One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:5).

It was a beautiful wedding. It was a true testimony of God's love and faithfulness. We felt so blessed to be part of this beautiful couple's celebration.

However, the conversation at our table laid very heavily on my heart.

We are advocates of adoption. Despite the pain and hurt of early childhood trauma, grief and loss, adoption is a beautiful thing.

Ephesians 1:3-5 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ”.

A while ago, our pastor preached a sermon based on that verse at a couple’s baptism of their adopted son. Our pastor talked about the doctrine of adoption. He explained how being adopted as God’s children, which enable us to be close to God is as it says in verse 3, is the highest blessing. He chose us and made us righteous in His sight.

Pastor Paul mentioned the significance of adoption in the Roman times, which was the time that the apostle Paul was writing. In Roman times, a man would choose a young man to be his heir. This was done as a legal activity and was important event. The adopted son would carry the name of his adoptive family.

It was not a shameful matter, nor was it secretive.

Also, all of the debts of the adopted son would be cancelled, even thought this was nothing that he earned. Pastor Paul reminded us how this is similar to us, that God put His name on us. Furthermore, the reason why Jesus came to earth was for all who believe in Him, He chose to be His heirs! We were spiritual orphans and desperate for attachment. We have that through our spiritual adoption, because as it says in Ephesians, “in love, He adopted us as His children”.

Pastor Paul concluded his sermon with the application that through adoption, we as His children represent our Father and have an opportunity to be God-like.

The conversation at our table that troubled me so much was from a middle aged man talking about his older sister who had brown eyes and brown hair, unlike the rest of the siblings, and how they often refer to her as being adopted. It was something that they joked about and made fun of.

I wanted to tell him how we have been blessed by adoption and have a daughter whom we adopted.  I wanted to tell him about the joys, and pains and hurts that comes with adoption. I wanted to tell him that it's not something to joke about, but to be grateful about.  Regrettably, I didn't confront this man about this issue that is so important to me. I don't want to be overly sensitive to other people's comments, rather, I have a desire to educate and inform others of their ignorance. I'm the type of person that wants to educate others; I'm the type of person who's disciplining other people's children at the park; I'm a teacher- I can't help it.

It's my prayer that we will be our children's biggest advocates.  I pray that God will grant me the wisdom to know when and what to share with others when sharing the blessings of adoption.  I also pray that God will give me the same wisdom and desire to share the Good news of being adopted into Christ's family!  I am so thankful for Christ's unconditional love for us and that He calls us His sons and His daughters!

Continuing to give thanks...
-being adopted into God's family
-chosen to be His daughter
-the blessings of adoption
-progress with R.A.D.
-a beautiful couple sharing their love for each other and for God

-his testimony of faith and God's never ending love

-celebrating their wedding with them

-watching him grow into such a strong, Christian man

-another milestone (although she wasn't too thrilled about it)

-how she takes such good care of her teeth

-our date together on a Monday afternoon!!
-enjoying the movie, "the War Room" and being the only ones in the theatre!

-being so inspired by this movie and the power of prayer!

-having fun with my sister, no matter what we're doing

-sharing a common interest- droning

-enjoying the park across the road for so many different activities, including droning and ...

-rollerblading

-how she enjoyed grade nine day and how she's loving high school

Dear Son

"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139: 15,16).

Dear Son,
This week we received new pictures of your beautiful self.  It touched our hearts immensely to see you smiling!  However, it also made our hearts ache, as we long to bring you home and lavish you with love and to see your precious smile up close!  We pray for you every day.  We pray that God will send His angels to protect you and to give you lots of love.  We pray for your health and we especially pray that you would be able to come home soon.  We are longing to hold you in our arms.

Your brothers and sisters also can't wait to meet you.  Your sister keeps talking about sharing her room with you and how much fun that will be!  Your other sister has your pictures hanging in her room!  Your brothers and your sisters pray for you every night.  You have so much love here waiting to be given to you.  You keep growing in our hearts; we love you so much!  We also know that you have a heavenly Father that loves you so much too!  He has called you to be His child and we know that God's timing is perfect and that He has big plans for you!  We can't wait to see what those plans are, and we feel blessed beyond words that He chose you to be our son.

We couldn't resist buying you your first stuffy, a lion.  Did you know that your name means, "fierce, stronghold"?  You already have a fierce stronghold on our hearts and we can't wait to meet you and bring you home to your forever family!

Adoption

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed." 

(Psalm 82:3)

There are many things that I strongly dislike people saying regarding our adoptions.  I do not hold grudges against these people, because often it is said simply due to ignorance.  Also, thankfully, my memory is not the greatest, so often I forget who said these things anyway!  However, some people can be very insensitive.

For example...  our precious, energetic daughter was running around and someone said in an accusatory tone, "And you're going to have another one?!!"  First of all, don't make comments like that in front of our children -they can hear you.  Secondly, it's not like we are buying a toy or something.  This is a child's life.  This is our calling.  We strongly feel that God has called us on this path called "adoption" and we feel very blessed to be traveling on it and following His voice.  We feel that God has spoken to us that we are not finished having children yet, and that our family is not yet complete.

We admit, there have been a few bumps in the road.  Thankfully, we have felt God's presence and His arms around us throughout this process.  We have also been blessed with a few strong supporters and prayer partners.  Yet, it has been said to us, "Why don't you just forget it."  Like we should just throw in the towel.  Deborah has been such a blessing to our family.  It is all worth it!! We strongly believe that God has chosen a child for us. Although he is halfway across the world, we believe that God has chosen him just for our family.  We look forward to the day, however long it takes, when we can bring him home and call him our son!

