Chris doesn't like blogspot so he is making us move.
You can now view our blog at http://journeyofobedience.wordpress.com
Friday, February 12, 2010
Sharing the Road
Don't you just love when God causes life to slow down long enough so you can catch a glimpse of others around you?
Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to make a short trip south to visit with some sweet friends. God gave us these amazing glimpses of others who have been on this journey before us. We had the opportunity to sit and listen to 2 different individuals (both who we found out used the same adoption agency as us!) about their adoption process. As we sat and listened and soaked in every bit of information they shared - we found ourselves not overwhelmed but completely at peace.
I'm thankful for these we got to sit and talk too.
I'm thankful for their heart for the orphans.
I'm thankful for their willingness to invest in others who are making the journey.
I'm thankful for their honesty, for sharing that there will be times its tough & hearts will be heavy.
I'm thankful that they have been down this road and are grateful to share their hearts and experiences.
I'm thankful for godly advice and guidance.
I'm thankful for their commitments to praying for the two of us.
I'm thankful for a God who sees the inner workings of our hearts and hears are quiet thoughts.
A God who knows when we need encouragement and sends it through His people.
A God who knows we need confirmation and sends it through His circumstances.
A God who knows we need to be surrounded by others who have taken this road and sends us to them.
A God who knows we need prayer and impresses it upon His children to lift us up.
Most of all, I'm thankful for a God who is calling His people to be faithful to His command to "care for the orphans."
"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." 1 Thess. 5:24
Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to make a short trip south to visit with some sweet friends. God gave us these amazing glimpses of others who have been on this journey before us. We had the opportunity to sit and listen to 2 different individuals (both who we found out used the same adoption agency as us!) about their adoption process. As we sat and listened and soaked in every bit of information they shared - we found ourselves not overwhelmed but completely at peace.
I'm thankful for these we got to sit and talk too.
I'm thankful for their heart for the orphans.
I'm thankful for their willingness to invest in others who are making the journey.
I'm thankful for their honesty, for sharing that there will be times its tough & hearts will be heavy.
I'm thankful that they have been down this road and are grateful to share their hearts and experiences.
I'm thankful for godly advice and guidance.
I'm thankful for their commitments to praying for the two of us.
I'm thankful for a God who sees the inner workings of our hearts and hears are quiet thoughts.
A God who knows when we need encouragement and sends it through His people.
A God who knows we need confirmation and sends it through His circumstances.
A God who knows we need to be surrounded by others who have taken this road and sends us to them.
A God who knows we need prayer and impresses it upon His children to lift us up.
Most of all, I'm thankful for a God who is calling His people to be faithful to His command to "care for the orphans."
"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." 1 Thess. 5:24
Friday, February 5, 2010
Contract is in!
We received our contract in the mail yesterday! The paperwork continues, but so does the dream of one day soon, bringing home this amazing new addition to our family!
Tonight, I will get to take some of the most amazing teenagers down to Atlanta to pass out coats and PB&J sandwiches. It's pouring rain in Atlanta right now...and cold. Translation = miserable. The forecast is calling for some snow tomorrow. Our prayer is that we will be able to provide some of God's children with something warm and dry to change into. You do not have to look far to find those who are hurting and in need. They are all around.
Perhaps one of those hurting and in need is our future child. It's a very sobering thought. I can assure you that it drives you straight to your knees in prayer on a regular basis. I'm so thankful that I serve a God who turns His ear to our cries. I'm so grateful to serve a God who is far bigger than any need or hurt. I'm so overwhelmed that I serve a God who is Father to the fatherless.
"Father of orphans,
champion of widows,
is God in his holy house.
God makes homes for the homeless,
leads prisoners to freedom."
Psalm 68:5-6a
Tonight, I will get to take some of the most amazing teenagers down to Atlanta to pass out coats and PB&J sandwiches. It's pouring rain in Atlanta right now...and cold. Translation = miserable. The forecast is calling for some snow tomorrow. Our prayer is that we will be able to provide some of God's children with something warm and dry to change into. You do not have to look far to find those who are hurting and in need. They are all around.
Perhaps one of those hurting and in need is our future child. It's a very sobering thought. I can assure you that it drives you straight to your knees in prayer on a regular basis. I'm so thankful that I serve a God who turns His ear to our cries. I'm so grateful to serve a God who is far bigger than any need or hurt. I'm so overwhelmed that I serve a God who is Father to the fatherless.
"Father of orphans,
champion of widows,
is God in his holy house.
God makes homes for the homeless,
leads prisoners to freedom."
Psalm 68:5-6a
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Invoice
Never thought I'd live to see the day when I would be so excited for a bill!
We received our first invoice 2 days ago.
It's a very intimidating thing. I see it and think, "how in the world?" God sees it and thinks, "piece of cake." Although, if i'm totally honest I have to admit that worry, anxiety, fear, and doubt are really not making the top 20 emotions coursing through me. Awe, excitement, anticipation, and love don't seem to leave room for much else right now!
We are hoping to make a trip to Birmingham in the next month. At that time we will meet in person with our social worker. Our goal is to have the first financial investment paid so that we can move on to our home studies soon!
We received our first invoice 2 days ago.
