His plan is always better. God is doing BIG things in our life right right with our adoption. I can not say much yet but just keep praying that we will listen and move out in faith. Christmas is the season of miracles. God is so good.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Blessings to Come
Sorry it has been so long since I have posted but we have not received any news on our referral from Hong Kong.
Those of you who have been down the adoption road or who have walked with someone down this road know there are many ups and downs. During Thanksgiving my family and I have been praying through many options with our adoption. I will keep you posted as things unfold. I know you guys are praying because there is no other explanation why Abigail has not cried another day for her sister but instead she keeps turning to Jesus and just asking why and then just smiles. We know God has called us to adopt and we are being faithful listeners.
Those of you who have been down the adoption road or who have walked with someone down this road know there are many ups and downs. During Thanksgiving my family and I have been praying through many options with our adoption. I will keep you posted as things unfold. I know you guys are praying because there is no other explanation why Abigail has not cried another day for her sister but instead she keeps turning to Jesus and just asking why and then just smiles. We know God has called us to adopt and we are being faithful listeners.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Mighty Prayers
First of all we have not heard anything from our adoption agency so we are still waiting and praying, praying and waiting.
Thanks to all of you who have prayed for and encouraged Abigail. She has not cried once since that Wednesday evening. God is so good! She stills continues to ask "When are we going to get our little sister?" but knows God is in control.
Thanks to all of you who have prayed for and encouraged Abigail. She has not cried once since that Wednesday evening. God is so good! She stills continues to ask "When are we going to get our little sister?" but knows God is in control.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Heart Felt Tears
God is doing something really big in our family it is just hard walking through it.
On Wednesdays our family usually just stays at school until choir and church start. As we were sitting in my room Abigail asked me "How much longer until we know who our little sister is?" I just simply said it's all in God's timing and left it at that.
After church as we were walking out the door my sweet Abigail just burst into tears and said "Why is it taking so long? There are so many people that started adopting after we did and they are getting their babies". I tried to explain God is in control and knows what's going on we just have to trust him. When we got in the car we prayed that God would hurry up. She cried all the way home. It was a true heart felt cry she simply did not understand. The problem was I did not either. I keep saying it's all in God's timing but do I really believe it?
When we got home it was straight to the shower. I could hear her crying in the shower and went up to try and comfort her. I decided I would take another approach and talk about other things. Well everything I said would lead straight back to our little sister. I asked what do you want to do this weekend? Her answer was play with my little sister. I asked her? What she wanted for Christmas? My little sister. I finally gave up and said go on in your room and get dressed and I will be there in a minute to tuck you in.
As I came up the stairs I heard the most beautiful words. My daughter was crying out to Jesus in a way that warmed my soul.
She was bawling saying "Why is this taking so long? I love you Jesus and know it is all in your timing but why does it hurt so bad. My heart is hurting. I don't understand Lord but I love you! Why are you doing this to me I have been praying about this for over a year? I just want to see and love on my sister. Who is taking care of her right now? I know you are but I want to, too."
As I walked in the room she just looked at me and cried. The only thing I knew to do at this point was hold her. I just laid in the bed holding her, listening to her cry, and praying with her until she fell asleep. As she was sleeping I just prayed over her that God would give her peace. She did look so peaceful sleeping.
Abigail has such a heart for orphans already I can't wait to see what is in store for her. If you see her anytime soon just give her a big hug. She needs some encouraging.
As I went to bed I was reminded by Abigail sometimes we just have to cry out to the Lord!
So we as a family are still waiting and praying, praying and waiting.
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends" With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
2 Peter 3: 8-9
On Wednesdays our family usually just stays at school until choir and church start. As we were sitting in my room Abigail asked me "How much longer until we know who our little sister is?" I just simply said it's all in God's timing and left it at that.
After church as we were walking out the door my sweet Abigail just burst into tears and said "Why is it taking so long? There are so many people that started adopting after we did and they are getting their babies". I tried to explain God is in control and knows what's going on we just have to trust him. When we got in the car we prayed that God would hurry up. She cried all the way home. It was a true heart felt cry she simply did not understand. The problem was I did not either. I keep saying it's all in God's timing but do I really believe it?
When we got home it was straight to the shower. I could hear her crying in the shower and went up to try and comfort her. I decided I would take another approach and talk about other things. Well everything I said would lead straight back to our little sister. I asked what do you want to do this weekend? Her answer was play with my little sister. I asked her? What she wanted for Christmas? My little sister. I finally gave up and said go on in your room and get dressed and I will be there in a minute to tuck you in.
As I came up the stairs I heard the most beautiful words. My daughter was crying out to Jesus in a way that warmed my soul.
She was bawling saying "Why is this taking so long? I love you Jesus and know it is all in your timing but why does it hurt so bad. My heart is hurting. I don't understand Lord but I love you! Why are you doing this to me I have been praying about this for over a year? I just want to see and love on my sister. Who is taking care of her right now? I know you are but I want to, too."
As I walked in the room she just looked at me and cried. The only thing I knew to do at this point was hold her. I just laid in the bed holding her, listening to her cry, and praying with her until she fell asleep. As she was sleeping I just prayed over her that God would give her peace. She did look so peaceful sleeping.
Abigail has such a heart for orphans already I can't wait to see what is in store for her. If you see her anytime soon just give her a big hug. She needs some encouraging.
As I went to bed I was reminded by Abigail sometimes we just have to cry out to the Lord!
So we as a family are still waiting and praying, praying and waiting.
