Three Years; 29 Months; Sharing & Prayer Requests

Happy Valentine's Day my friends!


So it's been a while.


We've been busy . . . if I had a nickel for everytime I said that . . .


January into the first part of February have been C.R.A.Z.Y. But things look to be slowing down . . . at least for the next few days . . .


Last Thursday through Monday we were out of town on a ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. Just to clarify, I did not ski. I disdain downhill skiing. It's unnatural to fly down a hill with your feet attached to two sticks trying to dodge the masses of people who seem to enjoy the sport. Needless to say, I do not downhill ski. I don't mind cross country skiing; although, it is exhausting, but I chose instead to stay warm and cozy inside and read. More on the trip soon.


Three Years . . .
Valentine's Day marks three years since we "officially" began this adoption journey. I say officially because we had tossed around the idea for quite some time both before and after Andrew was born. I spent years (literally years) researching various agencies and countries. But it was at the Cheesecake Factory on February 13, 2011 that we said, "Let's do it. Let's move forward." (Yes, I have a fantastic memory for specific details but ask me where I put my keys . . .) So we submitted our application to AGCI on Valentine's Day 2011. Originally, we expressed interest in more than one country. In particular, we looked at Taiwan, Nepal, Bulgaria, and Ethiopia, but after finding that Taiwan was a pilot program that was no longer accepting applications, Nepal had stopped international adoptions, and Ethiopia was experiencing some pretty substantial difficulties, we decided to move forward with Bulgaria.


29 Months . . .
Tomorrow, we'll hit 29 months of waiting. That's a long time y'all. It's three pregnancies plus. I'll be honest, I don't like it when people criticize the wait time. Not because I don't find it frustrating. Heaven knows I do. I don't like it because it only adds to my frustration. This is completely out of our hands. In a lot of ways it's also out of our agency's hands. We are at the mercy of the government (both ours and Bulgaria's). But, and this is big, it's ultimately all in God's hands. Whatever happens He is in control. I don't say that easily or lightly. I'm a control freak. I've just learned that there is no way on Earth I can control this situation so I don't try anymore.


Sharing . . .
I frequently peruse the various websites with "waiting children" in Bulgaria. These are kids with special needs that need to be adopted as quickly as possible . . . some are serious . . . some are very minor. The majority of referrals are special needs and older children with a couple "healthy" kiddos thrown in weekly (well sometimes). This is why the wait is so long. We've looked into two little girls. One more extensively than the other. But both times we just didn't feel that we could adequately meet their needs. I hate saying that. And of course there is the question, "What if your biological child had the same needs? What if your daughter comes home and has more extensive needs than originally thought?" And my answer is without question, "Of course we would do everything within our power to meet those needs." That's why saying, "no" is so difficult, but at the same time, when given knowledge of what's happening with a child, you must look at your circumstances, your resources, and your situation and really evaluate whether or not your home is the best place for that child. It's so much more complicated than that. Emotions get involved, and you have to fight the urge to think emotionally.


Prayer Requests:
- Pray that the walls begin to come down for the orphans in Bulgaria. I was praying about the adoption recently, and God began to show me that this is not just a physical, earthly battle. This is a battle for the lives of these children. This is a battle to bring them out of the horrible situations in which they live. Pray that the situations in which they live begin to change. Pray for their protection. Pray that they are loved . . . that they are fed . . . that they are clothed.


Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV) " So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."


- Pray for referrals to begin to flood in for all children. Pray that the hearts of the International Adoption Committee will be moved toward action for each and every one of these children. Pray for their peace as they work through the files of these children. Pray that God gives wisdom to all the officials involved in matching children with families, and pray for favor for the families waiting for children. All of these children need homes . . . healthy, special needs, young, or old. An orphanage is not a place for a child. No matter what the circumstances in that orphanage may look like, whether they be the absolute best or the absolute worst, an orphanage cannot take the place of a family.


Psalm 68:6a (NKJV) "God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;"


- Pray for the peace and patience for all the adoptive families. It's a struggle, not just for us, but for all. It's tiring and exhausting and sometimes downright discouraging. Please keep us in your prayers, and pray that we get our children home soon.


Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."


Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. Thank you for standing with us.