Glory to You Alone Father

When we started our adoption just over a year ago, we knew what the Lord was asking us to do.  We knew there would be mountains and valleys before us but that He would provide a way as only He can. 

When we shared the news with our family and friends, we also created a space for anyone who felt called to financially support us.  There were some that questioned that decision directly with us (thank you for your willingness to have tough conversations!) and some that privately passed judgment without reaching out to us for understanding.  And of course, there were those who felt lead to give in varying amounts that came at exactly the right time.  We cannot tell you even now how amazed we were at God's faithfulness during this time last year!

We firmly believe that a body of believers is more than a church.  It is a group of people serving our Lord Jesus Christ who take seriously the call to serve others and as Galatians 6:2 tells us "carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  The journey of adoption isn't about us or the child that will join our family, it is about the lives that are touched for His glory along the way. 

I love this quote by Teresa of Avila:

"Christ has no body now but yours.  No hands, no feet on earth but yours.  Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world.  Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.  Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.  Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.  Christ has no body now on earth but yours."

Those that gave did so with generous hearts, expecting nothing in return of us.  We knew that one day we would return that gift back to each giver to bless them as they blessed us.  They say that "it is in giving that we receive."  What a joy it has been to give back to those that acted as the body when we needed them!  What a privilege it is that we are all called to do this for one another!  It's not about us.  It's all about Him.

"And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." 2 Thessalonians 3:13

2018 Update!

It's hard to believe our dossier has been waiting for six months already!  I know some are curious...how are things going?  Are you any closer to bringing your son home?  The quick answer is that every day brings us closer to meeting him and bringing him home!  We do expect our referral to take up to three years so only 2.5 more years to wait!  Right now we are gathering paperwork and preparing for our home study update to be completed next month.  Once that is done we sit tight and do more waiting.  But the truth is that there is SO much to learn in the waiting!  One thing we are confirming now with other families but wish we would have known sooner, was the spiritual attacks that come when you decide to follow the Lord's call to adopt.  2017 was a hard year in many ways for us.  We are shaken but not destroyed and depending on the Lord to hold us and guide us even more in ALL things.   

Romans 8: 31, 37
What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

The Clock Starts Now

This crazy week ended with an email from our agency that our dossier is officially registered with IBESR!  This is another huge milestone!  As I was driving home I was processing so many emotions.  I would compare it to seeing the pregnancy test turn positive and knowing that one day, many nights and days from now, a child is going to join your family and your whole world will be changed forever.  You don't know what it will look like but you suspect there will be immense joy, sleepless nights, intense obstacles, and a love that no words can describe. 

Lord God, this journey is in your hands.  Help it to move according to your perfect timing.  Give us peace and an eagerness to learn as we settle into "the wait."  Guard and protect our child from danger and physical illness.  Please provide caregivers to love him until he comes home.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

How long is the wait?  We are told an average wait time for a referral is 2-3 years.  During this time we will continue to save money and update our home study and immigration documents as they expire.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Off to Haiti!

We received good news today!  Our dossier is back from D.C. and on its way to Haiti!  It will take a month or so for it to be registered with IBESR, the Haiti equivalent of family and children's services.  They are responsible for approving families, ensuring the child meets criteria and is eligible for adoption, and following the Hague convention rules for international adoption.  Once the dossier is registered, we begin the official wait time.  When we initially applied our understanding was that it would be a 2-3 year wait before we would receive a referral.  At this point that timeline could be more like 3-4 years.  We trust that all will come together in God's perfect timing.  He laid this path before us and we know He will guide us on the journey ahead.  We ask for continued prayers for our child(ren) waiting to come home! 

Work in the waiting

We were notified Friday that our dossier is translated and is on its way to Washington D.C. for authentication.  They expect this to take 3-4 weeks.  In the waiting, we are starting to dig deeper into learning.  I have joined two groups on Facebook which have been extremely helpful.  One is just for families adopting from Haiti so great conversation from people at many different places in the journey (understanding timelines, expectations, hurdles, etc).  The other is a group specifically for transracial families and helping white adoptive families understand black culture.  The reality is that our community has very little diversity compared to most cities so for me personally, race has never been a big issue.  But the more we dig in the more we realize how little we understand (which I expected would happen) and how conversations need to be started.  I'm starting to see just how much work needs to be done in me and I am thankful that the Lord is working those changes on His timing.  I'm also seeing how different people from my past are now present again for this new season.  How wonderful are your ways Lord!   

