I know...don't have a heart attack...I can't believe this is the 3rd post in less than a week either!!!
I have a lot on my heart and mind this morning. First thing, many people have asked how the puzzle piece fundraiser is coming along...some even with frustration that we're not giving regular updates! Forgive us if you feel that way!! We have simply wanted God to completely take over with this fundraiser and have absolutely NOT wanted to get in the way at all. We have raised close to $4500 selling pieces so far. If we sell all the pieces, we will reach $10,000. WOW! Some of you have asked for pieces and I have failed to get them in the mail yet! I'm sorry...it will happen, I promise!
God has been amazing as He has provided for so many of our needs. So many people have been so very gracious to us in this process....some that we have never even met!
I canNOT wait to meet our son or daughter. Something has come to our attention that means we might have to wait longer than we were hoping and of course my first reaction is to get disappointed, doubtful, and frustrated, BUT...I know God is in control. He has called us to adopt at this perfect time and so He. Has. A. Plan. I trust Him!
In writing about waiting for our son or daughter, my thoughts are also led to something else that I have prayed and thought about posting. I believe that many of you think that we are adopting because we can't get pregnant. One of my least favorite comments is, "you know as soon as you get that baby, you're going to get pregnant!" I know every single one of you is completely innocent in your comment and are just so excited to see us have a child! However, this statement of course alludes to the fact that we must be adopting because we haven't conceived a child. I'm not going to go into detail, or get on my soapbox!...BUT, I do want to say that we did not begin looking into adoption because we weren't getting pregnant. We began looking into adoption because God demanded it. ..In a way that we were NOT expecting or anticipating, but with how everything has happened, there was no way that we could ignore the fact that God was calling us to do this. Hopefully as you have read through our blog or spoken with us, we have been able to share some of our story in what God has been doing in our lives and how God has changed our hearts.
I was saved at the age of 6 and since then have steadily walked with my Savior, but in a way that I never expected, God has become REAL in a new way in my life over this past year. Let me explain...since the age of 6, Jesus Christ has been number 1 in my life. I have never doubted his existence or my relationship with Him, but, I had never before really experienced God moving so very personally in my life and my life alone...until now. Now, of course, He has taken care of me and I have been blessed beyond measure by Him...but I'm talking about the kind of work in a heart and life that can ONLY be done by the God of the universe. A work that you know can only come from knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, because it's a work that is something you never imagined happening in your life. A work that was unexpected and has required sacrifice, labor and tears, but has been replaced with overwhelming peace, joy, and freedom...that to be honest I didn't even know I needed in my life. And, now that it's happened I am so very different. (I know I started that sentence with 'and' ..hopefully my 7-year-olds don't read this!)
I have no idea why God is growing our child in a womb that is not my own...but, there is no doubt in my mind that for some reason...that is exactly what He is doing. God, in his infinite wisdom and awesome power has simply said that at this time, we are not going to grow our family in a way that many other families do. His plan for us in that aspect, is different. ...and we have come to embrace this difference in a way that can only come from the work of our great God.
Our son or daughter probably won't look like us. He or she probably won't even have the same skin color as his or her parents...BUT...this baby will be our baby. Genetic make-up doesn't matter. Family history doesn't matter. Just as we, as Gentiles, when born again are adopted into the family of God and are given a shared inheritance with God's son, Jesus Christ, our child will be "born" into our family and given the inheritance that all our children will receive. There is no difference between a child who was adopted and a biological child. (Remember, the term 'adopted' is a past-tense verb...not an adjective.)
My heart, through this blog, is to share about adoption and what God is doing in our lives personally through it all. Words can not express how thankful Daniel and I are to have each one of you in our lives...we are so very grateful for everything. To God belongs all praise, glory, and honor! He alone is worthy.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Christian Alliance for Orphans - Summit
I just found out about this conference through an e-mail I received from Southern Seminary. May 11-13th, the Christian Alliance for Orphans is hosting their annual Summit in Louisville, KY.
Some of you may, or may not, know the story behind Megan and I having our hearts opened to adoption. In November 2009, I received a similar e-mail from Southern Seminary about an upcoming conference entitled Adopted for Life. Megan and I decided we wanted to attend to learn more about our plans to adopt. It was at this conference that Megan and I learned about the "Doctrine of Adoption." Up until this point, I had never realized how much the Bible talked about adoption, and the fact that I was actually adopted into God's family. The more I read, studied, and listened to, I wondered how I could spend nearly every part of my 26 (at that time) years on this earth going to church, and had never heard of such a thing. Sure the language was there (Calling God Father, and people in the church Brother or Sister) but I never understood the true significance of it.
Since that time, God has continued to grow within me a heart and passion for Orphan Care Ministry and Adoption within the local church. I have felt God nudging me towards a shift in ministry where, someday, one day, I would work as a liaison between a Christian Adoption Agency and the Local Church. Being an Ordained Pastor, I would love to actually go into the churches and Peach/Teach Seminars on the Doctrine of Adoption, attempting to create a spirit of Adoption / Orphan Care within local churches. The fact is, not everyone is called to adopt, but as Christ followers we are commanded to care for Orphans. I desire to be a voice for those without a voice, and to give confidence to families who have been held back from fears, myths, and lack of trust in God's plan.
