We got a very special Christmas blessing in the mail today!
First, just let me say that we have an incredible family! And even though we now live far apart, we've always been close!
The way they have encouraged and rallied around us since we announced that we would adding to our family through adoption has been simply amazing!
Today we got a very special card in the mail. Inside were several checks and a note explaining that instead of drawing names and buying Christmas gifts for each other, our family decided to put together a "love gift" for us to help in bringing our newest little family member home from Ethiopia. Amazing!
Tears come even as I'm typing this...it feels like a huge family hug with all their arms wrapped tight around us, even though we're 800 miles away. I'm so thankful for a family that loves us so much that they would do this for us.
Incredible. Precious. Simply Amazing...a true Christmas Blessing!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Let the Paperchase begin!
Ok. Today I sat down and read the 30 pg. Ethiopia Dossier Guildeline Packet that our Family Coordinator sent to us. I'll be honest, about 1/2 way through I broke out in tears...I had a moment...and then I wiped away the tears, picked my resolve up off the floor and finished reading the rest of the packet.
So this weekend, I'll get started! For the next 4-6 months (I'm determined to get it done within that timeframe) we'll officially be in what adoptive families lovingly refer to as the "paperchase" phase. Pray for me - the Guidelines were almost more than I could handle, for goodness sake! :)
Seriously, I know these next months are going to be challenging, but we are determined to fight for our little one (if you haven't read my last post, you really should!) - this is all part of the journey!
So this weekend, I'll get started! For the next 4-6 months (I'm determined to get it done within that timeframe) we'll officially be in what adoptive families lovingly refer to as the "paperchase" phase. Pray for me - the Guidelines were almost more than I could handle, for goodness sake! :)
Seriously, I know these next months are going to be challenging, but we are determined to fight for our little one (if you haven't read my last post, you really should!) - this is all part of the journey!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
...may you also dance!
I love the blog community that surrounds families who have, are or will be adopting! It's amazing how connected you can feel to families that you've never met, but as you read their words and experiences you realize that when you share a common love for God and a heart for little ones who need families to love and care for them - the world really is a small place and people you've never met seem to feel like sweet old friends! I follow many blogs, but the words from one gal in particular this week really touched me and brought tears (lots of them) that I'm still trying to fully explain to my husband. :)
Andrea and her husband, Richard, adopted a little guy (Isaac) from Ethiopia about a year ago. Here are her words -
Me and Isaac...we slow danced today. As we danced and I looked at him...as he giggled and giggled...I thought about that plan ride with Richard. How badly I wanted my husband to say yes - but I knew I had to trust my husband and follow his lead..but oh how my heart wanted to say yes to the list of unknowns...yes to our agency saying "he is 8 months old and can barely lift his head...but he smiles"...say yes beacuse I knew in my heart that this baby deserved a mommy who would fight for him. Well, we have fought this year...and now we dance. And the hard parts..the tired parts..the oh-my-gosh-can-we-do-this parts...Yes, they are all worth it.
May the leaps of faith you take trusting the Lord in the big and in the small result in moments like these...where you sit back, shake your head, wipe away a tear realizing how good God's plans really are. And then, may you also dance!
The part that brought a load of tears was when she said, I knew in my heart that this baby deserved a mommy who would fight for him. That's exactly how I feel, that the little one God has chosen for our family, deserves a mommy and a daddy and sisters who will fight for her. Despite the waiting and the challenges that have been, are and I'm sure, will be - a family who will love, adore and fight -with everything they have- for her. And someday, I know in my heart...there will be lots of dancing!
Keep praying for us - it really does mean so much!
Andrea and her husband, Richard, adopted a little guy (Isaac) from Ethiopia about a year ago. Here are her words -
Me and Isaac...we slow danced today. As we danced and I looked at him...as he giggled and giggled...I thought about that plan ride with Richard. How badly I wanted my husband to say yes - but I knew I had to trust my husband and follow his lead..but oh how my heart wanted to say yes to the list of unknowns...yes to our agency saying "he is 8 months old and can barely lift his head...but he smiles"...say yes beacuse I knew in my heart that this baby deserved a mommy who would fight for him. Well, we have fought this year...and now we dance. And the hard parts..the tired parts..the oh-my-gosh-can-we-do-this parts...Yes, they are all worth it.
May the leaps of faith you take trusting the Lord in the big and in the small result in moments like these...where you sit back, shake your head, wipe away a tear realizing how good God's plans really are. And then, may you also dance!
The part that brought a load of tears was when she said, I knew in my heart that this baby deserved a mommy who would fight for him. That's exactly how I feel, that the little one God has chosen for our family, deserves a mommy and a daddy and sisters who will fight for her. Despite the waiting and the challenges that have been, are and I'm sure, will be - a family who will love, adore and fight -with everything they have- for her. And someday, I know in my heart...there will be lots of dancing!
Keep praying for us - it really does mean so much!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Great News!
Today we put our 1st Ethiopia Program Fee in the mail on it's way to America World Adoption Agency!
Another step closer.
On Monday, we'll put our Home Study paperwork in the mail on it's way to Family Christian Services.
Another step closer.
We'll be assigned a Family Coordinator in the next week and then we'll begin putting together our dossier. At the same time we'll be meeting with a Social Worker assigned to us by our Home Study Agency.
I think about how long it took to complete this first set of "steps" and I have to admit I feel alittle discouraged and overwhelmed, but then I remember that God equips us to carry out what He's called us to do! God has called our family to grow through adoption - of that, we are 100% sure! We know He's faithful! So we'll just keep taking one step and then another - until one day (hopefully soon) we'll hold our little one in our arms!
If you'd like to pray for us, here are a couple of things that you can specifically pray for -
1. That God would continue to provide financially for our adoption
2. That God would help me use my time wisely as I take care of our family, my responsibilities at work and also work on putting our dossier together.
We appreciate your prayers!
Another step closer.
On Monday, we'll put our Home Study paperwork in the mail on it's way to Family Christian Services.
Another step closer.
We'll be assigned a Family Coordinator in the next week and then we'll begin putting together our dossier. At the same time we'll be meeting with a Social Worker assigned to us by our Home Study Agency.
I think about how long it took to complete this first set of "steps" and I have to admit I feel alittle discouraged and overwhelmed, but then I remember that God equips us to carry out what He's called us to do! God has called our family to grow through adoption - of that, we are 100% sure! We know He's faithful! So we'll just keep taking one step and then another - until one day (hopefully soon) we'll hold our little one in our arms!
If you'd like to pray for us, here are a couple of things that you can specifically pray for -
1. That God would continue to provide financially for our adoption
2. That God would help me use my time wisely as I take care of our family, my responsibilities at work and also work on putting our dossier together.
We appreciate your prayers!
Great reminder for today -
God will equip you for the work He's called you to do.
Period.
That's all there is to it.
Period.
That's all there is to it.
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