For anyone who has seen the movie Facing the Giants, you'll remember the story about the two farmers who were trying to farm in the middle of a drought. One farmer did nothing since there was no rain in the near future. The other prepared his fields for rain. When the rain came, his crops were watered. We are preparing for rain. We are getting our house ready and in order "just in case." We have bought Victoria a new bedroom suite, and we are going to move her room to the "schoolroom." We now have a fire extinguisher in our kitchen, a fire escape route planned and posted in our kitchen, and our house has had a health and fire inspection. We bought a storage shed where we have locked up all of our cleaning supplies and the gasoline for the lawnmower. We also bought a little lock box to lock away all of our meds. We are praying for rain.
We got news last week though. The boys are legally ready to be adopted. This means that the parental rights have been taken away. However, mentally and emotionally, the boys aren't ready. The foster family is working through some things to help prepare them. Meanwhile, anyone interested in adopting the boys is being put in a file until time for the caseworker to begin the process of matching parents with the boys. I have to remind myself that God is in control.
I have tried putting myself in their shoes. I can't imagine being ripped away from my parents, never to live with them again. We have NO IDEA what the boys have gone through, but what we are learning in class is that no matter how badly these kids are treated or abused at home, they always want to go home to mom and/or dad. It is so sad, but think about it. Wouldn't you want to be with your parents, too?
We are praying for them, praying that they will come to terms with what has happened in their lives. I pray they will be able to forgive their family and accept a new one some day. Until then, we will continue to pray for rain and know that God is controlling all of this and knows what is best for the boys and for our family.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
1% Chance....
We started our PRIDE (parenting) classes today. Praise the Lord! Our background checks went through without a hitch, and there was still room left for us to get into these classes. We are so grateful. The classes meet twice a week for five weeks. The last class is actually on the day that Michael was originally scheduled to deploy, but God worked that out, and Michael is deploying a few days later. God is so awesome!
We have been told that there is only a 1% chance of us being able to get the boys since Michael is deploying. They want both parents in the home. I must confess, I was so sad when I learned this news, but God's timing is perfect. He knows exactly what is going on, and I have complete faith in Him. I told one of the state employees tonight that we were willing to wait a year for Jamie and William. It will be like expecting twins! Please pray that no matter what, the best interest of the boys will be taken to heart. I don't want to have to wait a year, but if that is what is best for them, so be it. I just hope Victoria and I would have the chance to meet them and get to hang out during the year so we can start getting to know them.
We have gotten more confirmation, and once again, it came in the mail. I love how God uses our media to speak to us if we are willing to listen. This time, we got a letter from Focus on the Family about adopting children within the United States. How cool is that? We have NEVER gotten anything in the mail about adopting before, and now we have gotten two things. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us next.
Back to our classes...we have homework, so I better get to it. I have some homework due Thursday and more due in a couple of weeks. We are to answer questions for a Home Study Autobiography, but anyone who knows me knows I can't simply answer questions. I will write an autobiography and make sure all of the questions are answered with tons of descriptive words and hopefully a little humor as well. I can't wait to get started on it! (I am such a nerd!!)
We have been told that there is only a 1% chance of us being able to get the boys since Michael is deploying. They want both parents in the home. I must confess, I was so sad when I learned this news, but God's timing is perfect. He knows exactly what is going on, and I have complete faith in Him. I told one of the state employees tonight that we were willing to wait a year for Jamie and William. It will be like expecting twins! Please pray that no matter what, the best interest of the boys will be taken to heart. I don't want to have to wait a year, but if that is what is best for them, so be it. I just hope Victoria and I would have the chance to meet them and get to hang out during the year so we can start getting to know them.
We have gotten more confirmation, and once again, it came in the mail. I love how God uses our media to speak to us if we are willing to listen. This time, we got a letter from Focus on the Family about adopting children within the United States. How cool is that? We have NEVER gotten anything in the mail about adopting before, and now we have gotten two things. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us next.
Back to our classes...we have homework, so I better get to it. I have some homework due Thursday and more due in a couple of weeks. We are to answer questions for a Home Study Autobiography, but anyone who knows me knows I can't simply answer questions. I will write an autobiography and make sure all of the questions are answered with tons of descriptive words and hopefully a little humor as well. I can't wait to get started on it! (I am such a nerd!!)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Our Adoption Journey
We are looking to adopt! It's a shock to me. I have always--let me repeat that--ALWAYS been against adopting. Michael would bring it up, and I would always adamantly say, "No." Michael told me that about four weeks ago, he said a little breath prayer to God and said that if we were meant to adopt that He would have to change my heart because Michael couldn't change it. Two weeks later, my heart was changed. That shows me two things: 1) God cares about even the most (what we might call) insignificant, slight communication we have with Him. No prayer is too small. No request is too big. No prayer goes unheard. 2) God is still in the miracle business. Here's the story...
Early on April 12, 2011, a Tuesday morning, I hadn't gone to bed yet, and I felt God tell me to google adopting in Texas. This is something I had NEVER done before. I have NEVER looked at an adoption site, inquired about adopting, NOTHING. I googled it, and it brought me to several websites, so I checked one out. I decided to see the waiting kids in the Austin region, and I chose to look at kids 13 and older. The first picture was a sibling group of five children....way too many. The second picture was two brothers, Jamie and William. I looked at the other children, but Jamie and William never left my mind. I was drawn to them. In an INSTANT, the Lord changed my heart, and I knew that Jamie and William belonged in our home. There is no humanly way to describe the instantaneous change within me. I have described it like a bolt of lightening. Words fail me. It is the most incredible thing because one minute I never would consider adopting; the next minute, I am ready to adopt two boys I know nothing about. God is AWESOME!
