Is Adoption an Emotion?

Right along with being happy, sad, or melancholy, sometimes I wonder if adoption is a state of being that takes on a whole new way of feeling that can't be described. I know that what I just proposed is not to be taken literally, but I just have to wonder sometimes. What I have learned through all of the ups and downs of adoption is to LOVE today. God has designed this day, September 24, 2008, to be the day that He has waited for thousands of years to make. And even though it is 10pm and almost over, I need to appreciate the value of today and what He is doing now. Sometimes we can get caught up with trying to hurry up to get to the next faze, goal, or whatever benchmark we're trying to get to, that we forget that THIS day might be what He has been trying to get us to. Even though it may seem insignificant and uneventful, I don't want to miss IT!! I really want to see what He is doing and understand the journey He has me on. In reflecting on the experience we had last week, I am able to see how God has used it for good. When we were considering this young man, we also settled it in our hearts that we would adopt an infant girl as well. When we learned we wouldn't be able to adopt the older child, we couldn't let go of the idea of adopting a baby girl. So, I am thankful for this day; for on this day the things I am learning and the things that are happening are having an effect on my tomorrow ;)

Answered Prayer

This has been quite the emotional week for Kevin and I. We had been praying and opening up our hearts to the possibility of having the young man that we asked everyone to pray for. We really felt led to pursue him. Somehow, the young man was referred to another family. We were absolutely shocked, and I personally was devastated. BUT, I know God allowed this to happen, and we are trusting in Him to take care of it all; especially this young man in Ethiopia. He is definitely in our hearts and prayers.

Please Pray!!!

To make a long story short, we are considering adopting a boy who is 5 (ish) who is also hearing impaired. We would also be adopting an infant as well, so we really need God to guide us. PLEASE PRAY!!! We know that this would have a huge impact on our family, so your prayers would be much appreciated!!!

Three Little Birds!!!

I have been reading the new testament in sequential order, and last Friday I read 2John and 3John, and then came across JUDE (Jude will be the name we use if our child is a boy). It was like the words were jumping off the page for me. It said, "Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!" (the Message). I'm crying with a big smile on my face while humming that Bob Marley tune in my head!! Later that day, several families get referrals, and guess who jumps into the top five for a baby? Relax, it is all coming together I tell myself. I don't have a single thing planned yet. No baby room. No shopping done. Everything is going to be all right I tell myself. I wonder if it will be a boy or a girl? Open your heart, love is on the way, I remind myself!!! I cannot tell you how thankful I am that God gave me that special verse, and no kidding, I feel like I am walking around with that "don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be all right" in the background!!!

We're Getting Closer!!

My fun YG friends have created a list of where adoptive families are in the waiting process and the Blackwell's have made it to the top 10!!! That is so exciting!!! We could get a referral next month or maybe even tomorrow!!! I can't believe that I will finally get to see a picture of our baby, and to call our baby by name! Just to fill in those of you who aren't aware of what we have ahead of us, we will not be able to get our child until sometime in December (maybe a little earlier or later). The courts are closed until Oct 7, and we have to legally adopt our child before we travel. So even though we will be placed with a child sometime soon, we still have quite a bit of waiting to do.

T shirt update... Jamie ordered some new colors and I love them!! The gray shirt is a fitted shirt, but the rest are unisex and run true to size. THANK YOU so much to all of you that ordered them... it has been fun to see you wear them!!!

Night Out!!

It was so incredible to get together with some amazing individuals, who just happen to be adopting (have adopted) from Ethiopia too. It was so wonderful to meet Kassie and the Semlows, and to see the Gillmans, Gibsons, and Martins. I could have stayed there and talked all night!! You all are wonderful people!!!!

An Update is Due!!

My sister in law (miss you already, DeeDee) reminded me this weekend that my blog has not been updated since April, so I thought it might be a good idea to give a tiny update. Referrals are coming right along at America World. A family who had their paperwork turned in a couple weeks ahead of us just received a referral (YEA, Caldwells), so we are hoping for a referral in the next couple of months. Kim and Alisa have also informed me that we are within the top 10 to 15 of families waiting. Courts will close next week for a couple of months, so if we get a referral soon, we still would not travel for another two or three months. Really I am clueless as I do not know what kind of effect the court's closing have on the whole process. We are content on waiting for whatever comes our way. I have to admit that when I found out the Caldwells got their referral, I have started to increasingly get more and more jittery. Like at any minute I could get the phone call. I told Kevin that I feel like I have done a pretty good job of being patient and keeping my emotions under control. This is really not in my nature. I was the kid who unwrapped all of her Christmas presents and wrapped them all back up before the big day. I think that knowing myself that if I don't keep myself under control, that I will not be able to real myself back in. What a mess that would be!! BUT, when we do get that phone call, Lord have mercy on the poor soul that is nearest me, as I have a feeling I will cause serious hearing damage from all my screaming!!! God has really done some awesome things in our adoption process. About the time we finished with our dossier, we were tempted to switch agencies as other agencies were apparently giving out referrals at a much quicker rate. Kevin and I prayed about it, and felt very strongly to stay with AW. At the time we couldn't understand it because we wouldn't have been "out" very much money. We assumed we would have gotten a referral (with the new agency they were telling families it would be a 2-3 month wait for referrals) in the Spring and traveled in the summer. It seemed perfect for two teachers. If we stayed with AW, then we were sure we wouldn't get a referral until the Fall or after; hence, I would have to take a lot of unpaid maternity leave by staying with AW. Since we did not feel at peace with switching, we have stayed with AW. Recently we have heard that the other agency we were thinking of using has been under investigation for child trafficking, so we thank God for not letting us have peace!!! Also, my dear friend, Jamie Jo, took my hand drawn sketch of a t shirt design and took care of all the details in getting them printed. JJ is a director of a camp in Colorado, and has been selling the shirts there. Evidently they have been selling like MAD!!! Every time they get a new order, they sell out within a couple of days. Isn't that crazy? Even more crazy is that one of their campers is Jordin Sparks, and she liked the shirt and wanted to help out AnNi so much that she is going to wear it to the Nickolodeon Teen Choice Awards tonight. She is nominated for three awards, so our shirt is going to be on TV. The show will air on Monday on Fox. Isn't that completely RIDICULOUS?