Annual Adoption Picnic

Here we are again, we attended our 2nd Annual Adoption Picnic with CSS. Again, with no child of our own. Last year it did not seem to matter to me that much, it was soon after our home study had been approved, it was smaller and with only our local office. We had a chance to meet one couple who were also waiting and another who had just received their child a month before. We enjoyed talking with them and had a relatively good time.

This year CSS decided to open the picnic to all 3 offices and include domestic and international adoption families. It still wasn't as big of a crowd as I thought (graduation weekend, beach trips, etc) but there were quite a few international families there. That is a whole other story there. The adoption language and the whole process is just different. We met a couple who just had their "dossier registered" in Moscow. Still not sure what that exactly means, but they could have a child within the next six months and travel before then to see the child.
Another parent asked if we had our nursery "all ready"...wow. That kind of, no really, threw me off guard. When we first started this process, I did think for a moment that I would like to pick things out, get a crib, etc. But after talking with our social worker, and going through the adoption seminar, I knew that if we were waitng for 1-2 years or more, I couldn't bear to stare at an empty crib not knowing when it would happen. Lots of emotions for us both today. We felt awkward and out of place. We agreed we would not go back to one of the picnics until we had our child with us.

I've posted before about being patient and wating...it is hard, but I know it is what we must do.
We visited a church today that spoke on the Lord's prayer, HIS will be done. Also, about "living life over there", like living for when we have a child, when this or that happens and not really living for today. It is difficult but I realized sitting there listening to the sermon and the music that I have not fully trusted God with this. I haven't fully given it over to Him. That will be a daily struggle a daily discipline. I know there are many of you out there praying for us and that God has our best interests in His will and plan for our life. We appreciate ALL of the prayers and thoughts and know that you will rejoice with us when we finally bring our child home.

The following verses are both from the book of James that have brought me comfort today.

James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 4: 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

God has a heart that beats for orphans

My hairdresser Debbie Jones and several women are going to Uganda soon to assess the needs and ministries of orphan care in that area. Caroline's Promise is an organization that supports orphan care and education. Below is a link of one of their posts that I thought was helpful to me and to our family and friends who support us.

While we are waiting for a newborn and not necessarily pursuing adoption of an orphan through foster care or internationally, I feel that we are still responding to the call to take care of orphans. This little baby could be an orphan if we (and all the other couples waiting) were not seeking to adopt and waiting on God's perfect time. We continue to pray for the right situation and timing for us and try to wait patiently.


http://carolinespromise.blogspot.com/2009/03/heart-that-beats-for-orphans.html

While We're Waiting

While I'm Waiting Lyrics
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord


I am usually a patient person...except when I want something badly...I am having a hard time during this waiting period. I know it really hasn't been that long, but if I were pregnant we would be expecting in June. There would be an endpoint. We started this whole process in May of 2008, we were approved in September of 2008. It is April 2009. I know in the adoption world, that is really not that long. But I am anxious to meet the child that God has planned for us. I know it will happen in His perfect time. I know there is a purpose and and a plan for us. So, while we are waiting...pray for us to focus on the message in this song...While I'm Waiting by John Waller. We need to remember to focus on our Creator and His perfect plan for us and be patient.

Laura

February is almost gone...

Spring is just around the corner, it is hard to believe that February is almost over. We've been busy with travels, the two of us to San Francisco to revisit our youth's mission of where the idea of Love Thy Neighbor was born(a local outreach to the homeless and less fortunate in WS). Then I headed back to Honduras for the medical clinic in Limon. It was such a joy again, it was great to see familiar faces and meet new ones. There were so many sweet babies that I had the pleasure of holding and caring for, I wish I could've brought them home with me! I think the one thing that touched me the most was the children at the orphanage. They threw us a "party" the last night we were in the village. They danced for us, sang, and just were a joy to be around. It really gave me pause to think of all the things I should be joyful for and grateful for in my life...just the little things. Here they were, some with no shoes, little material possessions, no parents, but yet full of life and love. I learned a lot from them and I will never forget them. We are anxious to have our own little one, and I hope by the time for next year's trip we have our child to add to our family...but then I know I will not return to Honduras for a while.
I just ask that you continue to pray for us as we prepare and continue in this journey. We know God's timing is best and perfect....it just doesn't always match what we want...but He gives us what we need.

2009 is bound to be a great year!

Happy New Year! I have been a little down lately concerning the adoption. We had a call around Thanksgiving for a potential situation but determined it was not appropriate for us as a family. It was hard to say no, but we knew we were doing the right thing. So, no news since then, we haven't even talked to our social worker since then. I know the holidays have had everyone busy, but now it's like what do we do? Sit and wait? Most of my life I have lived it waiting for the "next" big event, or I'll do this when this happens...

When we were going through the home study process, there was always something to do-interviews, writing essays, putting together a profile, going to the courthouse for fingerprinting...Now, there is nothing to do but wait. Or is there?

I want to live each day to the fullest, treasuring that days experience and yesterdays memories. Easier said than done, but that is one of my goals for this year. (Not a resolution....cause I break those usually!) So, things we can do while we wait-

*read all the books we bought about adoption

*de-clutter our house so we can either be prepared to bring a baby into it or sell it (whichever event comes first!)

* travel (We are going to San Francisco soon and I am going to Honduras again)

*have date nights without worrying about a babysitter (though I am sure we won't have to worry too much about that then-we have great family!)

*spoil our niece rotten (but don't worry, Madyson-we'll still spoil you when ours comes along!)

*keep praying....

I am sure I could go on with the list....

But that's enough to keep us busy for a while. We could get the call tomorrow or it could be in 12 months. Walter recently read a statistic in Adoptive Families magazine that said 77% of first adoptions happened within 12 months and 55% took place in less than 6 months. So, there's hope. We just have to live one day at a time. That's all we're promised anyway.

Laura