So excited to share this journey with our family and friends. I want to start by saying that I am going to be very transparent throughout this blog. I really want to share my raw feelings with all of you throughout this process. As many of you know that is my personality anyway.
This has been something that I have dreamt about for a very long time, but did not know if it would ever be realized. It has not been something that John has felt in his heart. For me, it has always just been brought up to me over and over whether through church, or in airports, or even through reading my bible. John and I were on our way to Miami a few months ago for a dental conference and we were standing in the security line and there was a little girl that was visably adopted. And as soon as I saw her, her mom said "we are meeting some friends that we met while going through the adoption in Ethiopia." So when I see or even hear the word adoption I immediately am brought to tears. It is one of the few things that can make me cry on a dime without warning. So I look at John and I don't even have to say anything, because he already knows. We then get to our seats on the plane and a very nice young man sits down next to us and immediately begins talking to us and he is going to Haiti to volunteer and help in a few orphanages. Needless to say I am all ears and we talk the entire way to Miami. He is someone that I will never forget. So wise beyond his years and truly living for God's purpose. I spend several days asking God what all that means. Am I supposed to start going on mission trips and spending time in orphanages, which I also want to do or are you telling me to consider adoption. So I pray and I ask John, Karstan and Max to pray about it. My boys are so precious about all of this. Karstan has a heart for younger children and if I just show him a picture of a little girl, his little face just lights up. PRICELESS!!! They are both so excited about it and understand that there will be a process when she comes, but neither one of them have any reservations. Karstan asked me if we could not tell her she was adopted until she was 18. I had to tell him unfortunately she might figure it out before then. He also heard me say that she was from the Democratic Republic of Congo and he said so she is going to be a democrat. (no disrepect to my democratic friends lol) I love the child-like spirit. It does not see color. They both have said to me why wouldn't we adopt a little girl or two that needs a home? So simple.
So, after asking all of them to pray, a few months later I asked them if they had prayed about it and what they thought. You already know the boys answer. John said I have not prayed about it. I have to be honest my feelings were hurt and I was pretty frustrated with him. After some more discussion, he said he would. Later I found out he prayed that very night for God to give him a sign if this was something that our family should pursue. So within seven hours God gave him the green light and I had a text at 6:45am the following morning to pursue the adoption. John had woke up that morning for work and went and sat down and he said (i am never awake at that time so I do not know his morning routine) he normally just sits quietly and eats his breakfast. He started praying but he said subconciously he grabbed for the remote it was on EXTRA so he turned to ESPN and immediately there was a picture of a family with a son that was clearly adopted. It was the 49ers quarterback, Crackerneck or something like that. He went to his car pulled up his name and it pulled right up about his adoption. So, for those of you who have had a moment like this know that it is always more profound when it is happening than it is to retell. He was sure that it was his answer to pursue adoption. Something I have prayed he would say for a very long time, but knew that if it was God's plan than he would do just that on his time. And he did.
Yesterday, I sent off the paperwork to begin the homestudy and I could not be more excited to start this process. I have many emotions...scared, worried, and elated all at the same time. I have not slept good for a week and a half. I am worried that my little girl, if she is born or not, is not eating enough or is she in pain. I am scared that I will get a referral(match) and I cannot get to the Congo quick enough. Thousands of children are dying everyday due to diseases, water, malnourishment ect. I know that these are all false thoughts. God is taking care of her and he knows exactly which child is supposed to be with our family. I cannot control this and I have to be patient. God is in control and that is his little girl that I am borrowing so he has his arm around her just like he does with all of those sweet kids that need love.
I would like to ask you to pray for those children and pray for our family as we embark on this sweet journey. I know that it can be such an emotional roller coaster, but I feel like this is truly God's plan for our family and we are just asking for him to lead the way.