That being said, I would really like to go to the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit coming in May, however, the cost to get up to Lousiville, Hotels, Food, Gas, plus Conference Registration would be pretty expensive in light of current economic situation, and everything else, it would probably not be a wise decision. I say all this, not to ask for handouts, but because the Christian Alliance for Orphans is having a contest to be entered into a drawing to win a free conference registration. This would not pay for the other parts of the trip, but it would be a step in the right direction of knowing God had willed it for me to go and learn more about this subject that I am passionate in. Anyway, this blog post will win me 10 points to put 10 chances to win in the drawing. So, that being said, pray that if its God's will for me to go, that he would provide the means.
You can find out more about Summit VII at http://christianalliancefororphans.org/summit
Thanks,
Daniel
Some of you may, or may not, know the story behind Megan and I having our hearts opened to adoption. In November 2009, I received a similar e-mail from Southern Seminary about an upcoming conference entitled Adopted for Life. Megan and I decided we wanted to attend to learn more about our plans to adopt. It was at this conference that Megan and I learned about the "Doctrine of Adoption." Up until this point, I had never realized how much the Bible talked about adoption, and the fact that I was actually adopted into God's family. The more I read, studied, and listened to, I wondered how I could spend nearly every part of my 26 (at that time) years on this earth going to church, and had never heard of such a thing. Sure the language was there (Calling God Father, and people in the church Brother or Sister) but I never understood the true significance of it.
Since that time, God has continued to grow within me a heart and passion for Orphan Care Ministry and Adoption within the local church. I have felt God nudging me towards a shift in ministry where, someday, one day, I would work as a liaison between a Christian Adoption Agency and the Local Church. Being an Ordained Pastor, I would love to actually go into the churches and Peach/Teach Seminars on the Doctrine of Adoption, attempting to create a spirit of Adoption / Orphan Care within local churches. The fact is, not everyone is called to adopt, but as Christ followers we are commanded to care for Orphans. I desire to be a voice for those without a voice, and to give confidence to families who have been held back from fears, myths, and lack of trust in God's plan.
That being said, I would really like to go to the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit coming in May, however, the cost to get up to Lousiville, Hotels, Food, Gas, plus Conference Registration would be pretty expensive in light of current economic situation, and everything else, it would probably not be a wise decision. I say all this, not to ask for handouts, but because the Christian Alliance for Orphans is having a contest to be entered into a drawing to win a free conference registration. This would not pay for the other parts of the trip, but it would be a step in the right direction of knowing God had willed it for me to go and learn more about this subject that I am passionate in. Anyway, this blog post will win me 10 points to put 10 chances to win in the drawing. So, that being said, pray that if its God's will for me to go, that he would provide the means.
You can find out more about Summit VII at http://christianalliancefororphans.org/summit
Thanks,
Daniel
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Long Overdue Update
Hello All! I know it has been quite some time since I've last updated. There hasn't been a lot of new news to tell so I've gotten lazy with it. We finished our Home Study classes last week. We had mixed emotions about that. We LOVED spending time together each week making the trek to and from Atlanta, meeting others who are in the same boat we're in, and learning about our favorite topic! It was extremely tiring traveling there and back each week, though. So...another chapter closed in the adoption process! We learned so much about the process and I somewhat regret not giving a little update each week after class.
The first two classes were more or less question and answer sessions. The third class we had a visit from a birthmom who now works with counseling adoptive and birth families. The fourth class was one of our favorite classes. We were visited by several families who have adopted. They all shared their stories...the good, the bad, and the ugly! It was really neat to see families who have survived through the process and are happy and well!! An adoption attorney spoke to our class the fourth week and she gave a lot of insight into the law side of adoption. She went step by step through the process, how things will work after a baby is placed with the adoptive family. Luckily, we live in a pro-adoption state which means the court system protects the adoptive families extremely well. Our last class was an infant care class..not much to say about that class...I might could have taught it myself. :)
I have a favor to ask of everyone...when you see or talk to Daniel, ask if he's finished his paperwork!!!! We might not ever adopt if the paperwork was left to him to do on his own time. Our goal is to completely finish the Home Study process sometime in mid-May. We have several things to finish up that aren't difficult...just time consuming. We need to get the ball rolling if we're going to meet that goal!
Well...short but sweet update. Thank you so much for your continued prayers! I updated our fundraiser thermometer so you can see what God is doing! We are so blessed to see how God has moved us through this process. We can't thank you enough for all that so many of you have done. Stay tuned....
The first two classes were more or less question and answer sessions. The third class we had a visit from a birthmom who now works with counseling adoptive and birth families. The fourth class was one of our favorite classes. We were visited by several families who have adopted. They all shared their stories...the good, the bad, and the ugly! It was really neat to see families who have survived through the process and are happy and well!! An adoption attorney spoke to our class the fourth week and she gave a lot of insight into the law side of adoption. She went step by step through the process, how things will work after a baby is placed with the adoptive family. Luckily, we live in a pro-adoption state which means the court system protects the adoptive families extremely well. Our last class was an infant care class..not much to say about that class...I might could have taught it myself. :)
I have a favor to ask of everyone...when you see or talk to Daniel, ask if he's finished his paperwork!!!! We might not ever adopt if the paperwork was left to him to do on his own time. Our goal is to completely finish the Home Study process sometime in mid-May. We have several things to finish up that aren't difficult...just time consuming. We need to get the ball rolling if we're going to meet that goal!
Well...short but sweet update. Thank you so much for your continued prayers! I updated our fundraiser thermometer so you can see what God is doing! We are so blessed to see how God has moved us through this process. We can't thank you enough for all that so many of you have done. Stay tuned....
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