...well maybe not quite that many, but we have gotten quite a few!
Why adoption? How do you
know this calling is on your lives? Why Haiti? What
about Addison! Aren't you afraid of how it will affect her? How can you
afford to adopt TWO kids? Will you have to quit working? Are you and James sure you're ready for this?
...and then some.
We welcome your questions and would love to answer them. So here goes...
*Why adoption?
"But
when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son,
born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that
he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we
have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for
sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God
sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!”
Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain
that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re
also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance." Galatians 4:4-7
We were not always sons and daughters of God. However, through Jesus, we have been adopted into God's kingdom. I can't think of a more parallel way to show God's love to somebody than to adopt them into our family, just as God has adopted us into His family.
*How do you know this calling is on your lives?
Simply this: God convicted us, we prayed, God confirmed our convictions time and time again, we prayed more, God opened doors, and we keep praying. We asked what His plan was for our lives, and He answered.
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Jeremiah 33:3
*Why Haiti?
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It is just about an hour and a half flight from Florida. It is right in our own backyard, so to speak. There is little to no opportunity there. When somebody gets sick, there isn't a dr's office or hospital down the street. When somebody is hungry, there is no soup kitchen. Only a few of the children there are even able to attend school; they may receive a meal while there, but other children who aren't in school may not eat for 3-4 days. Many kids, if not most, will die before the age of five due to disease and starvation. Twins there are seen as a curse by those who practice voodoo, and when they are born they are left for dead or intentionally abused/killed. These are only some of the reasons we feel so strongly about helping a child/children from Haiti.
James and I have prayerfully considered many options with adoption. There were three: through DHS, open adoption in the United States, or international adoption. We called DHS, filled out the paperwork, and filled out more paperwork and sent it in. We also began the paperwork for adoption through our agency for Haiti. We asked God to open doors where He wanted them open so that we would know which way to go. We were able to fill out and submit all paperwork to Haiti (which took a little under 2 months) before anybody from DHS ever called us back, despite my numerous attempts to contact somebody there. This affirmed that Haiti is where God wants us to focus.
*What about Addison? Are you not afraid of how it will affect her?
Of all the things to "worry" about with such a change in our lives, this is probably the one that has had my mind spinning the most. I have definitely had my conversations with God :) Through prayer and seeking God, He has given me such peace. Addison has such a sincere, compassionate heart. I know God gave her a heart like this, knowing the events that would unfold in her young life. She constantly asks us when her "brother and sister" will be home. She tells me she misses them. She asks to see pictures of the children at Giving Hope and shows me which ones she wants to bring home. I think if it were her choice she would want about ten siblings. She prays for them at night. She pretends to be Heather (the founder of Giving Hope) and pretends her baby dolls are children under Heather's care. She already calls her siblings by name (she thinks we are going to get a girl and a boy) and tells everybody she already knows and meets that she has a brother and sister in Haiti. She doesn't seem to be guarded or worried, so why should I be. The faith of my child leaves me speachless at times. So no I am not worried; I am confident that God is going to use this adoption to work in and through Addison.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 6-7
*How can you afford to adopt two kids?
We can't afford not to. God will provide. He has already begun to provide, and we trust Him. We will be faithful to Him and give as He has called us to give, whether that is our time, energy, or resources. We will also do some fundraising. We are excited to invite our family and friends to join us in this incredible calling He has placed on our lives. "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, 'if I will not open up for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8
*Will you have to quit working?
I will continue to see a few clients at my practice, and James will maintain our flooring business. We will probably modify our hours/days that we are actually working so we can be home with the babies.
*Are you and James sure you're ready for this?
ABSOLUTELY!!! God has a way of coming in and completely transforming people, and He has done that both with James and me and our marriage relationship. We stand firm on these verses and claim them for our family. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13b-14 and "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 We know the safest place for us to be is directly in the middle of God's will, and that is exactly where we want to be.
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