Where we're headed...

It's been a while since we posted here. If fact our last post was October of last year. When we announced our plans to adopt, we did a few small fundraisers and then we didn't say much more. That doesn't mean we don't want to adopt. Holidays can be hard. Especially hard when you've lost a child (or two) and in our case four days before Christmas. Last year was a hard one for me emotionally and we needed to take a step back. Grief is an ugly monster. It rears its ugly head in places you would least expect it and with no notice. 

We recently were approached about a situation-- an expectant mother who is 17-years-old. The possibility kindled a fire in us and reminded us why we want to adopt. That mother has decided to parent her child. We want to be prepared though because ultimately we plan to adopt. 

So what does that mean? We are back at it with fundraising and trying to find creative ways to save money.  We are saving, getting crafty, offering to do odd jobs, selling items laying around our house (that we forgot we even had), and who knows what else. We have also been trying to determine which method we plan to use for adoption. There are SO many options -- agencies, attorneys, private, open or closed and then options inside each of those options. After talking we decided to submit an application with DSS. We called DSS back in June regarding applying with them and were shocked when they said they were not taking applications. It seems like we see stories on the news all the time of children being abandoned or needing care. I couldn't imagine DSS saying they were not accepting applications and to be honest it was discouraging. I texted Matt and told him I was so unsure. What did this mean? God has a plan. That's what he reminded me. When I called DSS again in August, they are again taking applications. We feel DSS will provide the structure we will need throughout this process. If you have ever felt the call to adopt and/or foster or simply want more information, please visit the SC DSS website. 

You'll see more posts in the next few weeks and months on how you can pray and help if you feel led to do so. We appreciate your prayers. We have learned already that the adoption process brings a multitude of emotions -- joy, anticipation, fear, sadness, excitement. Please pray that God prepares our hearts for this journey.

Thanks in advance for your prayers and support. 

A gentle reminder

I've been reading through the book of Romans before bed. Last night as I read I found myself unsure of how to pray. Adoption isn't easy. We are only in the beginnings of the process but already I feel overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork. There are so many items to complete on a list that seems to go on for miles.

We have had so many people who are excited for what God has in store for us and at the same time we have been discouraged by the lack of response from some we thought for sure we would hear from. That isn't to say that they've done anything wrong but this process is long and hard and I could use all the encouragement that will come my way. We have a long way to go to raise the necessary funds for adoption. We are trimming our budget and saving. Every penny I spend I ask myself should this money go towards our adoption? We have fundraisers in the works but a truly successful fundraiser requires a lot of work in advance. So I sat there puzzled. Do I pray for God to send someone to encourage me or do I pray for our funding or even that our paperwork would be an easy process? Surely, I sure pray regarding all of it but in that moment I sat in the bed and felt so overwhelmed.

I continued to read and that's where God reminded me that was he was there with me and that even when I am overwhelmed, he is in control. Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

God is good and he knows the heart of his children.