Moving New Direction

Today we went to Bluegrass Christian Adoption Services to pick up our file.  We had a wonderful time meeting with Mary and talking about our future.

We praise the Lord for His faithful guidance.  Through our meeting, He confirmed the direction we believe we are to move.  We were already leaning toward transferring our case to Adoption Assistance, Inc in Danville, KY but didn't feel clear on it.  Mary told us she feels very strongly that we should go with them and that she already talked to the director about us.

We plan to begin working with them ASAP.  With this agency we can adopt domestically or internationally.  We are open to however God leads us and as we've said all along, if He totally closes the door on adoption, we are fine with that.

We Received Our Homestudy

We received our homestudy Saturday.  This is very exciting and enables us to apply for more financial assistance.  Hopefully I'll be able to fill out a couple more applications this week.


We also got a letter from God's Grace Adoption Ministry stating that they'd send out forms to our references and after those are returned, they'll meet to decide about the possibility of helping us.
 
Please continue to pray for God's provision, direction, timing, etc.  We want His will to be accomplished in our lives.
 
We are doing well.  Kaitlyn is still grieving for Kenaniah some.  She seems to struggle most during church - especially during prayer and when heaven is mentioned.  We'd appreciate your prayer for her too. 

We've started some new things with the girls this year.  Because of generous Christmas gifts from friends, we have a Wii.  We are using it as a motivator for the girls.  They are having personal devotions (Kaitlyn reads a little devotional book we got her and Natalie & Nicole listen to Bible stories) and memorizing Bible verses.  We are also trying to help them learn how to worship (at least participate) in church.  They are at such a wonderful age.  We thank God for them and are amazed at His blessings in our lives.

God is so good!

Home Visit

Mary arrived shortly before 10 this morning.  We had a wonderful visit with her.  Our girls were comfortable with her immediately.  I left them with her while I finished a few things.  She chatted with them about things they like to do, what kind of things they get in trouble for, etc.  They "introduced their stuffed animals to her and showed her a picture of Kenaniah.

Then we let the girls watch some cartoons while we talked about things like discipline, our relationship, and things we appreciate about each other.  We shared a lot with Mary and she shared quite a bit with us too.  It was a relaxing day of getting to know each other better.  Mary grew up in a pastor's home, so we have many things in common.  It's wonderful to work with an agency where people understand that God directs our daily life and that sometimes we take a step in faith with no idea how God will provide. 

The girls took Mary on a tour of our home while Brad and I finished up lunch.  (Crock pots are wonderful!!) 
We chatted over lunch and shared more stories.  The girls each did a little art for Mary to take with her.  Mary finally had to leave a little after 3.  It's good to have another step of the adoption process completed.

Hopefully Mary will send us our paperwork in the next couple weeks and we'll begin applying for grants, etc.  Please continue to pray that God will work in every step of this process.  We don't just want to adopt a baby to have a baby.  We want to raise a son for God's glory!  We want the child God wants to be part of our family.  And I hope for a child that He plans to use in amazing ways for His glory - not for earthly successes.

P.S.  We also realize God may have us going down this path for purposes we cannot see.  If His goal isn't for us to adopt, we are fine with that.  We simply want to be faithful to walk in the light He gives us daily!

Homestudy Visit Scheduled

Our homestudy visit is scheduled for October 20th!  That gives me more time to clean! :)  I'm actually in the mood to get rid of some stuff and that's a good thing!!!!  So, let the cleaning continue!!!!!
Please continue to pray for this adoption process.  Here are some specific things you can pray for.

• God will work out the details of what mother chooses us to parent her child
• Birthmother - wise choices, health, comfort - giving up a child is difficult, know God personally
• Baby - health, tender heart, adjustments
• Our girls - acceptance new baby, security in adjusting to a baby in the home (they won't feel slighted as the baby takes up so much time & attention), hearts tender to God, patience in waiting for a brother
• God's Provision - we still need more than $10,000
• Brad & Me - adjustments, peace, trust God, patience in waiting for a son

Thank you for your prayers!  We know God has led us to pursue adoption and we are trusting Him to help us every step of the way.  I'm clinging to the fact that "Where God guides, He provides!"

Hope to schedule a home visit soon!

We got an e-mail today that said we'll probably get a call next week to set up the first home visit of our homestudy.  I'd better do some cleaning! :)

It was great to get that news on this anniversary!  I love being able to make progress toward the future!

God is good - all the time!!