The New Journey begins...

Well we have embarked on a new journey in our adoption process & I thought I would share it with you. As you all (or most of you) know we have been trying to adopt for three years now.

We were hoping to adopt the "private" route. If your not familiar with private adoptions it is an adoption that bypass the use of agencies. Usually you hear of a birth mom that wants to put her baby up for adoption & your profile is presented to her. If she picks you as the family a lawyer will handle all the legal documents, negotiate payments to the birthmother, and represent you at the adoption court hearing. This has been a long 3 years with a roller coaster of emotions many different "prospects" but none that ever worked.

We contacted many different agencies but never really felt like we where a good fit. Until we found the latest agency that we LOVED but after 2 phone interviews and a lot of getting our hopes up we decided that 40,000 is not an option for at this time. Unless we when the lotto, but with our luck I know that will never happen!

So we have decided we are finally going to take down that "wall" we put up about CPS foster to adopt. The thought of having a precious baby placed in our home only to be taken away in a few weeks, months or sometimes even a year absolutely devastated us. But after a lot of praying and talking with other people that had adopted through fostering I had that "Ahaaa" moment!

Your own children are not promised to you forever. You never know when God will decided to call them home. So the children that are placed in CPS care need a home more than we will ever know. What a blessing to think you may have been the safe place that protected that child from whatever abuse it was removed from and just possibly saved it's life. If that baby's parents get their life back on track then then that was Gods will... praise Jesus. If not then we will be double blessed; blessed from helping a child in need & blessed because our prayers will be answered of finally becoming parents.

I often wonder will you be a newborn?

Will you be a little toddler?

Will you be a brother & sister pair?

or will you be twins?

The one thing I do know with every ounce of my being is that you are perfect! You are a child made in the eyes of Jesus & picked out just for us. God knew before you where even conceived that you belonged with us & that we are meant to be your Mommy & Daddy. We are meant to love, protect, mentor and guide you to be all that he has planed for you. I cant wait to meet you & I know you are coming soon I can feel it! Thank you Jesus for protecting "our little one" until you bring them home to us!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you & not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Faith

This is off a blog I read... Her house burned down 4 days before Christmas.

This is a reminder about how even in the ashes God's word never fails,

never forsakes & always Heals.

If your going through a hard time or are lost I ask you to please let God's word,

His PROMISE heal & comfort you.

___________________________________________________

You are Mine
Sunday, January 9, 2011 Posted in confessions

**edited to add—this is one of the best sermons I’ve ever heard on baptism, from my pastor Paul Bushur.

Two months ago, Susan and I and the girls were making necklaces for my ’12 Days’ series. I knew right away what I wanted mine to say. I called my friend Kim, who had recently shown me pictures from Salisbury Cathedral in England. On their baptismal font were the words that I wanted on my necklace. Kim reminded me.

“I have called you by your name and you are mine.”


What a promise we have in our baptism. Christ calls us by our name. He marks us as one of His own. He seals us, protects us, hems us in, preserves us.
He opens heaven to us and promises to keep us safe in Him.
He gifts us with more than we can comprehend; life, forgiveness, heaven and the Holy Spirit and divine protection against the fires that threaten our very souls.
I wore that necklace everyday until 3 days before the fire. It got caught on something and came off, leaving an empty shell.I laid it on my nightstand and planned to re-attach it soon. It now lies in the ash heap——but the promise it gives does not.Yesterday, I read Susan’s blog and saw this post. I sat dumbfounded. She was thinking about my necklace too and looked up the context of where the verses came from.

Isaiah 43
Fear not, for I have redeemed you, O Isreal; I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Isreal, your Savior.you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.

It may look hopeless today.What we have worked for lies in ruinsbut He is there.What we have loved is destroyedbut He will never leave us.We may see no hope for tomorrowbut He holds tomorrow in His hand.He alone repairs our broken.He has given His promise and its’ everlasting melody calms our fears.

” I have called you by your name. You are mine.” ****WOW, talk about getting the chills!