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends" With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
2 Peter 3: 8-9
Friday, October 2, 2009
Good News & Not So Good News
The roller coaster ride of adoption. The good news is the social worker will only be out until mid-November. The not so good news to they said we could have our referral as early as 2 days or as late as 2 years. Yes, I said 2 years. Right now at this minute we know God has called our family to adoption again. We know God has called our family to Hong Kong. We know our little girl is out there somewhere.
We also found out that if we do not get our referral by April 6 we have to start paying more money to update the paperwork we have already done. So my prayer is our referral will come before April 6.
Here is a glimpse of how excited our children were when we got our INS paperwork (last April) in the mail the first time. They are so excited. God is working on our whole family to be patient.
Every morning when I wake up I say "I HOPE today is the day we find out who our little girl is" because you can never predict God's timing you just trust HIS timing.
We also found out that if we do not get our referral by April 6 we have to start paying more money to update the paperwork we have already done. So my prayer is our referral will come before April 6.
Here is a glimpse of how excited our children were when we got our INS paperwork (last April) in the mail the first time. They are so excited. God is working on our whole family to be patient.Every morning when I wake up I say "I HOPE today is the day we find out who our little girl is" because you can never predict God's timing you just trust HIS timing.
Friday, September 25, 2009
News
Just heard from our social worker in Nashville that the main person in Michigan (who works directly with the Hong Kong government) has left on maternity leave. This is wonderful for her but no so good for us because she is the only person at Bethany who makes the final decisions concerning Hong Kong. Someone within the office has filled in for her while she is out but please pray that this will not hold anything up and that we would get our referral soon. God is good and his timing is always perfect.
On a different note, HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY to Nathan on Saturday!!
On a different note, HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY to Nathan on Saturday!!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Home Sick
I am home today loving on my girl Abigail because she has the flu. As I sat here and read books, watched tv, and hugged on my girl I couldn't help but think of our sweet little girl in Hong Kong. I hope someone is there to love on her if she is sick right now. Abigail and I talked about this for a while and we finally realized Jesus is always holding our children even if we can't. Go hug your children today and let them know Jesus loves them.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
How it all Started
Just to catch everyone up on how we have gotten to this place in our life. Bruce and I met in 1997 on a mission project at an orphanage in Romania. Since that time, both of us have had a heart for adoption and the least of these as described in JAMES 1:27. We married in 1999 and had our first child in 2000 (our sweet, precious Abigail). In 2001 God called us to adopt. After a year and a half in the adoption process we brought Nathan, our son, home from Russia in May 2003. In 2004, God was calling us to adopt stateside this time. The baby was supposed to be born on June 15, 2004, but 2 weeks before he was born our adoption fell through. Once again in 2005, we felt the calling to adopt and started down the adoption road but it did not materialize at that time. In 2007, we still felt God's calling to adopt but we did not get very far in the process. Since both of us are full time teachers, we were unable to generate enough financial resources to cover the cost of adoption and we ran into another roadblock.
God is always very clear and His timing is always perfect. In November 2008, our daughter who had been praying for a little sister for over 2 years looked at me and said "Mom there are so many children in the world that don't have mommys to hug them when they are hurt or bake them a cake when it is their birthday," she looked me right in the eyes and said, "MOM YOU CAN DO THAT!" We knew God was speaking directly to us about adoption through our own child. This time we felt God calling us to China and specifically to Hong Kong. We called Bethany Christian Adoption Services and got the process rolling. We still did not see how we were going to pay for the adoption but we spent a lot of time in prayer and believed that God would provide if it was His will. God is always faithful and has guided every step of the way. Every time we needed a payment or had to meet a specific demand we had just the right amount of resources because of our incredible church and school community. They have been so supportive and enabled us to move forward with this adoption and get one step closer to bringing our daughter home.
Our Home Study was completed in February 2009 and our Dossier papers were sent to Hong Kong in March. Hong Kong came back with a few more questions in June. All of those questions have been answered and as of September 3rd we are officially on the waiting list. Hong Kong has all special needs children so it could be as early as tomorrow or 2 years from now we are matched with our daughter. We have been praying for a little girl around 3 to 5 years old and would covet your prayers as you partner with us. Please join us on the journey as we pray and wait, wait and pray for our little girl. To God alone be the glory, PRAISE JESUS!
God is always very clear and His timing is always perfect. In November 2008, our daughter who had been praying for a little sister for over 2 years looked at me and said "Mom there are so many children in the world that don't have mommys to hug them when they are hurt or bake them a cake when it is their birthday," she looked me right in the eyes and said, "MOM YOU CAN DO THAT!" We knew God was speaking directly to us about adoption through our own child. This time we felt God calling us to China and specifically to Hong Kong. We called Bethany Christian Adoption Services and got the process rolling. We still did not see how we were going to pay for the adoption but we spent a lot of time in prayer and believed that God would provide if it was His will. God is always faithful and has guided every step of the way. Every time we needed a payment or had to meet a specific demand we had just the right amount of resources because of our incredible church and school community. They have been so supportive and enabled us to move forward with this adoption and get one step closer to bringing our daughter home.
Our Home Study was completed in February 2009 and our Dossier papers were sent to Hong Kong in March. Hong Kong came back with a few more questions in June. All of those questions have been answered and as of September 3rd we are officially on the waiting list. Hong Kong has all special needs children so it could be as early as tomorrow or 2 years from now we are matched with our daughter. We have been praying for a little girl around 3 to 5 years old and would covet your prayers as you partner with us. Please join us on the journey as we pray and wait, wait and pray for our little girl. To God alone be the glory, PRAISE JESUS!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Finally made it
I have had so many requests to start a blog so here it goes. I am actually hoping that if I start a blog maybe our adoption will go faster. It seems to be going so slow. I will write later about how we have gotten to this point.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)