Adoption is...

Curt and I have officially been on the waitlist for about 3 months now.  At this point in time, we feel like we are sort of in a “land between.”  Our pastor wrote a book called The Land Between, Finding God in Difficult Transitions (check out the book here, http://www.amazon.com/dp/0310318661).  He also preached a sermon series on this book back when we began attending Ada Bible, and it was a very memorable sermon series.  One that Curt and I both really connected to.  But little did we know what that sermon series was preparing our hearts for.  

When thinking about family planning back when Curt and I were engaged and newly married, we knew that adoption was possibly one way in which we would grow our family, but we had our lives put in a neat little box.  Married at this age, first child by this age, family complete by this age.  It’s normal, right?  Well... God clearly told us that we are foolish for trying to take control of these plans.   Ultimately, He is in control, and all we can do seek His will and follow His plan for our lives.

But why is waiting so hard?  We are on this list, and now we dream of our child, and we are so longing for that day when we receive a call that the child God has chosen for us is ready to be taken home to his or her forever family.  But the reality is: we most likely have a long wait in front of us.  We are in a difficult transition where we feel like we are expecting a child and are preparing for parenthood, but there is no definite timeline.  There is not 9 months to plan, knowing full well that at the end of 9 months or so a child will be in our arms.  So here we sit, in a land between, staying positive and focusing on all the ways that God has moved in our hearts so far.  We are so BLESSED to be the parents of a sweet child or children in Ethiopia.  We are so BLESSED to be able to call him/her our SON or DAUGHTER.  They will fully and completely rely on us for their daily needs, which God willing, we will be able to provide.  God chose us to do this, and what a humbling job it will be.

So this leads me to thinking about adoption in general.  Here is how I would currently describe it.  Adoption is...

1.  Beautiful --  While adoption carries with it many emotions, it is such a beautiful gift from God.  It is heartbreaking for the birth family.  Absolutely heartbreaking.  We know that our child will be LOVED dearly by his or her birth family.  The birth family will have to make the most difficult decision of their life to choose adoption, but selflessly they will so that their child can get what he or she needs.  It’s beautiful.  Devastatingly beautiful.  

Sometimes I hear people talk about how it’s sad when people are led to the decision to adopt after months and years of infertility.  I’d respond by saying it’s sad for the birth family and the loss that the child will experience, but it’s beautiful.  It’s just how God wanted that child’s story to be.  

2.  Uncertain -- There are so many unknowns in adoption.  Each month we pray that our numbers take a big dip!  We would love to know that in exactly 2 years, we will have a referral and travel dates, but there are so many unknowns.  There is so much work that has to take place behind the scenes before a child can be adopted.  We trust that God will comfort us in the unknowns.  We know that God called us to this journey, and we will not turn from His plan.  

3.  A LOVE story -- Our child’s story is being written as we speak.  And all around, his or her story is nothing short of a LOVE story.  Parents that LOVE that baby so much and want health and a home for that child.  A God who LOVES that child so much and has a perfect plan for his or her life.  Curt and I LOVE this child that we don’t even know yet more than we can even explain.  We already feel like parents, and we will do anything to protect this child of ours while we wait.  This child is OURS and no different from any biological child that we may ever have.  God chose us to be parents to this child, and we can’t wait for this love story to play out!

NOW FOR NUMBERS!  I apologize for late posting as we will be getting new numbers again soon.  It’s really hard to plan creative ways for displaying, but I’m going to keep trying!  These are our last numbers of 2012, and as we look ahead to 2013, we pray that God will continue to lead us down the FAST LANE of this highway!!  May He move mountains in Ethiopia on behalf of the precious children!  

 For Girls, we are number....

For boys, we are number...

For siblings, we are number...

Thanks for continuing to pray us through this journey!
Be on the lookout for a post about our ADOPTION tshirts!  They are in, and they turned out great!  You won't want to miss out :)