From Overwhelmed back to Reality

This afternoon, I was casually looking through the paperwork that found its way to my email inbox today.  Just kinda scrolling through it all.  This is what I knew before we even began the process of adoption, there will be a ton of paperwork, it will be tedious and detailed, it will take a while to navigate but at the end, it will be all right and we will get through the maze.  However, as I scrolled through it all and the 2 manuals that accompanied it (just to tell help us fill it all out), I found my self becoming very overwhelmed!  Unless you have sat on this side of this kind of paperwork, you may never be able to fully understand what I'm trying to convey (because, well, I'm not great at getting this kind of stuff across), but oh, my, goodness!!!!  Really I have no words to describe it, other than overwhelmed...

Then my phone rang.  On the other end of the phone was  friend, asking a very simple question and just chatting about the things that are going on.  Then she began to talk about our bakesale this weekend, and how seriously she is taking the importance of the entire adoption process.  As she shared her thoughts, my mind was brought back to our reality.  The reality that all the paperwork in the world wouldn't keep us from walking this path!  This is not just about 'getting' a baby and becoming parents, this is about saving a life!  One out of millions, may not seem very important, but let me remind you, we are talking about our baby, our child and let me assure you, this one out of millions is vitally important to Andrew and I and to all our friends and family!  This is the child God is entrusting to us to raise, love and teach about Him!

Thank you Father, for the quick and very timely reminder, that I would gladly complete twice as much paperwork, if it means You can use us to give a forever family to one child in this world that already has way too many fatherless children!

The start of the Journey

Well, I can honestly say, I never thought I'd be writing a blog.  Never really thought I was entertaining enough, I have some friends that I wish they'd write on their blogs everyday, because they keep me laughing, but this one probably won't be like that. :)  The purpose of this blog is just to keep everyone up to date on this amazing journey that God is taking us on.  For those who haven't heard, we are beginning the process of adopting from Ethiopia!  We are very excited and just a little nervous about the road ahead of us, but we are 100%  positive that this is the path that God is leading us on.  We know that we must be flexible and open to His leading the entire way, because as we've already seen He can change our course with just one simple decision. 

We began this journey in October.  After several months of doctor's appointments we decided we were pretty tired of that route.  We have been talking about the possibilty of adoption since we were dating, because since my trip to China in 2004 its has been something that seems to just be planted in my heart.  I just felt that one day, the Lord was going to lead us this way.  Andrew was completely open and excited about the possibilty, but I think we both kind of thought it might be a little farther down the road for us.  However, the Lord showed us otherwise, and we decided to pursue this route, instead of continuing with the doctor route.  Since we weren't seeing any success there anyway, and this is something we had a heart to do, we thought, why not.  To us, adoption is not a 'plan B,' its just another amazing way to grow your family.  We believe and feel that adoption has so many different amazing aspects, that sometimes we are afraid that we are inadequate to express all that it means to us.  We believe God has a heart for adoption and placing orphans in familes and we feel very honored that He has chosen us to be apart of something so amazing!!

So, here is our blog, we are going to use this as a way to keep all of our family and friends (and anyone who wants to follow our story) current on the process.  Its a very long and detailed process, but at the end of it all, our prayer is, that we'll be bringing home the child of our heart, and bringing glory to God in all that we say and do.  Without Him, none of this would be possible and we pray that as people read and hear of our adoption journey, they will give the honor and glory due to Him!