It's a very intimidating thing. I see it and think, "how in the world?" God sees it and thinks, "piece of cake." Although, if i'm totally honest I have to admit that worry, anxiety, fear, and doubt are really not making the top 20 emotions coursing through me. Awe, excitement, anticipation, and love don't seem to leave room for much else right now!
We are hoping to make a trip to Birmingham in the next month. At that time we will meet in person with our social worker. Our goal is to have the first financial investment paid so that we can move on to our home studies soon!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Our First Post
When we first began considering adoption, everyone told us to blog, blog, blog.
We decided we would wait until we were approved by our agency before we would start blogging. Honestly, I figured things would just move by at such an extremely slow pace that there would not be much to blog at first.
Sometimes I just love being wrong! In the last 3 weeks our lives have been a whirlwind of events!
January 5th, 2010 - We mailed off our initial paperwork
January 14th, 2010 - We were contacted by our agency. We had been approved!
January 15th, 2010 - We began our first communication with our social worker, Allison.
January 21st, 2010 - Yesterday was our first "official" phone interview with Allison.
I have to say that we serve an amazing God! It's so incredible the peace and confirmation He provides as you follow His journey with obedience.
Our social worker, Allison, has already been a great blessing. She was so helpful and patient as we bombarded her with question after question. Her passion for bringing families together is so refreshing.
God has blessed us with great support and encouragement through our friends and family. Thanks to each and every one of you who have committed to walk this journey alongside us, lifting us up in prayer. We are uncertain how long the journey will take, the terrain we will have to cross, or the obstacles that will come. However, Chris and I know the One who does. He is the One who led our hearts to make this trip. He is the One who knows every step we will take, because He has already mapped them out. What comfort!
We will do our best to keep everyone updated through this blog.
I've always like analogies. From what I can tell, the process will be a lot like the Mario Bros video game. There are multiple levels. Those levels will have many different ups and downs. We may face some Hammer Bros. We may gain fire spitting power. Throughout each level we will collect as many coins as possible. At the end of each level, we lower the flag and gain access to the next level. I'm not really sure how extra lives will fit into this analogy :) ...sibling groups perhaps? Once we have completed all the levels we will face none other but the King Koopa himself, a Peruvian judge. He will either declare us fit or unfit to parent a child.
I would imagine that "what is the next step?" is to our social worker what "can you hear me now" is to whoever is on the other line of the Verizon man with the stylish glasses.
Here is what we know:
1. We will be receiving our Peru packet and contract in the mail shortly.
2. We are in the process of scheduling our 2nd interview with Allison. (hopefully in person, but perhaps by Skype or phone)
3. Once our 2nd interview is complete there are some financial obligations that must then be met.
4. Once the financial obligations are met, we will begin our Home Study with our contact, Daniel.
For now, we just ask that everyone remember us in your prayers!
"So, we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of the Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with Him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ!" 2 Thess. 1:10-12
We decided we would wait until we were approved by our agency before we would start blogging. Honestly, I figured things would just move by at such an extremely slow pace that there would not be much to blog at first.
Sometimes I just love being wrong! In the last 3 weeks our lives have been a whirlwind of events!
January 5th, 2010 - We mailed off our initial paperwork
January 14th, 2010 - We were contacted by our agency. We had been approved!
January 15th, 2010 - We began our first communication with our social worker, Allison.
January 21st, 2010 - Yesterday was our first "official" phone interview with Allison.
I have to say that we serve an amazing God! It's so incredible the peace and confirmation He provides as you follow His journey with obedience.
Our social worker, Allison, has already been a great blessing. She was so helpful and patient as we bombarded her with question after question. Her passion for bringing families together is so refreshing.
God has blessed us with great support and encouragement through our friends and family. Thanks to each and every one of you who have committed to walk this journey alongside us, lifting us up in prayer. We are uncertain how long the journey will take, the terrain we will have to cross, or the obstacles that will come. However, Chris and I know the One who does. He is the One who led our hearts to make this trip. He is the One who knows every step we will take, because He has already mapped them out. What comfort!
We will do our best to keep everyone updated through this blog.
I've always like analogies. From what I can tell, the process will be a lot like the Mario Bros video game. There are multiple levels. Those levels will have many different ups and downs. We may face some Hammer Bros. We may gain fire spitting power. Throughout each level we will collect as many coins as possible. At the end of each level, we lower the flag and gain access to the next level. I'm not really sure how extra lives will fit into this analogy :) ...sibling groups perhaps? Once we have completed all the levels we will face none other but the King Koopa himself, a Peruvian judge. He will either declare us fit or unfit to parent a child.
I would imagine that "what is the next step?" is to our social worker what "can you hear me now" is to whoever is on the other line of the Verizon man with the stylish glasses.
Here is what we know:
1. We will be receiving our Peru packet and contract in the mail shortly.
2. We are in the process of scheduling our 2nd interview with Allison. (hopefully in person, but perhaps by Skype or phone)
3. Once our 2nd interview is complete there are some financial obligations that must then be met.
4. Once the financial obligations are met, we will begin our Home Study with our contact, Daniel.
For now, we just ask that everyone remember us in your prayers!
"So, we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of the Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with Him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ!" 2 Thess. 1:10-12
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