Week of Encouragement

After a hard day of work on Monday I was beyond thrilled to come home and find our immigration approval waiting in the mail.  Another milestone reached!!! Our dossier arrived at our agency today and they will be translating the documents in the coming weeks. 

Tuesday was my birthday and we celebrated by connecting via phone with a mom in Georgia who is nearing the end of her adoption process.  She has two sons in Haiti that will be joining their forever family.  After we hung up the phone Ryan and I looked at each other and both agreed that the Lord had brought her into our life at just the moment we needed it.  Hearing her journey (and pieces from many others she knows) and her faith, her struggles, and how their family is preparing gave us so much insight.  And there is something amazing about connecting with other believers that God has called to journey the same path.  You cannot deny He is at work. 

I think we both have found peace in what we know will be a wait.  We knew that going into this but once your heart feels the tug toward a child waiting for you, the length of time almost seems unbearable.  And yet, as we look back on the faithfulness of God in so many seasons of our life together, we know He has plans and work to do during the waiting. 

Join us on the adoption journey!

Welcome!  Whether you are reading this blog as a means to stay updated on our journey or you are looking for insight as you consider adoption yourself, I pray this space will be used to show God's glory and faithfulness.

Ryan and I decided to start this blog a part from our YouCaring page to better document the timeline of our adoption and the ways God has showed up throughout the process.  Our hope is to go back and read this for encouragement in the moments of struggle and also to provide insight for anyone looking to adopt from Haiti.  The past two weeks we have felt discouraged by updates on the long timeline and the hurdles one can face along the way.  After spending some time researching today, I found two blogs outlining their journey that I found extremely helpful.  Perhaps ours can offer the same for a future family!

Right now we are waiting on approval from immigration.  I will be mailing our dossier to our agency this week so they can begin translation prior to sending to Haiti.  So far the process has gone much faster than we anticipated and we cannot help but give thanks to God for His guiding hand!  Moments to remember:

1.  Our agency recommended we get our psych evaluations scheduled ASAP as they can take the longest when completing the home study process.  When I called to set an appointment the first week of February I was told the earliest would be middle of March for an appointment.  That weekend I attended our local IF Gathering (a women's ministry conference) and met a licensed psychologist.  I told her our story and we both knew God had lead us to each other.  She was able to schedule both of our appointments within the following two weeks and we had the completed reports in hand the last week of February. 

2. Our local home study agency out of the cities was FANTASTIC about staying on top of documents needed and scheduling our visits right away.  Including Ryan's many background checks for all of his military training!  I think Ryan and I both were surprised at the speed this moved along and so was our agency!

3.  It was no accident that the Lord called us to this during the time of year where our family finances are at their lowest.  We were blessed abundantly in December and in turn gave generously.  Had we known we were going to proceed with adoption and not merely inquire, I think we would have planned much differently!  Yet God knew and wanted us to clearly see His gifts in the call.  When Ryan woke up and said, "Yes, we are moving forward" he also believed we would proceed without borrowing any of the funds.  The banker in me figured we could argue about it at a later date as a last resort but he held firm that if the Lord was calling us He would provide.  We both felt uncomfortable asking people for funds as a direct plea - but a dear friend reminded me that this journey wasn't just about us.  It was about all the people the Lord would call to come alongside of us in different ways.  By creating the YouCaring site, we opened a space for just that - those who felt the call on their heart could give.  For others, we could keep them updated and ask for continued prayers.  Friends, I am blown away by what God has done!  The site has raised $3575 over the past three months and most of the donations came right at the moment we needed them.  Our total cost to date is approx. $22,000 and by God's grace we have met every financial milestone! 

4. Our church has been supportive of the call and just this week we committed to joining with two other couples to form a support network within the church offering prayer, resources, socials, etc.  I stand in awe of the faithfulness of our God!  He is writing incredible stories through the lives of His people - stories we could not have imagined or written ourselves. 

Ryan and I have been spending a lot of time in conversation and in prayer about what the Lord has called us to in this life.  He knew us before the creation of the world. He has redeemed us and called us to a purpose that is ultimately for His glory.  John 15 tells us "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."  As this story continues to unfold, I pray that our hearts stay encouraged and obedient.  We ask for prayers for our son, for his health, safety, and emotional well being until he is home.  Thank you for your loving kindness and support! We are the hands and feet - serving the world and each other that our Lord Jesus might be glorified.