Our Journey...

Our Adoption Journey!

"…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" Philippians 4:11b

August 2007, we sent off our application to proceed with Adoption! I have always had a thump in my heart for a child/baby needing a home! We all love babies/children. I worked at a Pizza Ranch in High School and a family came in with 4 boys, and a newly adopted daughter from Korea! Wow, what a beautiful site that has never left my mind.
Our Family became stronger looking for God's direction. "Where does God want us?" It took a while for our agency to jump on board with us. We had a reference letter(s), that made us sound too busy, to adopt. Our hearts broke, with the thought others didn't think we are capable to adopt. We questioned our family unit, what was wrong with it? As it turned out we examined our family and decided we wouldn't change a thing! This is what God wanted us to do, and this is how God intended our family to be.
I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. John 14:18
Our Agency, decided to give us a chance and sent a wonderful Social Worker to our home to really dig in and check us out! After many visits, more reference letters, we were given the go ahead to adopt 1 child.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord. P31:24
We decided to look into domestic adoption. In the beginning of our adoption journey, this is where we felt God wanted us, until we heard about the Liberia Program our agency was just starting. We were told it was a pretty quick process, and not a long wait. We prayed about it, and friends where starting the wait with Ethiopia, with the out look as a long wait! Our hearts melted in May 08, when we seen a picture and learned about this precious little boy, in an Orphanage, with huge brown eyes, a beautiful face! Our prayer was for God to write it on a wall, show us where you want us! This was our answer! We accepted this referral! Started all the paper work, waiting for pictures, updates, reading about attachment, everything we could find out about Liberia!!
November of 08, it came to our attention a Church Group was going to Liberia to do mission work! Excitement filled our hearts, as we put a package together for our little boy. The group arrived in Liberia, only to find they were driving past the orphanage every day! They stopped and met this amazing little boy, took pictures, video, and spent time with Marcus. God had a plan, and of all the places a church from a neighboring town, and to know these Godly men, was just a testament of God's Divine plan!
Since than we have been blessed to have others who visited their "future children" stop and visit Marcus and bring vitamins, clothing, toys, birthday package, and pictures for us! Our Family has emailed and followed other fellow adoptive families who also are waiting for their children to come home from Liberia also! The Families are wonderful Christian families who strive to follow God's plan for them also! These families have witnessed, been examples to me and our family during this wait! I received a email the other day how they're family has grown closer. I have to agree with her, our family has also learned how to talk about God's hand walking us through this wait. We all have grown up in ways you would of never have before. Our family has met some amazing families through adoption. When we started our blog, it was comforting to know most of the family's were also waiting. Since than, God has brought beautiful, amazing children home to they're homes.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle 's." Psalm 103:1-5,

Tomorrow we are meeting Joni, who lives 20 miles from us who works for Samaritan's Purse. This young, spunky, wonderful lady, happens to live 3 miles away from Marcus in Liberia!! How could anyone just plan that? (God does)!! Joni is home, visiting family, and getting a good dose of Iowa Snow! She has not had the opportunity to just stop over at the Orphanage. Our hopes last January when we met that we would be visiting soon, and be able to stay by her. We are excited and looking to see what God has planned for 2010~
http://jonesinliberia.blogspot.com/ Today I am putting a photo book together with hopes/prayers that Joni will be able to make a stop when she returns!
A year ago, when we where told to look into travel arrangements! Woohoo, excitement filled our home, hearts and hopes. We have become a bit hardened to the whole situation. I went through our "packed" items a couple days ago. Some expired medicine, flavor packets for water, clothing, just reminders of the excitement that instilled our hearts! But prayers where said for the President of Liberia and all the children and family's who are waiting for the continuence of proceeding of those who have been matched!

It has been a year since the the President Sirleaf suspended all adoptions in Liberia. We were told and read that the Government was going to "redo and re look" the laws concerning adoption. President Sirleaf thought it would take 2-3 months.

We do not get any real updates on the situation or how Marcus is. Our Agency traveled to Liberia in October. She did not get much of time with Marcus! We know she hired some people to work for our agency. The man who has worked for our Agency who is our power of attorney is no longer working for our agency. Not sure how this is going to affect us. :(

My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Psalm 4:8

Thanks for checking in on us, and following our journey! It is one I never in a million years thought would be a chapter book!

Today is another blizzard, snow day with everyone home!

We ask for your prayers for all as we continue on our journey. Please pray for all us family's who are waiting and praises for family's who are home with their little blessing's!

God Bless You All, for He is the One who knows when, and holds our tomorrows in His hands!