For people who don't know my wife and I, we are currently going through an international adoption process. We started with the Taiwan program and are also currently in the China special needs program. We have had many ups and downs (more downs than ups to be truthful). We still wait patiently in year five of this process.
We started the program officially in January 2011 after spending the previous year praying and searching. We went international over domestic for a variety of reasons due to age, the laws of the countries, and that we felt the call. Taiwan was chosen due to the potential child's age, length of time for the process, cost, and the length of time overseas. The Taiwan has been a real struggle for us. Things that we were told have not come to pass., and I have felt our hearts and spirits have been played with. I am fairly certain that I will not be receiving a Christmas card from some of the staff of the Taiwan program due to my responses to them.
Throughout this process, we have persevered through. Can't say it has been by our own strength, because I would have given up rather quickly. Our marriage has been tested at times throughout this process.
My wife, Susan, Has always dreamt of being a mother. She has a real heart for children, part of the reason she has stayed at her job helping kids with mental & physical development issues. She has also been heavily involved with children's ministries at churches over the years as well. She has wished from the moment she was a little girl.
I am equally comfortable if we adopt or circumstances prevent us to. My excitement for this process will only happen when we are in American airspace with our child. Then it will become real from me.
We have been comforted by friends and family throughout this entire process. The power of prayer has never been more evident than during this time. Knowing that a large group of people are praying and hoping with us continues to sustain us.
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out 'Abba, Father'. So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir" Galatians 4: 4-7.
That passage particularly resonates with me more as I have gone through this process. Our adoption process reminds us that we have been adopted by God as His children. Not due to any ability of our own, but rather chosen by God's grace. He offered us adoption so that we might receive it. Because of God we are no longer of slaves, but heirs. Just think in your minds about the contrasts in those positions and what that means for us.
We don't know the name of the child meant for us. But, God knows us all by name - He knows everything about us and He still loves and calls us. This is good news for those of us who are orphaned, literally and spiritually. We are called to something bigger than us and that is the family of God.
To my future child (I still don't know if this will happen or not): We don't know your name or what you look like yet. We promise that we will do our best to keep you safe and make you feel loved and cared for. We will share all the good times and bad times together. We will encourage you and guide you. Be there to answer all your questions and provide whatever advice you might need. We will correct you when you are wrong and praise you when you do well. Whatever happens, you wont doubt our love for you and that we want the best for you. We will look forward to seeing your smiling face each day and hear about whatever adventures your day brought. We will watch cartoons together, especially Spider-Man.
We will watch the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers. Maybe one of them will win a championship while we are alive. We will play sports, ride bikes, get ice cream, and have fun.
Most of all, we will introduce you to Jesus. We will do our best to model what Jesus has called us to be. We won't say one thing and do another. We want you to be in an environment where you'll meet him - but you will ultimately decide what your response will be. We wont pressure you or expect you to behave identically to us. You are your own person and we will encourage your dreams for the future. But mostly, we will love you the best we can. That's our promise to you. It wont be perfect, but have no doubt of our love for you.
We started the program officially in January 2011 after spending the previous year praying and searching. We went international over domestic for a variety of reasons due to age, the laws of the countries, and that we felt the call. Taiwan was chosen due to the potential child's age, length of time for the process, cost, and the length of time overseas. The Taiwan has been a real struggle for us. Things that we were told have not come to pass., and I have felt our hearts and spirits have been played with. I am fairly certain that I will not be receiving a Christmas card from some of the staff of the Taiwan program due to my responses to them.
Throughout this process, we have persevered through. Can't say it has been by our own strength, because I would have given up rather quickly. Our marriage has been tested at times throughout this process.
My wife, Susan, Has always dreamt of being a mother. She has a real heart for children, part of the reason she has stayed at her job helping kids with mental & physical development issues. She has also been heavily involved with children's ministries at churches over the years as well. She has wished from the moment she was a little girl.
I am equally comfortable if we adopt or circumstances prevent us to. My excitement for this process will only happen when we are in American airspace with our child. Then it will become real from me.
We have been comforted by friends and family throughout this entire process. The power of prayer has never been more evident than during this time. Knowing that a large group of people are praying and hoping with us continues to sustain us.
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out 'Abba, Father'. So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir" Galatians 4: 4-7.
That passage particularly resonates with me more as I have gone through this process. Our adoption process reminds us that we have been adopted by God as His children. Not due to any ability of our own, but rather chosen by God's grace. He offered us adoption so that we might receive it. Because of God we are no longer of slaves, but heirs. Just think in your minds about the contrasts in those positions and what that means for us.
We don't know the name of the child meant for us. But, God knows us all by name - He knows everything about us and He still loves and calls us. This is good news for those of us who are orphaned, literally and spiritually. We are called to something bigger than us and that is the family of God.
To my future child (I still don't know if this will happen or not): We don't know your name or what you look like yet. We promise that we will do our best to keep you safe and make you feel loved and cared for. We will share all the good times and bad times together. We will encourage you and guide you. Be there to answer all your questions and provide whatever advice you might need. We will correct you when you are wrong and praise you when you do well. Whatever happens, you wont doubt our love for you and that we want the best for you. We will look forward to seeing your smiling face each day and hear about whatever adventures your day brought. We will watch cartoons together, especially Spider-Man.
We will watch the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers. Maybe one of them will win a championship while we are alive. We will play sports, ride bikes, get ice cream, and have fun.
Most of all, we will introduce you to Jesus. We will do our best to model what Jesus has called us to be. We won't say one thing and do another. We want you to be in an environment where you'll meet him - but you will ultimately decide what your response will be. We wont pressure you or expect you to behave identically to us. You are your own person and we will encourage your dreams for the future. But mostly, we will love you the best we can. That's our promise to you. It wont be perfect, but have no doubt of our love for you.
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