Although I love this book, I would like to change the wording to "Why GOD chose you".  This book lists 100 reasons why I believe God has chosen our daughter and our son to (hopefully soon) join our family.  Here are just a few reasons...
      God chose you..
     1.   to fill our house with laughter
     2.   because He wanted us to hold your little hand
     3.   because being parents is what we enjoy most
     4.   to add new joy to our lives
     5.   to keep us young at heart
     6.   because we weren't ready to stop raising children
     7.   because we believe every child should have a loving family
     8.   because you needed a loving family, and ours needed you
     9.   because we wanted the pleasure of watching you grow
     10. because we wanted the extra love that you would bring to our family

We continue this journey, trusting in our loving Father and His will for our lives.

Adoption Update

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families... 

(Psalm 68:5,6a)

Adoption update:  Slow and sometimes discouraging.
However, God continues to encourage me in different ways and through various individuals.  For example...

God spoke to me yesterday through the words of a wonderful, Godly man.

Paul and I have been praying for something specific in regards to our adoption.  We know that we were praying for the impossible, but we were also praying for God's will to be done.

The director of our agency e-mailed these very encouraging words to me yesterday, "In my Christian walk when God has really placed a burden on me, as He has with you in this case, I found it was preparing me or to get me focused on His plan already in motion for me".

Even though we probably won't get the answer that we wanted, the director continued to encourage me stating, "Your care and concern for a child unknown to you (but known to Him) is the impossible already accomplished."  This door may be closed (what we were specifically praying for), but another door may be opening.  God has a plan for us and for our family, and we need to keep putting our trust in Him.  As our director wrote to me yesterday, "possibly He has done so to open you up to something forthcoming that will also have seemed impossible just a short time ago...I agree, He is the God of the impossible."

We continue to lay our concerns and our adoption before the throne of God.  We know that He has chosen a child for us already.  We continue to pray for health, safety, and protection for our little boy, whoever and wherever He is.  We pray that God will surround Him with angels to protect him and feel loved, and we look forward to the day that we are able to bring him home to his forever family.  

We also received an update from our agency yesterday.  Referrals are indeed being made, families are passing court, and families are waiting for Visas for their children!   However, we were informed of extra fees that we will need to pay ("fostering fees").  Also, as our update stated, "International adoptions have been reduced and domestic foster programs increased despite the outcry of foreign agencies and families.  Far more strict regulations for approval of adopters have been put in place".  Although that is rather discouraging, it is important that the needs of the children are given top priority.  We will continue to wait and pray for patience. We need to keep trusting in God and His perfect timing.  

I am so grateful for the encouraging words that people give me.  I am thankful for the young Godly women in my church who so desperately want to become Moms, have committed to prayer for one another as we all go through this journey of adoption.  I feel so blessed to have them in my lives.  I am also so grateful for this journey that God has called us on.  I never would have imagined my life looking like this, but I love it that God has placed adoption on our hearts and has called us to act upon that.  I give thanks to my Father who holds ALL things and in His hands.

National Adoption Day

the Ethiopian flag

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone" (1 Timothy 2:1).

Today is National Adoption Day. The Adoption Council of Ontario sent an e-mail inviting all those who have been touched by adoption to take some time today to celebrate their connection with adoption. I would like to do that through prayer.

Our devotional at breakfast this morning, was based on the passage of 1 Timothy 2:1. It challenged us to pray for all people and to do so specifically. Pray for specific things such as wisdom, strength, happiness, guidance and that God will work in their lives.

As I celebrate adoption today, I give thanks for the blessing of making such wonderful friendships through this process and I rejoice for those families who have brought their dear children home! I pray for the many families that are waiting to be united with their children that God will grant much patience and perseverance. I pray for our little girl whom God has chosen for us that she will be kept safe, well fed, well cared for, and loved. I pray for her biological parents that they will experience the peace that comes from God as they make an adoption plan for their baby girl. I lift up all the workers of our agency as they strive hard to speed up time lines and as they renew and build relationships. I pray for the many volunteers who are giving their time to help our agency get reconstructed. I pray for wisdom and strength for them.

I am thankful to God for this whole experience so far. It has taught myself and my family many things. Praise be to God!

Adoption Update

Adoption Update

"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ"
(1 Corinthians 15:57).

When all seemed lost this past July with the bankruptcy, we are pleased to read the report prepared by the new Board of Directors from our agency, Imagine. A few representatives from our agency recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia and were pleased to meet their goals. One of the accomplished goals was signing two new two year contact with two orphanages! These orphanages also gave the Board confidence that referrals will start sooner than anticipated (we'll keep praying for that and continual patience). Also, working relationships with key staff members on the Kids Link (Imagine's former name) management team were re-established. We continue to praise God for the progress being made and we pray that enough clients return their new retainer agreements and renewal fees by the end of November.

Adoption Update

(Ethiopia flag)

Adoption update:
Today we received our first "official" e-mail from Imagine. The agency has been reconstructed and is up and running!! It was mainly a "general information" letter. We will be notified as to our where our position is on the list waiting for a referral. We're very excited that things are progressing, even if it means more waiting. We continue to pray for patience, and for all the children waiting to be adopted into loving homes.

the Ethiopia flag

"Praise the LORD, How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!" Psalm 147:1

Adoption update:

Praise the LORD! The results of the vote at yesterday's meeting were 95% in favour of reconsrtucting the agency! What an answer to prayer! We will need to pray for continued patience as we will need to continue to wait -possibly until next spring, to find out which child God has chosen to be with us. We are very thankful for this answer to prayer!