Psalms 100:5
"For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
The words and emotions of this day are so overwhelming that it is actually hard for me to put them on paper. I feel really led to share our story with others. I was so touched by others adoption stories and I feel that many of their influences have helped us along our journey.
I feel amazed at what the Lord has done for my family. As I reflect over the last two years, I am in complete awe as this adoption puzzle has become complete.
A few years ago our family was in the living room kneeling in family prayer when one of our children prayed that if it was right for our family to adopt that mom and dad would know. Steve and I peeked at each other during the prayer. We were not in the place in our lives to adopt more children. Our plate was full of family and busy activities that consumed our lives. Those words pricked my heart in a way that I can not describe. I decided that night I would pray to know for myself that if adoption was meant for our family. I love how the spirit speaks to our children and they listen and influence our lives in such a way. We had so many friends that adopted but I never imagined it would be us. At the time, I was finishing my college degree and beginning a new career as a teacher. Adoption didn’t really make sense. I feared things and really the things of the “world” took over in my mind. But, it became very clear to me over the next few months that I needed to follow them simple words in the scriptures: Proverbs 3: 5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” I had no idea how we would complete this huge task but I felt sure the Lord was preparing us for something big and I became consumed with the task at hand. All the questions: where would we adopt, which agency, how will we get the money, where are the children the Lord needed us to find. All I thought about was somewhere I have a child or children and I couldn’t find them. We began the process of the paperwork, classes for preparation, and home study events. Daily I felt such an uncontrollable and overwhelming feeling that I had children out in this world that were being prepared for us and I wanted to find them.
We eventually had a placement through the agency that completed our home study. Twin two year olds were placed in our homes and though it felt right the placement disrupted after 8 days. The mother was undecided about their future. Heart broke and unsure what the Lord wanted for our family we put our home study aside. Although the unsatisfying feeling that my child was not home still haunted me my four biological children and husband could not speak of starting over. Our home study expired and I thought many days I should just give up.
The Lord will bring His children home. I love when you turn your life over to the Lord and let Him have control; everything works out. Five months before we met our new children I heard of a situation in our town of a mother that was expecting and possibly looking for an adoptive family. After searching high and low, across the sea and all over the US, the situation here in our town was enough for us to spark a fire for us renew our home study. We moved slow and unsure from April to June and our home study was finally complete. When it was finally complete, I became frustrated that we had no leads and stuck our home study in a drawer. I could not understand why the Lord had so clearly given us clear direction and then nothing. One month from the day I threw my home study in the drawer the Lord connected me with the same mother I had heard about earlier right in our town. She had placed her newborn and looking for possible help with her other children. The next few moments of our lives were a blur. The first time I saw Alicia and Thomas the hair on my neck stood up and I knew they should be mine. But, having gone through a previous disruption, I was very guarded and nervous to trust. They came home with us on a Sunday and exactly seven months from the day we became an official family. I am thankful to their birthmother that made very hard decisions but put her trust in the Lord.
Today I give thanks for my calling as a mother and to my Savior for His promises and blessings that He has given us with a full quiver of children. Our lives are never dull. We are blessed with a revolving door with family and friends that visit us and love us and help us when we struggle. We have amazing teachers, coaches and grandparents that help us and want our children to succeed. It is fun and exciting every moment. I love that through this adoption He has taught our family when we are down to lose ourselves in service. Families are forever and I am thankful for the knowledge of the plan of Salvation so that one day I can hopefully kneel at His feet and thank Him for His sacrifices for me.
I feel amazed at what the Lord has done for my family. As I reflect over the last two years, I am in complete awe as this adoption puzzle has become complete.
A few years ago our family was in the living room kneeling in family prayer when one of our children prayed that if it was right for our family to adopt that mom and dad would know. Steve and I peeked at each other during the prayer. We were not in the place in our lives to adopt more children. Our plate was full of family and busy activities that consumed our lives. Those words pricked my heart in a way that I can not describe. I decided that night I would pray to know for myself that if adoption was meant for our family. I love how the spirit speaks to our children and they listen and influence our lives in such a way. We had so many friends that adopted but I never imagined it would be us. At the time, I was finishing my college degree and beginning a new career as a teacher. Adoption didn’t really make sense. I feared things and really the things of the “world” took over in my mind. But, it became very clear to me over the next few months that I needed to follow them simple words in the scriptures: Proverbs 3: 5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” I had no idea how we would complete this huge task but I felt sure the Lord was preparing us for something big and I became consumed with the task at hand. All the questions: where would we adopt, which agency, how will we get the money, where are the children the Lord needed us to find. All I thought about was somewhere I have a child or children and I couldn’t find them. We began the process of the paperwork, classes for preparation, and home study events. Daily I felt such an uncontrollable and overwhelming feeling that I had children out in this world that were being prepared for us and I wanted to find them.
We eventually had a placement through the agency that completed our home study. Twin two year olds were placed in our homes and though it felt right the placement disrupted after 8 days. The mother was undecided about their future. Heart broke and unsure what the Lord wanted for our family we put our home study aside. Although the unsatisfying feeling that my child was not home still haunted me my four biological children and husband could not speak of starting over. Our home study expired and I thought many days I should just give up.
The Lord will bring His children home. I love when you turn your life over to the Lord and let Him have control; everything works out. Five months before we met our new children I heard of a situation in our town of a mother that was expecting and possibly looking for an adoptive family. After searching high and low, across the sea and all over the US, the situation here in our town was enough for us to spark a fire for us renew our home study. We moved slow and unsure from April to June and our home study was finally complete. When it was finally complete, I became frustrated that we had no leads and stuck our home study in a drawer. I could not understand why the Lord had so clearly given us clear direction and then nothing. One month from the day I threw my home study in the drawer the Lord connected me with the same mother I had heard about earlier right in our town. She had placed her newborn and looking for possible help with her other children. The next few moments of our lives were a blur. The first time I saw Alicia and Thomas the hair on my neck stood up and I knew they should be mine. But, having gone through a previous disruption, I was very guarded and nervous to trust. They came home with us on a Sunday and exactly seven months from the day we became an official family. I am thankful to their birthmother that made very hard decisions but put her trust in the Lord.
Today I give thanks for my calling as a mother and to my Savior for His promises and blessings that He has given us with a full quiver of children. Our lives are never dull. We are blessed with a revolving door with family and friends that visit us and love us and help us when we struggle. We have amazing teachers, coaches and grandparents that help us and want our children to succeed. It is fun and exciting every moment. I love that through this adoption He has taught our family when we are down to lose ourselves in service. Families are forever and I am thankful for the knowledge of the plan of Salvation so that one day I can hopefully kneel at His feet and thank Him for His sacrifices for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment