Tuesday, February 16, 2010

God is so good!

Phillippians 2:13 "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

God has been so good to us. We were able to speak with our representative this week, and ask more questions. We are registered for Bethany's intercountry adoption information meeting on March 4 and are really looking forward to it! We do not feel a particular country "calling" us yet (is that normal?!), but we are praying for God's will to be done and a country to be put on our hearts. I called Robert's sister, Dawn, this week, and the whole conversation was an overwhelming blessing! She has adopted four (all with special needs) children. She was answering questions and concerns before I could even ask them, it was awesome! Through her, one of my prayer requests was answered. To help with the cost of adoption, she is willing to work with us as she owns an embroidery business! Praise God!! Still so many things to think about and set-up, but with Him all things are possible!


I know I started this blog page to journal our adoption events, but I feel the need to diverge for just a moment. Even if not for the reader of this blog, but for myself or my kids that may someday look back through this. There's a song my principal, Mr. Reynolds, has taught the classes in chapel, it goes...
The Devil is a sly old fox,
if I could catch him
I would throw him in a box
I'd lock the door and throw away the key
for all the tricks he's played on me.

I'm glad I've got salvation.
I'm glad I've got salvation.
I'm glad I've got salvation.
I'm trusting in the Lord.
The first time I heard that song, I was a little concerned about my class having nightmares after hearing the first verse. Where am I going with this you may wonder? Well, I want you to know that the devil will appear when you least expect it. There are going to be times you'll be joyous, going through your day, doing what you feel is God's will, and all of a sudden something is thrown in your way. We get knocked down, then what?

2 Corinthians 4:6-9 "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

His joy is my strength!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

From the Beginning...

James 1:27a "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress."


Psalm 68:5-6a "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families."

It seems these verses has been knocking me over these past few months. Every time I hear them, they ring loudly and echo in my ears. I have always been interested in adoption, it seems it's always been part of my life. There are people in my life that have been adopted, friends and family that have adopted children already, my parents talked about adoption while I was growing up, Robert and I talked about adoption even before we were married, as teenagers. After finding out we were having twins (in our early 20's), we decided we would not have more children of our own, and if down the road we felt we should have more kids, we would adopt.

We had looked into international adoption a few years ago, and had chosen Guatemala. After receiving all the paper work and doing some research to begin the process, we found out the country's government had stopped adoption outside of their country, so Robert and I accepted it as a closed door from God. However, over these past few years, the desire has never left my heart. In fact, it has been so much stronger, even to the point where I feel it's overwhelming (and personally a struggle between God and me). After many discussions between Robert and I, we feel God is calling us to take the steps again to adopt. There are many questions we can't answer, (such as how are we going to afford this!) but we know we find rest in Jesus Christ and His perfect plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

and my life verse:
Proverbs 3:5&6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

So our journey begins. Last Sunday, January 31, Robert and I sat down at the computer and filled out a preliminary application for Bethany Adoption Services. We received an email yesterday, Friday, February 5, saying it has been successfully processed, and a social worker will be contacting us soon. We already received a phone call last night (I didn't get her name or title, I think I was too excited) from the agency, explaining what countries we do and don't qualify for. She also is going to re-submit our applications for other countries we had not originally checked off, and she will call us again next week to discuss other countries that may be a possibility for us.

That's where we are in the process now. We would very much appreciate your prayers. Again, we don't know how, but we have faith God does!