I've been chewing on a question for a few days.
How can I best document all that has gone into our adoption process through today?
Some families start their blogs in the earliest stages, recording important mile markers along the way. We're jumping in to the adoption blog world a little later. Our paperwork is in. WHEW! Our dossier was sent to Ethiopia on 12-11-09. Amazingly, we began the process on 1-26?-09. Over the past year, we've been burdened for orphans. Yes, burdened. God has been changing us from the inside out.
After recently attending two adoption events, a CBC Mug-N-Muffin (think women, coffee, great speakers, tears and laughter) and a Sunday class highlighting the Martine's adoption story, I've seen the value in documenting one's thoughts and experiences throughout the adoption process. Videos, blogs and photos are incredible testimonies of God's ability to perfectly knit together a family. They tell a story, a personal testimony.
The details of today might be forgotten next year (or next week) if not documented. So, I'd like to answer a few questions that I've asked myself or been asked over the past year. Help me out. Please send me questions regarding our adoption decision and the process thus far. My goal is to be as transparent and authentic as possible in order to leave a history of this incredible journey.
Look for the answers to:
Which adoption agency did you choose? Why?
Why did you pick Ethiopia?
What was the hardest part about the paperwork process?
What's next? How does the adoption timeline look?
What made you decide to adopt?
Are you crazy?
. . . and more
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Hello Walt Disney World!
Sometime last summer, Keith and I challenged each other to run another marathon. This time we wanted to run together. We chose WDW's Marathon (Jan 10, 2010) because it sounded like a flat, fun, and warm course. We were right on 2 out of 3. As you'll soon see from the photos, Orlando had a record breaking cold front during our 5 night stay. The marathon was flat, fun, and very, very, very cold. The photos below are from the warmest day of our trip.
Squirming and restless . . .
Awaiting his turn for a photo with Pooh Bear and Tigger . . .
Getting ready for the photo shoot using Disney Superstar sunglasses . . .
Sometime last summer, Keith and I challenged each other to run another marathon. This time we wanted to run together. We chose WDW's Marathon (Jan 10, 2010) because it sounded like a flat, fun, and warm course. We were right on 2 out of 3. As you'll soon see from the photos, Orlando had a record breaking cold front during our 5 night stay. The marathon was flat, fun, and very, very, very cold. The photos below are from the warmest day of our trip.
Squirming and restless . . .
Awaiting his turn for a photo with Pooh Bear and Tigger . . .
Getting ready for the photo shoot using Disney Superstar sunglasses . . .
AT LAST!! The entire family (Papa Tom, Keith, Joshua, Gigi, and me) with our Hundred Acre Friends . . . Notice who isn't smiling!!
new beginnings and an official request
You Say: "It's impossible."
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired."
God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me."
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 and John 3:34)
You say: "I can't figure things out."
God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it."
God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able."
God says: I am able. (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "I am afraid."
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I feel all alone."
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
No excuses. Now, what is God calling you and your family to do? We are excited to share about our call to adopt and our response. These details will slowly unfold in upcoming posts. We had a lot of excuses to ignore the call or just postpone it. In the end, we took the plunge. We got out of the boat. We are done with the paperwork pregnancy. Whew! What took some people 4-6 months to complete took us 10 1/2 months to complete. I'm not boasting; it's just no surprise. Am I ever early?? Noooo. Many setbacks waited behind every new document needed including a mysterious illness. Was it malaria? dengue fever? Fever of an unknown origin was the official diagnosis. We now have a DTE (Dossier To Ethiopia) of 12/11/09. We are officially requesting an infant boy, 0-18 months as a single placement or an infant boy and a boy or girl sibling, 0-6 years old. Are we afraid? At times. Anxious? At times. I love the truth found in II Timothy 1:7.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
We gladly put on God's spirit. As Keith says, "I am tired of living life in fear."
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired."
God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me."
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 and John 3:34)
You say: "I can't figure things out."
God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it."
God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able."
God says: I am able. (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "I am afraid."
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I feel all alone."
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
No excuses. Now, what is God calling you and your family to do? We are excited to share about our call to adopt and our response. These details will slowly unfold in upcoming posts. We had a lot of excuses to ignore the call or just postpone it. In the end, we took the plunge. We got out of the boat. We are done with the paperwork pregnancy. Whew! What took some people 4-6 months to complete took us 10 1/2 months to complete. I'm not boasting; it's just no surprise. Am I ever early?? Noooo. Many setbacks waited behind every new document needed including a mysterious illness. Was it malaria? dengue fever? Fever of an unknown origin was the official diagnosis. We now have a DTE (Dossier To Ethiopia) of 12/11/09. We are officially requesting an infant boy, 0-18 months as a single placement or an infant boy and a boy or girl sibling, 0-6 years old. Are we afraid? At times. Anxious? At times. I love the truth found in II Timothy 1:7.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
We gladly put on God's spirit. As Keith says, "I am tired of living life in fear."
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