Adoption


















Adoption.
Where do I even begin?
It is one of the most Faith challenging and Faith growing journey's we have ever been on.
It has also been one of the most fulfilling, humbling, soul wrecking, beautiful, rewarding and inspiring journeys we have ever been on.

In the early winter months of 2010 the call to adopt started weighing heavy on my heart.
I didn't how, when, where or who but I knew that God was stirring something deep inside of me.
I began to pray and research and educate myself on the process of adoption.
My eyes, from that moment on, have been forever opened and my heart forever changed.
Once the eyes have seen, You cannot Un-see.
As my friend Wynne would say I was "Gloriously Ruined" by what I was seeing on my computer screen.
By what God was whispering to my soul.
As I read story after story of God redeeming these lives of these little people who seem to have been "forgotten" God showed me that he had not forgotten them.
He sees them.
He hurts for them.
He longs for his children to care for them.
He commands us to care for them.
Pure and perfect religion in the eyes of the Father are to care for the widow and the orphan in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27
I knew I didn't want to be polluted by this world.
I wanted to care for the orphan.

In August of 2010, we said Yes!
Though the journey was rough, painful, frustrating and scary. It was also beautiful, surprising, teaching and I wouldn't trade those months for anything.
God brought himself closer to me in those months then he ever had before.
Maybe because I was desperately seeking more then I ever had before.
Desperately searching for his goodness.
His faithfulness.
He met me in my search.
The lessons were tough.
But the fruit was good.

In March of 2011 we saw the sweet face of the one he had chosen for us.
We said yes to this sweet little face and ever since our lives have been a Fun-filled adventure.

God is faithful to set the lonely in homes. 
He is the Father to the Fatherless. (Ps. 68:5-6)

My prayer is that many will hear our story and be encouraged to trust in Him who guides your steps and puts your feet on His path by saying Yes!
Know that your "flesh" will be torn.
Your heart "ripped" out.
"Your plans" will be thrown aside.
However these things are necessary for God to put you back together again. 
You will be a new creation.
You will be "Gloriously Ruined".
You will know depths of God's heart that you never knew before.
You will know him in ways you never knew before. 
You will learn more of his character.
You will tangibly experience his holy faithfulness.

Here are some powerful and moving words from my Husband that I took from one of my early adoption posts:

Jenna and I had a conversation maybe a year ago (this was written in 2010 so it's been a few years) about adoption. We both agreed that "someday we should adopt." Guess what? Someday never gets here, and I hid behind that. After watching the video below(it has since been removed by the user) I had a new weight on my heart. God asked me "what would you do if these children were in your backyard?" What would you do if you discovered these starving and dying at Beal Park (a local park)?" "Well God, I would take them home and take them in." He said "exactly". I found myself in a miserable place. God's word to me was this " I have blessed you with more than you need, I have given you an abundance of seed, and what have you done with it?" "Lord, I have eaten the seed you gave me. I have stored it up for myself."  Couple these feelings and conversations with my renewed understanding of Christ's salvation and sacrifice and I now have a purpose. Before we knew Christ we were orphans, separated from God by our sins. Through Christ who paid the price of our sins, we can be made new and receive forgiveness. We can start over! At the same time we are adopted as sons of God. We are no longer alone, we are brothers and sisters of others who are in Christ and sons and daughters of the creator. I say all of this to explain that my heart is burdened for the children of this world who are alone, fatherless, and who do not have an inheritance. A chance to start over. I have been adopted and given inheritance. Remembering the separation and the loneliness I cannot leave another child to suffer the same. 


If you are feeling the heavy call to adopt please email me. 
I don't have all the answers.
But what I do have is an understanding heart and a little tiny bit of experience.
I would love to chat with you.
To encourage you.
To pray for you.
Without the "Village" it can get lonely in the adoption world.

Timeline to Emerson "Emme":

August 2010: Singed on with Celebrate Children International
December 2010: Dossier to Ethiopia on official "waitlist" for baby girl. #8!
January 2011 - Fingerprints for UCIS
March 2011 - Top of wait list!!!
March 27th 2011 - Accept referal of a 2.5 yr old GIRL!! Not a baby but exactly the one God chose!!!
April 9th 2011 - Submitted to Court!!
May 6th 2011 - Got court date!!! June 17th!!!
May 18th  2011 - LOST court date!!! UGH!!!
July 2011 - Courts close for rainy season with NO court date :( !!!
August 12th 2011 - Surprised with our COURT DATE!!! Nov. 7th!!!!
November 3rd 2011 - Leave for Ethiopia
November 5th 2011 - Meet Emerson for the FIRST time!!!! 
November 8th 2011 - PASS court!!! Our date got moved back when we showed up!
December 20th 2011 - Submitted to Embassy!!!
January 8th 2012 - Emerson's case cleared Embassy we are CLEARED to travel!!!!
January 15th 2012 - Leave to bring Emme HOME!!!!!
January 17th 2012 - GOTCHA DAY!!!!!
January 19th 2012 - Embassy appt. 
January 22nd 2012 - HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world, when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He might ask my the same question." - Anonymous