I worried myself sick. I cried. I prayed. I questioned if this "calling" was from God or not. I wondered how on earth we could afford all of the fees and costs coming up. I worked hard. Really hard. Joe worked hard. More than normal. I wanted to just throw in the towel not wanting to put our family in debt or cause any financial hardship. We applied for multiple grants. Started getting some fundraisers together all while attempting to keep our sanity. I'd lay in bed for hours just freaking out.
I prayed even more. Even shook my fist at God and pleaded for an answer. I was desperate and had to know NOW!
Then, something strange happened. Something that I couldn't have ever seen coming.
Let's back up for a moment first: As some of you may know, we had something really horrible happen to us a month after Liam came home. A crazed drunk guy barged into our home on a Sunday morning. It was the scariest morning of my life, and the only time I've ever called 911 begging for help. Joe came out with just a few stitches on his hand and the girls were traumatized. I was confident that nothing good could come out of it - except for the fact that we were all still alive knowing that the situation could have turned out very differently.
Here we are now, a year and a half later. In His perfect timing, this month all of the legal drama came to an end. We were blessed with a resolution that helps the bad guy....and an resolution that will greatly benefit where we are in the adoption process. Coincidence? Not a chance! I still get the chilly bumps when I read Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." We love Him and have been CALLED to our purpose of orphan care. No, God didn't make that bad thing happen, but He certainly worked it out for the good, wouldn't you say?
Why is it that I am so surprised when God keeps His promises? As if He has ever let me down? NO! Of course He hasn't! And He surely isn't gonna stop now!
FEAR itself is from the enemy. Why are we such stubborn headed people who simply won't put our pride aside and humbly TRUST and OBEY! Life truly is SO much better when we lay it down and give it up to Him! Freedom! We've received such peace of mind and constant affirmations of the call to adopt Emmajane. It's truly overwhelming.
The process itself has been FLYING by! I can't believe it's almost June already. Recently, we received a very unexpected update of our little Emmajane. What a crazy, wonderful surprise! She's very smart, obedient, and oh-so-sweet. She's learning Mandarin in her preschool center and appears to be in a foster care environment with an grandmother, grandfather, and other siblings. We just sent her a gift package in the mail this week and are praying that it will arrive soon in her arms!
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| Emmajane showing off what she's learning at school |
On the home front, we are officially DTC (Dossier sent to China). That's a HUGE step which means that we are waiting on the Chinese government to translate the files, review them, and then issue the Letter of Approval.. that gorgeous golden letter can arrive anywhere from 1 month to 6 month from now. No rhyme or reason, which is the tough part for this Type-A OCD planner. It may be time to up the medications....shew! I'm not a patient waiter!! If we keep on course, we MAY be able to go get our girl in October! Wouldn't that be wonderful?!?!?! Oh, please pray!
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| All 14 Precious Documents that Made up Our Dossier |
I'd like to close out by sharing a little part of my favorite song these days from Matthew West. I wanted to think that surely someone else would adopt these kids. I've done my part, we've already adopted one, right? I kept saying that others would rise, and take on the calling and do something, because, after all..we did! Surely anyone could! Then I prayed really, REALLY hard. I realized that orphan care isn't for everyone..but as Christ followers,it's our calling to DO SOMETHING. It boils down to this: if you can't adopt one of the least of these, be a strong supporter instead!
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| Not sure why this picture makes me sad. That baby girl needs a bath, hairbow, and snuggles from Mama! I wanna see her SMILE! |
"I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still"
So, in the spirit of southern hospitality I say this" Adoption is this is "Our Thang." We are called to do it, and we cannot wait for the day Emmajane officially becomes a part of a real family... OUR family....a crazy-not-so-perfect family. What is "Your Thang"?
