one less

Some things I want to clear up.....

Why didn't you choose domestic adoption or foster care?.....plain and simply? Because that is not what God called us to. We are simply being obedient to what God specifically spoke to our hearts. We fully understand there are children here in America who need homes. And I can't explain to you why God didn't speak to our hearts about that. I think He burdened our hearts many months ago with a world vision and reminded us that if we limit ourselves to only having a heart for America (which we totally do have a heart for the hurting and lost here, by the way) that that we would be limiting God's heart to only 5 % of the world's population. We realized that God's heart is limitless and ours should be as well. We also recognize that a child in Ethiopia does not deserve a family more than a child here in the US does. But for whatever reason, God did not call us to that. And that's as best I can explain it. 

A sweet girl that I don't really even know, just someone I have been "introduced" to (over email) who has adopted two girls from Uganda, made an excellent point to me that reminded me of the bigger long term picture of these children from International adoption (wow...that was a really looonnngg sentence).

She said " I like to think of all the people the Lord calls to adoption and how His intricate plan works together toward His ultimate plan for all of us. Imagine a family in Texas adopts from Haiti, one in New York from Uganda, and one in Canada adopts from Ethiopia....and those kids become adults who can affect peoples lives with their adoption stories....and even more, because their parents followed their hearts, their kids are where God wants them in order to fullfill His ultimate plan. It's incredible to think what God has in store for our kids!" 

We want to be obedient to what God called us to. For whatever His reasons, this is His plan for our life.

Do you have a child already "picked" out?.....No. But I fully believe God does. In this application process you specify what you would be open to....girl, boy...0-12 mos, 1-3, etc. We would like a girl under 12 mos, but we are pretty open to a girl from 1-3 as well. We are currently praying through being "open to siblings". Please don't hold us to that. God hasn't spoken directly about that, but we are both fairly open to it.  Once we get through all the paperwork with the agency here and the government in Ethiopia (probably another 6 months or so) we are put on a waiting list. Then as we move down the waiting list, they notify us of our status. Then we will get a call one day that we have a child (or two...yikes!). They send pictures and we start planning our trip. 

So, no. We don't get to "choose" the child. But, I feel very confident that that child (or children) is already "chosen". I can't wait for that call :)

Is Mitch on board with this whole thing? Like completely sold out like you are?.......Yes. But, I am not going to speak for him. As much as he hates to write, we have been encouraged by others that it is important for him to share his heart as well. So, look for a post from him soon!! 

We have raised over $5,000 y'all. That's so exciting and so affirming that we are doing the right thing. My evenings (and late into the night) have been full of sewing and sorting and writing thank you notes. And it is such an honor to do it all. Thank you so much for your support. Even if it is simply prayer that He has called you to, we need it and appreciate it.

I wanted to share this video with you (and I am so frustrated with blogger lately, it won't let me enbed any videos! Ugh, so you have to go old school and click on the link). Many of you may have already heard this song by Matthew West about adoption. This is his explanation of how the song came about (along with the song). It reminds me that even though this process is long and difficult and sometime wrought with opposition, in the end, there will be one less (maybe two less) child (children) alone in the world.

                                                         http://vimeo.com/15064039