We're Adopting

December 13, 2010

Adoption has been on my heart for several years. When the earthquake in Haiti happened, I so wanted to go down there and bring one of those sweet babies home! At first, I couldn't determine if the desire was mine alone or if the desire was from God. But God kept bringing to mind this verse from James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Also, our church, Fellowship Bible Church, is full of families who have obeyed the call to adopt from all over the world. So, God, does that mean I sponsor orphans around the world? Do I go on mission trips? Yes/maybe to both but adoption kept coming to my heart and mind. There was just one problem. My wonderful Mike was not on board...

What to do? Obey what I though was from God or obey my husband who God placed over me? God kept telling me, obey your husband and pray. So, I prayed and waited...

Then on Sunday, November 7, 2010 God opened my sweet husband's heart and the simple words "Let's do this" changed our lives forever!!! We are going to adopt! How thrilling to think about adding another child to our family. How scary to actually think about the process. How sad to think about all that sweet child that is ours has gone through or will go through before he/she is in our home.

After that wonderful Sunday, I began searching websites to determine my next step. I was still fearful to ask for information, not quite believing it was real. But my sweet husband, called our church and scheduled a meeting to speak with Marty Schwieterman about how to begin in the adoption process. We had to wait a week before we could meet with Marty. Just the beginning of waiting, I am thinking... Anyway, we had a wonderful meeting with him but things were as clear as MUD when we left! Do we adopt from Asia, Africa, Russia or domestically?

The next day, Wednesday November 17th, God answered our prayer. I finally got the courage to call adoption agencies. The door to domestic adoption was shut. We are not at a place to adopt an older child or an African-American child. My heart had been pulled to Asia. But adoptions from China were taking 5 years! Jay would be an adult by then!! I called Heaven Sent Children who had be recommended from a friend of a friend. The kind lady who took my call listened to me and said, "I think our Korean program would be a great fit for your family." My heart jumped for joy!!! But, I needed confirmation. So, Catholic Charities returned my call. After again telling me domestic adoption probably wasn't going to work for my family, she begins to tell me about their International adoption program. And I pray silently, "Please God give me confirmation about Korea." The kind lady says, "We have programs with many countries, for example, if you would like to adopt from...KOREA." Why yes, I would like to adopt from Korea!!

So this week of November 17th was a biggie. We are adopting from Korea and do you know what God wants me to also know. He is doing all of this because He loves me and because He loves me, He wants us to adopt a baby girl. WOW!!! So Friday November 19th comes and our sweet social worker comes for our first home study visit. Her name is Amanda and she herself is an adoptee from...KOREA! And she is beautiful! Just a glimmer of what my sweet daughter will look like some day. Isn't God just good?!!?!!

Our home study went well. We were able to do all four visits in three weeks. Amanda is just awesome and made collecting all of that paperwork easy! But now, we wait! Wait for the application from Americans for International Adoption and Aid, the placing agency that deals directly with Korea. Until we fill that out, our official "time clock" has not started. I am comforted by the fact that GOD is in control and that what He began, He WILL complete!!! While I wait, I pray I will cling to God and enjoy my boys and sweet husband in a way I never have before. And then after "waiting well", I will hold my daughter in my arms!!!!