Thursday, December 24, 2009
Well, so far no morning sickness . . . but the paper cuts are terrible!
Our home study is complete - after much scrambling, doctor appointments, fingerprinting, many many copies, letters from teachers, references from friends and family, etc., etc. Thanks to our adoption fairy, Janet, for working so hard to get this done so quickly! A very nice Christmas present! :-)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Whiteheart Reunion Concert anyone?
Looks like we're planning a Whiteheart reunion concert to help raise funds for our "unexpected" adoption. :-) Hoping to also have some special guest artists.
Details to follow . . .
Details to follow . . .
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Home Study
We started our home study today! Had our first appointment with Janet, our social worker, to get the process going. We hope to have this completed by December 31. Paperwork . . . here we come!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Jack's Journey
On November 6, 2009, we received a call from our adoption agency
with the news that Lily's birthmother had given birth again, to a baby boy. Of course, the reason they were calling was to ask whether we might want to adopt him. Needless to say, we were in shock! We had talked previously about getting "The Call," but, since Lily is 6 years old, we thought we were out of range for "The Call." Well, SURPRISE!!! It's like being 46 and finding out you're pregnant. Not something we were expecting or prepared for!
Ironically, the call came on the Friday of National Adoption Weekend, and all of our activities that weekend were planned around adoption events. Coincidence? . . . we think not.
We immediately had people start praying. On Saturday morning, we went to our usual Korean culture class for adoptive families. Coincidence? . . . we think not. That evening, we attended the annual Show Hope fundraiser dinner. The theme was opening your hearts and doors to orphans. Coincidence? . . . we think not.
The next day, Sunday, was Orphan Sunday at our church. The adoption ministry, of which I'm an advisory board member, had several activities planned that day. Coincidence? . . . we think not. That evening, SCC performed a nationally-televised concert at our church, in conjunction with Cry of the Orphan. Coincidence? . . . we think not.
On Monday, our heads were reeling. We were still in shock, but we knew deep down in our hearts that this little boy was already a part of our family. There was no way we were going to say "No" to bringing him home. As I was out running that morning, it was all I could think of, and I talked to God about it for the entire 3.5 miles. As I was running/talking, I was thinking about Emily (Chapman) Richards and Alex Mullican, and their incredible hearts for adoption and their efforts to bring orphans into their families. God knows me so well, and knows that it often takes a house to fall on me before I'll move down the path he is directing me to . . . my doubts and insecurities create many self-imposed barriers for me. But, because he loves me so well, he is longsuffering and merciful to me many times when he probably just wants to say "Really?? When are you going to trust me?"
As my mind was swirling, I asked God for something that I thought was a long-shot, to give me confirmation that moving ahead with this adoption was what he wanted us to do. Pretty much every day, I run past the Mullicans' house. It's pretty early in the morning, and I have never seen any stirrings from there. As I was thinking about Emily and Alex, I asked God to let me see Alex that morning when I ran past their house. Not just anyone from their family, but specifically Alex. Since she is homeschooled, what are the chances she'll be outside their house early on a school day? As I rounded the corner of their street, I, of course, looked ahead at their house, really not knowing what to expect. As I did, the front door opened, and who walked out of the house and got into her car? . . . I pretty much broke down right there. As soon as I got home, I relayed the story to Rick, and we let the adoption agency know we wanted to move forward. :)
So, here we go. We're sure the shock will subside in time. We're also sure this is what God wants us to do (as if there were really ever any question!).
with the news that Lily's birthmother had given birth again, to a baby boy. Of course, the reason they were calling was to ask whether we might want to adopt him. Needless to say, we were in shock! We had talked previously about getting "The Call," but, since Lily is 6 years old, we thought we were out of range for "The Call." Well, SURPRISE!!! It's like being 46 and finding out you're pregnant. Not something we were expecting or prepared for!Ironically, the call came on the Friday of National Adoption Weekend, and all of our activities that weekend were planned around adoption events. Coincidence? . . . we think not.
We immediately had people start praying. On Saturday morning, we went to our usual Korean culture class for adoptive families. Coincidence? . . . we think not. That evening, we attended the annual Show Hope fundraiser dinner. The theme was opening your hearts and doors to orphans. Coincidence? . . . we think not.
The next day, Sunday, was Orphan Sunday at our church. The adoption ministry, of which I'm an advisory board member, had several activities planned that day. Coincidence? . . . we think not. That evening, SCC performed a nationally-televised concert at our church, in conjunction with Cry of the Orphan. Coincidence? . . . we think not.
On Monday, our heads were reeling. We were still in shock, but we knew deep down in our hearts that this little boy was already a part of our family. There was no way we were going to say "No" to bringing him home. As I was out running that morning, it was all I could think of, and I talked to God about it for the entire 3.5 miles. As I was running/talking, I was thinking about Emily (Chapman) Richards and Alex Mullican, and their incredible hearts for adoption and their efforts to bring orphans into their families. God knows me so well, and knows that it often takes a house to fall on me before I'll move down the path he is directing me to . . . my doubts and insecurities create many self-imposed barriers for me. But, because he loves me so well, he is longsuffering and merciful to me many times when he probably just wants to say "Really?? When are you going to trust me?"
As my mind was swirling, I asked God for something that I thought was a long-shot, to give me confirmation that moving ahead with this adoption was what he wanted us to do. Pretty much every day, I run past the Mullicans' house. It's pretty early in the morning, and I have never seen any stirrings from there. As I was thinking about Emily and Alex, I asked God to let me see Alex that morning when I ran past their house. Not just anyone from their family, but specifically Alex. Since she is homeschooled, what are the chances she'll be outside their house early on a school day? As I rounded the corner of their street, I, of course, looked ahead at their house, really not knowing what to expect. As I did, the front door opened, and who walked out of the house and got into her car? . . . I pretty much broke down right there. As soon as I got home, I relayed the story to Rick, and we let the adoption agency know we wanted to move forward. :)
So, here we go. We're sure the shock will subside in time. We're also sure this is what God wants us to do (as if there were really ever any question!).
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