I felt a longing for them. I wrote down their information and went to bed. The next day, after Michael had gotten home from work and Victoria home from youth, I asked them what they thought about adopting. Victoria asked if it was a boy or girl. I told her two brothers, and she immediately said, "Yes!" Michael was shocked. I told them their names, and Michael said that it sounded right. So, I immediately filled out a form stating we were interested in the boys. I got a packet a couple of days later, and our first step was to go to an informational meeting. That meeting was tonight. More on that in a minute.
On Saturday, April 23, we received confirmation that we are supposed to adopt. When Michael was considering going into the Army as a chaplain, we prayed for confirmation. We were inundated with confirmation after confirmation...a lot of it was magazines that came to our house with military chaplains on the cover and articles about them. It was crazy! On Saturday, we got the "American Family Association Journal" in the mail, and guess what was on the cover? "When Christians Adopt It Changes the World." I read the article and cried. God is confirming that we are to adopt.
Today, April 27, we went to the informational meeting. It was nothing new to me since I have done so much research. However, one thing we did learn was that in order to adopt, there is an adoption placement where the children live with us for six months and both parents must be there, and then the adoption will be finalized. Our dilemma is that Michael deploys in June and will be gone a year. I almost started crying at the meeting. Victoria said she did, too. Our prayer is that God will do a MIGHTY deed and work it so Jamie and William will be able to live with us while Michael is deployed. I don't want them to have to be in foster care any longer than they have to.
Jamie and William want a Christian family. The social worker said that is extremely rare. It is one of the reasons I was absolutely drawn to them. How precious!
How can you miss someone you've never met? How can I love them already? Victoria loves them, too. Michael is cautiously optimistic. I am so excited, I don't know what to do with myself. I have to keep busy so I don't think about them too much.
Our prayer requests are these:
1) That God allows us to adopt Jamie and William.
2) That God works a miracle, and Jamie and William are allowed to live with us even though Michael is deployed.
3) That we are able to get into the required classes that begin May 3.
4) That the transition will be smooth...if we get them.
Crazy, huh? God can do MIRACULOUS things! I am proof of that. And His timing is perfect. I have to rely on that and not get anxious about things that I cannot control. HE is in control. Always has been. Always will be.
So, there ya have it. Please continue praying for us. I will certainly keep you posted.
Until next time, here is a link to Jamie and William. If you click on "Heart Gallery of Texas," it has another picture of them, and they are holding a Bible between them.
Jamie and William
Early on April 12, 2011, a Tuesday morning, I hadn't gone to bed yet, and I felt God tell me to google adopting in Texas. This is something I had NEVER done before. I have NEVER looked at an adoption site, inquired about adopting, NOTHING. I googled it, and it brought me to several websites, so I checked one out. I decided to see the waiting kids in the Austin region, and I chose to look at kids 13 and older. The first picture was a sibling group of five children....way too many. The second picture was two brothers, Jamie and William. I looked at the other children, but Jamie and William never left my mind. I was drawn to them. In an INSTANT, the Lord changed my heart, and I knew that Jamie and William belonged in our home. There is no humanly way to describe the instantaneous change within me. I have described it like a bolt of lightening. Words fail me. It is the most incredible thing because one minute I never would consider adopting; the next minute, I am ready to adopt two boys I know nothing about. God is AWESOME!
I felt a longing for them. I wrote down their information and went to bed. The next day, after Michael had gotten home from work and Victoria home from youth, I asked them what they thought about adopting. Victoria asked if it was a boy or girl. I told her two brothers, and she immediately said, "Yes!" Michael was shocked. I told them their names, and Michael said that it sounded right. So, I immediately filled out a form stating we were interested in the boys. I got a packet a couple of days later, and our first step was to go to an informational meeting. That meeting was tonight. More on that in a minute.
On Saturday, April 23, we received confirmation that we are supposed to adopt. When Michael was considering going into the Army as a chaplain, we prayed for confirmation. We were inundated with confirmation after confirmation...a lot of it was magazines that came to our house with military chaplains on the cover and articles about them. It was crazy! On Saturday, we got the "American Family Association Journal" in the mail, and guess what was on the cover? "When Christians Adopt It Changes the World." I read the article and cried. God is confirming that we are to adopt.
Today, April 27, we went to the informational meeting. It was nothing new to me since I have done so much research. However, one thing we did learn was that in order to adopt, there is an adoption placement where the children live with us for six months and both parents must be there, and then the adoption will be finalized. Our dilemma is that Michael deploys in June and will be gone a year. I almost started crying at the meeting. Victoria said she did, too. Our prayer is that God will do a MIGHTY deed and work it so Jamie and William will be able to live with us while Michael is deployed. I don't want them to have to be in foster care any longer than they have to.
Jamie and William want a Christian family. The social worker said that is extremely rare. It is one of the reasons I was absolutely drawn to them. How precious!
How can you miss someone you've never met? How can I love them already? Victoria loves them, too. Michael is cautiously optimistic. I am so excited, I don't know what to do with myself. I have to keep busy so I don't think about them too much.
Our prayer requests are these:
1) That God allows us to adopt Jamie and William.
2) That God works a miracle, and Jamie and William are allowed to live with us even though Michael is deployed.
3) That we are able to get into the required classes that begin May 3.
4) That the transition will be smooth...if we get them.
Crazy, huh? God can do MIRACULOUS things! I am proof of that. And His timing is perfect. I have to rely on that and not get anxious about things that I cannot control. HE is in control. Always has been. Always will be.
So, there ya have it. Please continue praying for us. I will certainly keep you posted.
Until next time, here is a link to Jamie and William. If you click on "Heart Gallery of Texas," it has another picture of them, and they are holding a Bible between them.
Jamie and William
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