Friday, November 19, 2010

giving thanks

we're packing our bags and heading to be with family for thanksgiving.  we're taking some important things with us this year - and it's not turkey and stuffing!
  • initial adoption application
  • doctor's approval letters
  • printed photos of us
  • padded mailer
we plan on taking the time this next week to officially finish our initial application and make sure we are ready to get this thing in the mail by December 1.  we're so excited to finally be at this stage of the game.  since we've been fighting infertility since 2004 it seemed like a baby would never come, but now we can both not only see why we're on this path, but why we needed to wait, and why adoption is how we'd be building our family.  we're both so hopeful and assured by God that a baby is on the way.

i feel like putting the application in the mail box is going to feel like getting a positive pregnancy test.  i remember talking with will last thanksgiving.  we were standing in his parent's yard discussing our Christmas letter, where we were announcing the plans for preparedness in adoption for 2011.  we talked about how open we'd be with family and friends so as to not deprive ourselves of the feelings and support that expectant parents have all along the way.  i do not think either one of us dreamed how not cheated we'd feel by this process, and how much more amazing we feel right now than we ever hoped we could.

so much to be thankful for this thanksgiving.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

orphan sunday

Bethany's facebook just reminded me of the following:

Bethany Christian Services:

"It's Orphan Sunday - remember God's words: 'Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.' Matthew 18:5"

being so thankful for this day - everyone at church who is being so supportive on this journey - and for my wonderful husband who has a pure heart and is so ready to love "our" child.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

november = adoption awareness

november is here.  hard to believe -

however, it's great because november is national adoption awareness month.  we figured it was the perfect time to request our initial application and plan to do that on friday.  we're excited to finally be at the point where we feel we are ready to fill this out, and seriously get the ball rolling.

God speaks in whispers for most of our life, but lately He has been yelling (hollering if you are from the south) at us.  friday night we found out about a haunted house alternative that was focusing on adoption.  we arrived saturday night and found tables filled with pamphlets, brochures, and informational cards about sponsoring women and children who were needy, helping to foster, and adoption.  also this weekend we saw the sweetest thing - a dad with four pre-teens at dinner.  each of the teens was of a different ethnicity.  each one of them called him daddy.  they all laughed, hugged, and played games with each other.  the daddy was teaching them about vegetarianism and what they could order off the vietnamese menu.  two of the four were rocking mowhawks and i told will that i hoped that was a snapshot of what was to come.  he agreed this is where we want to be in 10 years.  sunday morning we got in the car on the way to church to hear a radio show about adoption in nc.  we both just looked at each other and smiled.

we heard all of this because we are aware.  we are in a place where we are open to what is going on around us and are paying attention to everything adoption related.  we pray daily for the mother that will carry the child we will adopt, the child that is probably not even born yet, everyone in their lives, and orphans around the world.  it's opened our eyes to a new way of seeing things.  we're seeing more and we're seeing more clearly.

we know God has gotten us to this place.  the most wonderful feelings of satisfaction with our choice, but not really that - more like the satisfaction in knowing that we are finally listening to God, and following the plan he has for our lives.  we are stoked.

you cannot wrap up october without an obligatory pumpkin posting, so here is a smattering of what happened.

here is the tale of our halloween pumpkin.
i am the drawer of the designs.


will has mad knife skills.


will surgically removes the guts.

then, together we carve the designs.


this year's trick-or-treat message:



Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
--- James 1:27

Encouraging everyone to adopt and find the love that we see is on the horizon.  If you are not in the position to adopt, please sponsor a needy child or assist family in your area or overseas.