Numero Seis

Sorry we haven’t posted in a while, it’s partially due to the fact I just wasn’t sure what to write. I’ve limited myself to asking for new waitlist numbers to once a month for the sanity of both me and our agency, as I would probably be tempted to ask for numbers daily. About a week ago we hit the one month mark, asked for new numbers, and found out we didn’t move at all. I was deflated. We had moved 7 spots in 2 months, and then none the 3rdmonth. I know the numbers don’t really mean anything – you can’t correlate them to something like weeks or months, it’s just a number. But somehow that number gives me the perception that something is happening, that we are getting closer, that this adoption will actually happen.

Thursday was the 6 month mark since we applied, and looking back the 6 months have gone by quickly. However, we have reached a point where it doesn’t quite feel real. The initial excitement of telling everyone has worn off, people ask how the process is going and we have no news, there is no more paperwork or anything for us to physically be doing, we are just waiting. Part of me wants to guard my heart, not get too excited in case something happens, but then I realize I’m missing out on so much joy. So once I again I let myself get excited; to look at cribs and strollers, to dream about rocking my baby to sleep and to plan for the future as a family of 3. I know my feelings and emotions are not unique, and when I read other adoption blogs I find that are actually quite common. One of the blogs posted this verse, which is my new theme for this journey: Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Yesterday we e-mailed our agency with a different question, and of course snuck in the “where are we on the list?” The good news – we moved and are now number 6! So we continue to choose to be joyful in hope while we patiently wait and pray. Thank you for your continued prayer and support!

Preparing with Patience

It has begun! I started painting a tree on the baby room wall. Some might think this task is a little over ambitious, especially for an accountant non-artistic type. My sister got all of the creative ability in the family, and is actually an amazing artist, but she consumed all the artsy DNA before I was born and left none for me. I’m also one of those people who think everything SOUNDS easy, I think big and just go for it. Sometimes I’m successful (I’ve built a volcano for VBS) and other times it falls flat (I tried helping Randy carry a refrigerator up 2 flights of stairs, thankfully a neighbor stepped in after the first flight, the refrigerator is in our kitchen, with only a few scratches). I think this project is one of the easier ones I’ve undertaken, especially with my “expertise” at mural painting. The company I work for has a yearly community service day and the past 2 years I’ve helped paint murals at elementary schools. It’s really just paint by numbers, but I learned proper brush stroke technique and how to paint the lines with a nice crisp edge, kinda. I also figured we could just paint over it if it looks terrible, but thankfully I’m happy with the progress so far. I’ll post pictures when I’m done, but it might be awhile as it is taking much longer than I anticipated.

Vanessa with two friends from work

and their mural in the background

 



As I begun painting I realized how relaxing and enjoyable it was to do something pretty mindless. With each brush stroke I started praying over the room and for our little baby who might be in this world or will be soon. I prayed for their safety, God’s protection and that they would join our family soon. I also prayed for Randy and I as parents – that we would honor God in our parenting and raise our children to love him above all else. That we would parent out of faith and not fear. Preparing the baby room makes parenting feel that much closer, which is both exiting and scary. Parents impact their children, both positive and negative. Little feet will be following us wherever we go, repeating the things we say, mimicking our actions. Our children will watch and learn from our love for one another, how we treat strangers and our response in hardship. It makes me realize all the more the importance of pursuing to reflect Christ daily. I know I will fail, I often do, but thankfully we have a savior that is bigger than my failure, mightier than my flaws and who’s power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). And because of that, I pray.

Matthew 6:9-13, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” Amen.

Number 7!

The Lord has been amazing to us this month! We have been blessed through financial support, prayers and tons of encouragement. We have moved up to number seven on the infant waiting list with our agency! That's five spots in one month, so we just keep praying for the right child in God's timing. Please continue to pray for us, and if you haven't had a chance, we invite you to join in completed a beautiful adoption puzzle. Click the "Support our Adoption" link on the left for more info. Thank you and many blessings!

All In!

Our God is an amazing God. There is no way around it, He simply is. Last week, we had the honor of accompanying 55 high school students up the mountain to Hume Lake Christian Camp, near King’s Canyon on the Sequoia National Park. Every year, I look forward to my “vacation” at Hume, knowing that I will get to see God move in the lives of young people. This year was no exception.

The theme for camp this year was “All In” and the teaching was on the story of young David during his time of flight from Saul before being crowned king. I could write all day about what an amazing job the Hume staff does in presenting the gospel in a compelling, relevant and accurate way, but the true hero is that of our God because it is by His grace that dozens of kids from our group made decisions or rededications to be “All In” for Christ.

I liken my week at Hume to a much-needed shower after several weeks of camping (maybe because we all could have used them at camp). Last year, we had such an amazing summer with Haiti and camp, but during the year, we get covered in the filth of life, off track and in the weeds, but spending a week devoted to worshiping God, fellowshipping with believers, reading His word and pouring all of me into the lives of students, I return to the world refreshed and made new.

Unfortunately all good things must end, and so must the mountaintop experience. Now begins the difficult journey of remaining plugged in to God’s will. Pastor Shane Moss shared that we discover God on the mountain, but we experience real growth in the valley. We are so blessed and encouraged by what the Lord did at Hume, pumped for the student ministry that He has placed us in, and refueled to disciple those to whom we have been entrusted. Thank you Lord, I am All In!

Frequently Asked Questions: Part II

Here is part two of our answers to frequently asked questions.

How do you feel about being a trans-racial family? We feel both excited and nervous. It has been amazing the past few months because our church has really begun to become a multi-racial church with people of all cultures and background. We love it, and it is truly a picture of what heaven will be like with “…every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” (Revelations 20:6).

We are also nervous for the unknown, as I’m sure every first time parent is. We know we will have unique challenges being a trans-racial family (I have no idea how to style African hair J) but we also know we don’t have to do any of this alone and our surrounded by an amazing community of friends and family that will love and support us along the way.

Do you pick your Child? Some people ask if we will get something like a catalog of children and “pick” which one we want. The way it works with our agency is that once we get to the top of the waiting list we will get a “referral”. A referral provides a picture and whatever background information is available about the child. You have the option to accept or deny that referral, and the child will move to the next in line.

Will you travel to get the child? This question is either phrased as “do you have to travel” or “do you get to travel” to pick up your child. The answer is yes to both. The Congo government requires one parent to travel to the country to finalize the adoption. However, as we see it as an amazing opportunity to experience the culture, sights, and sounds of the country our child was born, we will both be traveling to the country. We also both love to travel and experience the way others live.

Will you get to name your child or will you keep their African name? We have a list of favorite names and I think we have settled on our girl and boy name. You can ask us if you are dying to know, but won’t post it here until it is official. We have considered keeping the child’s African name as a middle name.

How much does it cost? Children are never bought, but the adoption process does have costs due to the legal paperwork involved. Initially, the cost was one of the biggest factors that deterred us from considering adoption at this point in our life. However, once we began to research the process we found out about tax credits and grants available to help. My encouragement if you have considered adoption but the cost was the main factor in delaying or dismissing adoption, don’t. Talk to me and I’d be happy to discuss more details.

How many children do you want? Right now we say 3 – 4 because we love the idea of a bigger family. Life doesn’t usually work out the way you plan. If you had asked me a year ago where I’d be today, it would look radically different, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ll see where God leads our family, and we are excited for the journey.