And the Answers Are:

I have asked these same questions to other families that have chosen adoption.  So that we don't have an awkward conversation, I will just answer them here for you.

Why are you adopting?

Jeremiah 29:11-13   For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

God has called us all to take care of orphans and widows.  Shawn and I feel called by God to adopt.  Some people are confused by our decision.  Once our baby gets home, we'll let you know the entire story.  We don't even know what it is yet, but I can't wait to share God's glory. 

How much is it going to cost?

Matthew 6:19-21  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God called us to do this.  He has given us everything we have, so we feel we should share it with one that doesn't.  This baby will be added to my collection of priceless children.  My children are my treasures.   I would much rather invest in the life of another, than invest in something that dies away. 

Do you worry about xyz concerning adoption?

The answer is yes.  I struggle everyday.  This journey is a huge test of faith.  I will be honest, I don't trust God enough.  I pray for more faith and trust in Him.  I pray daily for His strength and direction.  He knows the timing.  I have to take refuge in His protection and his plans.

Matthew 6:25-27 & 33-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


Now concerning the child's "real parents."  We are his adoptive parents and any child we raise, we are also those children's "real parents."  The child has biological parents and if they choose to be open and receive information about the child, I am willing to provide it.  However, we are the child's "real parents."  Just like it is rude to ask a mother whether she is pregnant, it is rude to ask about the child's real parents when they are standing right in front of you.  And NEVER ask in front of the child/ren.

I am sure there will be other questions concerning our decision to adopt, but I will answer to my God for the plans He has in my life.  My family will be blessed by adoption and hopefully we'll be a blessing to the child as well.  I promise to do my best.

Love,
Christina

Homestudy at Our Home Today

I am in an interesting mood this morning. Very tired as I didn't get to sleep until after midnight and was up at 6:30 a.m. to get the boys ready for school.  DS#3 thought it was a good idea to stay up until 10:15 pm.  Not normal for him, usually he goes to his bed cries for a couple minutes or less and then is out like a light.  Last night he cried for about 15 minutes.  DH was exhausted and ready to go to bed at 7:00.  Since, he was so tired I took DS #3 to the other end of the house.  We watched a couple of TV shows that I had recorded.  Usually he falls asleep during Mommy's boring shows, but not last night.  Oh, well.  He finally fell asleep.  I took him to his bed and then I crawled into my own, only to toss and turn for another hour.  Right as I was about to sleep.  DS#2 came into my room and startled me.  I asked him, "Do you need to use the restroom?"  He started whining, "No, I don't need to go."  I asked, "What do you need?"  He went back to his bed.  I covered him up, gave him a kiss, and went back to my own bed.  Sleep walking. :)  I'll take that over the night terrors he used to have.

My pastor encouraged us to read one chapter of Proverbs every day.   Proverbs 26:11 made me laugh:  "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

Idiots. :)   Yes, I have been one of those and still am at times.  Some times dogs are easier to train than people.:)

Now about this home study.  I need to put the finishing touches on the house before the SW arrives.  I am really excited.  I think she is going to be a little overwhelmed with my personality today.  Some people just don't appreciate my effervescence (bubbles!:).  I'll let God's light shine.  He called me for this, so I guess I need to let Him drive, right?

As always, pray for us.

Homestudy Part 1

Our homestudy went well.  The next part of our homestudy will be on Tuesday, October 26.  I hope it goes even better.  I am excited.

I guess it is nice when you see/feel movement. 

We have SO much to be thankful for. 

Love,
Christina

Sleepless in Stanberry

I think it's funny that when I get pregnant, I can't sleep all the way through a lot of nights.  Even when I am paper pregnant and waiting on my little one to come and join our family, I can't sleep. 

It's what I do.

Fire Within

I awoke this morning with a fire in my chest.  I was thinking of the verse that says, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire."  We serve an awesome God.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24   
12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
 ¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
 ¹⁹Do not put out the Spirit's fire; ²⁰do not treat prophecies with contempt. ²¹Test everything. Hold on to the good. ²²Avoid every kind of evil.
 ²³May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

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There will be tough days in this adoption journey.  I will need to reread the above passages.
I have great news: our first part of our homestudy interviews starts October 22, 2010. 

May God be with you today and always!

God's Days

Can you even imagine living where there is no sin?  no sickness?  no tears?  no orphans?  Living in the arms of God is such a precious gift.  I praise you my Lord!

Well, we should be scheduled for our home study ANY day now (our payment cleared).  I am excited and anxious at the same time.  Please continue to pray for us.  Pray that the child is safe and being well taken care of.  Pray that he/she is with someone that has love in their hearts for him/her.  Pray that our finances will be taken care of.  Pray that we bless this child more than he/she can imagine.  And last, but not least, please pray for the orphans that don't go to a family.  May God's blessings still find them, through others.

Come As You Are

Yesterday was an amazing day.  I received my passport in the mail.  I was totally surprised, because I didn't think it would come that quickly.

I talked to our social worker and she needed me to write some documents about my past.  It wasn't what I wanted to do yesterday with my time, but I got a nice compliment from dh.  He says, "You're such a goody-two shoes."  Yes, I understand that it has a negative connotation these days, but do you know me?  I strive to be a virtuous woman.  I fail at times, but I get back up and go at it again.

Oh, my heart is filled with love.  God is so good.

This is one of my favorite songs of all time (I have many).

"Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!" Charlotte Elliot (1789-1871)

I ask you to please come to Christ as you are, so that He can transform you into who He has planned.
God Bless You!

A Small Celebration

We have turned our paperwork in so that our homestudy can be started.  I am so excited.  It is also nice that it is done because it is open enrollment for insurance this month.  That means that I spend hours going over my husband's job's new or old altered insurance plans.  More paperwork.

We received the Adoption to Korea Guidebook.  I am liking some of the changes that we are seeing.  I am looking forward to traveling to Korea.  It may not be for another year or so though.  God knows.

The local school nurse called me yesterday to help with health screenings for the school.  I guess I will be volunteering 2 days this month there.  It looks like this month is already starting to be booked up.

Now it is time to clean, because I don't have anything else to do today.  We find out today whether or not I have a job.  I'll keep you posted.

Please continue to pray for us, especially for our little one. 

²²"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. ²³"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."  Mark 11:22-25 (NIV)