Bible- I like the way it states it plainly) "Don't just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says. verse 25 goes on to say, "But suppose you take a good look at the perfect law that gives freedom. You keep looking at it. You don't forget what you have heard, but you do what the law says. Then you will be bless in what you do."
WOW! How in the world can I overlook such an opportunity! I just keep thinking how if I were to say no to God about adopting now, then what kind of blessing would not only my family in its entirety be missing out on, but myself. So, how could I say no!?!
(Another great passage to look into is Romans 8.)
To put it plainly, this verse not only spoke to me as doing a good deed for a child who is in need, but it goes much deeper than that- that pure religion is how it was before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. God visited this orphan (me) in my own affliction (sin and a life doomed for hell) and raised me up by His grace. It is through Him that I now have that hope of a true deliverance from suffering. He poured his grace and love out on me, how can I not do that for someone else who may never have the opportunity to hear about Christ. I hope that the child who comes into our family will someday see Christ in all His glory.
I want my adoption in Him to be reflected to a child that someday will grow up to have their own family and can share the good truth with them.
The day I read this passage, I compared it with a conversation I had had with a friend that week about adoption. This friend had told me that their family had considered to adopt, but now just wasn't a good time for them, so maybe in the future. James 1:22 says, (I will actually quote it out of my daughters children's Bible- I like the way it states it plainly) "Don't just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says. verse 25 goes on to say, "But suppose you take a good look at the perfect law that gives freedom. You keep looking at it. You don't forget what you have heard, but you do what the law says. Then you will be bless in what you do."
WOW! How in the world can I overlook such an opportunity! I just keep thinking how if I were to say no to God about adopting now, then what kind of blessing would not only my family in its entirety be missing out on, but myself. So, how could I say no!?!
(Another great passage to look into is Romans 8.)
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
How Our decision to adopt came about~
I will remember the moment like it just happened. I was sitting on our sofa and Dan was lying on the floor with his highlighter in hand reading the e-book by Dan Cruver (founder of Together for Adoption) called, "Our Adoption in Christ- What it means for us and orphans." Dan Cruver works at a church in Greenville, and Dan met him through a friend. Dan had been following Dan Cruver's twitter and blog for a while now.
Once he finished reading the last page of the e-book, he pretty adamantly shut the book and looked up with me and said, "Ok, I am ready to adopt!" I was taken by surprise a little, but was also thinking deep down to myself, "Ok, just give him a few days and he'll get over it (hopefully)!"
Up until this point, we both had felt our family was complete for now and were pretty content with that.
I did read the e-book about 2 weeks later, and my eyes were just opened by how Biblical it was to adopt, and by the current statistics of how many children are in need of a loving home.
I don't want anyone to think that I just read the e-book and that was it. I actually had a heart for adoption and loved the idea and thought it was great. But only under two conditions would I have ever adopted outside of this situation- 1. Later in life- when my kids were older and it would be more convenient for me. 2. If Dan would agree or I guess I should say, if he were open to it as well. I guess simply put- I would do it when it was convenient for ME!
Up to this point, I had never really had a serious conversation about adoption with Dan, because I just figured that if it would ever work out, it would be later.
Funny how God works . . . here we are waiting on baby #4! Literally. It could be any day, week or month! I am smiling about that though- real big!
Two verses that were convicting to me as I went through this process-
James 1:27- Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:22- Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:25b- being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
In my next post, I will dig deeper into what these verses mean to me and how they spoke to me.
Once he finished reading the last page of the e-book, he pretty adamantly shut the book and looked up with me and said, "Ok, I am ready to adopt!" I was taken by surprise a little, but was also thinking deep down to myself, "Ok, just give him a few days and he'll get over it (hopefully)!"
Up until this point, we both had felt our family was complete for now and were pretty content with that.
I did read the e-book about 2 weeks later, and my eyes were just opened by how Biblical it was to adopt, and by the current statistics of how many children are in need of a loving home.
I don't want anyone to think that I just read the e-book and that was it. I actually had a heart for adoption and loved the idea and thought it was great. But only under two conditions would I have ever adopted outside of this situation- 1. Later in life- when my kids were older and it would be more convenient for me. 2. If Dan would agree or I guess I should say, if he were open to it as well. I guess simply put- I would do it when it was convenient for ME!
Up to this point, I had never really had a serious conversation about adoption with Dan, because I just figured that if it would ever work out, it would be later.
Funny how God works . . . here we are waiting on baby #4! Literally. It could be any day, week or month! I am smiling about that though- real big!
Two verses that were convicting to me as I went through this process-
James 1:27- Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:22- Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:25b- being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
In my next post, I will dig deeper into what these verses mean to me and how they spoke to me.
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