Our Story

Our Story
We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands.
~ Kristi Larson ~

Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, You didn't grow under my heart - but in it!
~ Fleur Conkling Heylinger ~
Adoption is not the call to have the perfect, rosy family. It is the CALL to Give LOVE, MERCY, and PATIENCE.



Sunday, May 31, 2015

Moving Forward

We started this adoption journey to a sister over four years ago.  God led us to Ethiopia and back again and on to a new adoption adventure this winter.  It seems like we have been working at it forever - but we trust and know that God's plans are higher than our own and we are very excited to see what He has planned for us.  We have been working through adoption paperwork and fingerprinting, through training and interviews for the last couple of months.  My motto (and my screensaver on my phone) became...


This last month has been busy with family time and end of school craziness and has actually gone by pretty fast.  We found ourselves at our second (and final) home study interview last Tuesday where we were pleasantly surprised to find out that they were letting us pay our fee and join the next phase of our program!  He have our home inspection tomorrow but were told our home study is pretty much complete and they are hoping to have it finalized and ready to go sometime this week!!!  This means we will FINALLY be home study ready and will get to begin making inquiries and contact with social workers on siblings we are interested in.

This is such an exciting step.....BUT it is also a little overwhelming and scary at the same time.  Looking over profiles and faces of sweet kids waiting for a family can be daunting and sad (to say the least).  How do you ever go about choosing??  They all deserve a family and who am I to say or know if it is with us??  What I've come to realize is that I DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE!  No matter how sure I am or how certain of an outcome - I don't get a say...only GOD DOES!!!  If I let MY MIND wander....try to take control...try to what-if our future....it is overwhelming and feels like a lot to take in.  When I remember that I have a God that loves me deeply and knows each one of my children even better than I could - a God that knew we would be in this exact place in growing our family and knows exactly how it will play out - a God that heals and restores and comforts and guides each and every aspect of our lives if we let Him - - when I remember all of that....it is like a burden lifted off of my shoulders!!  I don't have to choose - or try to decide - or bear the weight of it all.  It is a relief knowing that He already knows.


So - we are extremely excited to be starting this next phase of our adoption.  The phase where we get to search faces and search our hearts.  Where we spend a lot of time on our knees asking for peace and understanding.  The phase where we trust God when hope-filled doors close and unexpected doors open.  When we try to follow God's plans even amidst fears and uncertainty.  We know that this phase will lead us to our children - but we also know that that path is just the beginning of a life together as a family.

I don't know where my kids are - I don't know how many there are or what their genders are.  I don't know how many birthdays have passed or what makes them smile.  I don't know their story or their hearts.  But I do know that my God is big enough to take care of them until I can hold them and tell them that everything will be okay.  I know He is with them (and always has been) and will lead them to us in His perfect timing. Until then I hope they know....


Please continue to pray for us as we venture into the next phase of our adoption.  Pray for clarity and peace in following God's plans.  Pray for our children's hearts as they prepare to welcome new siblings into their lives and home.  Pray for our new children as they are uprooted once again to join our family.  Pray that God's hand would be in it all and that His glory would shine through!



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