One Year Down....

Well, it hasn't actually been a year. It won't be until March 1st, but since that is Tuesday and I rarely find the time to blog during the week, I'll blog about it today. March 1st will be the "official" one year anniversary of our journey to adopt from Rwanda. This is the date we received confirmation of our acceptance into the program with our agency.

A lot has happened in that year. Adoption and non-adoption related. Gracie and Isaac have grown like weeds. She is a first grader this year and doing great in school. She loves to do art projects and read. Isaac is a 4-yr-old boy, and that says it all! He's constantly "flying" and "blasting" stuff and is full of energy. He still loves to snuggle and be held. Mama's baby.

My faith has grown a lot. Now, I know I have WAYS to go, but through barely making the paperwork deadline back in August and the weeks of silence then weeks of movement and back to weeks of silence, I have come to truly experience the feeling of casting all of my cares on Him. He loves this unknown child of mine much more than I ever will. He formed my child in another woman's womb and in my heart. My child is growing leaps and bounds every day in my heart.

Now, as more families receive approvals and referrals and rumors fly of time lines set, it is becoming more real, kind of like feeling those little kicks before Gracie and Isaac were born. We're minivan shopping (!) and in search of a nice set of bunk beds. Every day Gracie comes up with new names (she says she doesn't like the girl name we picked out.) Isaac often gets impatient, "WHEN is our little brother or sister getting here?!" They are going to be such great big siblings!

While we wait, please pray about helping us financially. The Lord has blessed Matt with extra work and we have been taken care of by our Wonderful Provider in so many ways, but if you would feel led of the Lord to help us on this journey, please contact our agency, America World Adoption Association, and ask about the Eternal Family Program. Please continue pouring out your hearts in prayer that our little one comes home soon!

And the Movement continues!

Well, the last week has been exciting! Several families have received referrals this week, PRAISE GOD! This is the information that includes a picture of your child and medical history, background, etc. Kinda of like the adoption equivalent of an ultrasound. This is awesome to see people who have waited for 12 months or more final know their child.
Another noteworthy bit of info is that our agency has started what they are calling the "Eternal Family Program." This is a means by which family and friends can make a tax-deductable donation to our adoption costs. So many families do great fundraisers and apply for grants and loans to cover the adoption costs. In our case, I work full time, which I joke is our fund raiser, since I can't work and plan fund raiser at the same time :) Plus, with our join incomes, we haven't qualified for a lot of grants out there. So, if anyone, at any time, feels the Lord would have you contribute to process of bringing our child home, you can contact out agency America World Adoption Association, and they can give you any information you need.
Most importantly, we covet your prayers. Prayer for us as we wait with growing anticipation to bring our child home. And prayer for our child. That the Lord would keep him or her healthy and provide for his or her physical and emotional needs until the time comes for us to bring them home. Lord, make it soon!

Through the eyes of a child

I know I haven't posted anything in a while. There had been good news every few days there for awhile in December and January, but February has been very quiet, too quiet. We had heard a rumor a while back that thinks should be speeding up considerably, but no news is not the easiest thing to bare. No news is not good news, it's just no news.

I wanted to share something very special though. My 6 1/2 yr old daughter Gracie wrote a school assignment for a "personal narrative" a true story about a life experience. Gracie's was titled "We're Adopting":

"My family is adopting. One day in the afternoon momy said we were adopting. Momy what does adopting mean? I asked. Adopting means there is a child that doant have a home so we make them part of our family. said momy. Four weeks later a lady and her hasbend came to our house. They talked to momy and dady for along time. After a long time they came to me and Isaac and asked us if we wanted a boy or a girl. Isaac said he wanted a boy. I said I didn't care. They stayed until I thout thayd never leav. And they gave us lots of paper work about adoption. Now I can't amagin what will haen neksed!"

(spelling intentionally left "as is")
I can't wait to see what will happen next either baby girl!