As one of our friends pointed out, we should "continue to watch for God's gifts" through our process of adoption.
God has given us a gift: a rare opportunity to receive an update on our 10 month old little girl, Della, in Africa. Our friends, the Siegrist's are currently in country picking up their 2 precious boys and have given us some info. The Physician's Assistant (who traveled with the Siegrists) saw Della at her foster home today. She did some general things like her weight, which is 12 pounds. I guess the care package that I sent with 12 month clothes probably won't fit yet :)! She suffered from polio, which is an infection (no longer contagious) and it has affected her legs. She crawls very fast and all over the house, according to the foster mom and PA. The PA took some video and photos which we hope to receive soon.
We are so excited to have gotten more info on Della. But, after receiving this, it makes our hearts ache even more to get her home. We started this journey just under seven weeks ago, having no idea we would have a referred child until at least the six month mark. Since the beginning, before knowing about Della, I have felt an urgency to complete documents. Once we received her referral, 3 weeks after starting the adoption process, we finally understood why. We did not know at the time she had been taken out of an orphanage two months earlier, waiting for a family willing to love a special needs child.
We hope to have her home very soon, but realistically they tell us the end of May. Please pray for her foster mom who is tenderly caring for her every need. And please pray we accept God's patience. We know He's in control of this crazy journey He has planned for us... it will happen in His perfect timing.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
To Name, Or Not To Name?
The real question here is "To Love, Or Not To Love?" Doug and I have had a difficult time agreeing, not only what to name our new little girl, but if we should give her a name yet. I think it comes down to wanting with all of our heart to love her, but being afraid we might loose her. We don't want to get "too attached". As with any pregnancy, adoption, also, has it's risks. And there is no guarantee, in either case, you will bring that child into your home until the child is in your arms.
So, as with my other pregnancies, I love Della, just as if she was in my belly. My heart aches to have her "out" right now, here in our arms. I want to squeeze her and hear her voice, even if she's crying or whining. And, ironically, just like my pregnancies, I've been told to expect her in about 10 months.
I sent Della a care package with our friends who have gone to pick up their 2 new little boys. I tried to squeeze so many clothes and toys and, of course, a toothbrush (after all, she is my child) into that bag. As I was filling every little space with tiny socks, it was like I was trying to send every little bit of my love to her, but it just wouldn't fit. My love for her became real after packing her bag. I thought "hopefully, I can give her the next bag I pack for her myself".
So, as with my other pregnancies, I love Della, just as if she was in my belly. My heart aches to have her "out" right now, here in our arms. I want to squeeze her and hear her voice, even if she's crying or whining. And, ironically, just like my pregnancies, I've been told to expect her in about 10 months.
I sent Della a care package with our friends who have gone to pick up their 2 new little boys. I tried to squeeze so many clothes and toys and, of course, a toothbrush (after all, she is my child) into that bag. As I was filling every little space with tiny socks, it was like I was trying to send every little bit of my love to her, but it just wouldn't fit. My love for her became real after packing her bag. I thought "hopefully, I can give her the next bag I pack for her myself".
Saturday, September 1, 2012
I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found!
God has spoken through our youngest, 4 year old Josey, over the last few months. When talking of our friends being in the process of adopting 2 more children, Josey asked if they were coming to live at our house. I said, "no", she said, "why not?"...ever since then I seriously asked myself that same question.
Then, on the first day of our trip to Myrtle Beach this summer in mid-July , while Doug and I intently watched the children on the beach, we literally lost Josey. She was missing for so long we thought she had drowned (she can't swim) or was stolen. Everyone was looking for her, grown men who didn't even know us were in tears as we continued to look. We all thought she was gone. As I was walking/running up the beach scanning the people, asking if they had seen her, my heart hurt so bad. I have never, ever felt so sick in my whole life. My mind had gone from "where is she?" to "this is the worst day of my life, I have lost my child... forever". I cry now just remembering... At that moment I had absolutely no control, she was in God's hands. And then, unknown to me, a woman was following behind me saying "is that her walking up ahead?" The figure was so far away I couldn't tell who it was, a child or an adult? So I ran, splashing the water on people as I hurried by. Halfway to the figure I recognized it was her! So I ran full speed and when I came upon her she was still calmly walking away, her back to me, unknowing she was lost, and now found! I scooped her up, too relieved she was alive to scold her at that moment. Later that afternoon, Josey threw a crying fit not wanting to nap. And as I lay with her, I didn't get frustrated at her fit, I rejoiced in her being alive. I enjoyed hearing her cry...the cry I thought I would never hear again. Of course all four of our children got many safety talks the rest of the vacation.
I wondered for the next few days what God was showing me. I felt His prompting and my heart was laid wide open. It finally clicked. God literally gave a vision, through Josey's wandering, that there is a child who is out there...lost...and we need to find them. It gives me chills writing about it. God knows their story, He's watching over them....as He leads us to them. I said to my friend I don't want this to be something that I think and talk about on vacation and then when we get home to reality we forget about it like it never happened. I want to follow through and let the Holy Spirit lead. As I told Doug one night about my thoughts, he didn't take me to the mental hospital, but instead, agreed that we start the adoption process. God's been working on his heart, too. He revealed to me about one month after starting the adoption process that more than 8 months ago he thought I would want to adopt a child.
Then, on the first day of our trip to Myrtle Beach this summer in mid-July , while Doug and I intently watched the children on the beach, we literally lost Josey. She was missing for so long we thought she had drowned (she can't swim) or was stolen. Everyone was looking for her, grown men who didn't even know us were in tears as we continued to look. We all thought she was gone. As I was walking/running up the beach scanning the people, asking if they had seen her, my heart hurt so bad. I have never, ever felt so sick in my whole life. My mind had gone from "where is she?" to "this is the worst day of my life, I have lost my child... forever". I cry now just remembering... At that moment I had absolutely no control, she was in God's hands. And then, unknown to me, a woman was following behind me saying "is that her walking up ahead?" The figure was so far away I couldn't tell who it was, a child or an adult? So I ran, splashing the water on people as I hurried by. Halfway to the figure I recognized it was her! So I ran full speed and when I came upon her she was still calmly walking away, her back to me, unknowing she was lost, and now found! I scooped her up, too relieved she was alive to scold her at that moment. Later that afternoon, Josey threw a crying fit not wanting to nap. And as I lay with her, I didn't get frustrated at her fit, I rejoiced in her being alive. I enjoyed hearing her cry...the cry I thought I would never hear again. Of course all four of our children got many safety talks the rest of the vacation.
I wondered for the next few days what God was showing me. I felt His prompting and my heart was laid wide open. It finally clicked. God literally gave a vision, through Josey's wandering, that there is a child who is out there...lost...and we need to find them. It gives me chills writing about it. God knows their story, He's watching over them....as He leads us to them. I said to my friend I don't want this to be something that I think and talk about on vacation and then when we get home to reality we forget about it like it never happened. I want to follow through and let the Holy Spirit lead. As I told Doug one night about my thoughts, he didn't take me to the mental hospital, but instead, agreed that we start the adoption process. God's been working on his heart, too. He revealed to me about one month after starting the adoption process that more than 8 months ago he thought I would want to adopt a child.
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