Happy New Year! Wow — 2012! Rolls off the tongue easier than 2011, I think. This year (in just a week and a half, actually), my parents will celebrate FORTY years of marriage! Reid will turn four in a few weeks; Kevin and I will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary; Hale will be 10 this springs; our big dogs will hopefully make it so see their 12th birthday in June; Mackey the WonderPup will turn 2; I will no longer be able to round down to 30 but rather up to 40 when I turn 35 this summer; this will be the 6th year we have lived in this house; Addison will be 9 years old in the fall; the cats…if they can continue to escape death by coyotes, will have been with us for 7 years; Sydney will turn 6 years old right before next Christmas….and the one thing we’re all a little more focused on than the things previously listed…we will, God-willing, welcome our fifth child into our family — officially, that is! We already feel as though he is part of our family; we are just waiting on everything to be official!
Update: we received an updated medical file and two new up-to-date photos of John Mark a few days before Christmas! It was a wonderful gift and an answer to prayer. I had begun to feel a little like we were stuck in a stalled vehicle going nowhere! The Inter Country Adoption Board (ICAB) in the Philippines had a list of about seven questions for us…mostly just clarification on some things that were in our home study. When I finally stopped shaking and crying from looking at John Mark’s new photos, I did my best to answer their questions as thoroughly as possible. The answers were sent back to ICAB and we continue to wait for a response. It could be that we receive even more questions; it could be that we receive approval; and yes…it could be that we are denied. The last one would be the most bitter pill to swallow that I can ever imagine…but I have to be honest with myself and with our family. And we know that the Lord has a plan, one way or the other, and that we need only to lean on HIM, not our own understanding. Easier said than done, but it is what I truly believe.
We do have some people to thank for what they have done to support us throughout this adoption journey. First and foremost, everyone who has prayed and continues to pray for John Mark’s well-being, as well as for our family as we wait. These prayers have been like a warm blanket on a cold night! We are so very grateful, and we ask that you continue to pray!
Secondly, to my friend Ivy, who is also my hair stylist. She has sacrificed a portion of the income that she would normally make from doing my hair in order to give me a cheaper rate, as she knows that the expenses that come with the adoption are a little daunting! At first glance, this might seem minor. But I tell you, I was moved by the fact that Ivy thought of this and was willing to sacrifice income on our behalf. That is a good friend!
Thirdly, a thank you goes to the individuals involved with our church’s Global Outreach Team. This team granted us $500 towards our adoption expenses. This money has already been applied to the remaining amount that will be paid upon our adoption approval. THANK YOU to the First Church of God Global Outreach Team for supporting our family, as well as others! This gift was completely unexpected and humbling!
Of course, there are a lot of other things going on in our family besides the adoption. Hale & Addi continue to excel in school, and we are so thankful for their capacity to and love for learning. Sydney & Reid are making great strides as well, making new friends and most notably enjoy their Sunday School lessons like no other child I’ve even known! It is amazing the details they retain from their lessons, and incorporate the Bible stories into their playtime! While the real estate auction business has slowed due to the time of year, Kevin continues to work long hours on technology projects. We give God all the glory for the way in which he enables Kevin to provide, and for the opportunities to earn the funds needed for the adoption. In fact, it is one of the sweet things that comes up in Hale’s nightly prayers, and it goes something like this: “Dear God, thank you for this day….and please give Daddy work so that he can make money that we need to pay for John Mark.” Of course, we have explained that we are not BUYING this child, but you can see how it seems that way in the mind of a child!
We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to begin leading a new small group of married couples at our church. We’re blessed by the relationships that have been formed and we pray that the Lord continues to do a mighty work in all our lives and within our group.
That’s about it for tonight…the hour is getting late and I am getting sleepy!