In Amazement

It has been a little less than 24 hours since we were informed that we were matched with a birth mother. There are formalities and obstacles ahead on this journey that could de-rail this particular situation, but 24 hours in, it really looks like in 7 weeks we will become a multi-ethnic family!

As I sit on the airplane listening to my Matt Gillman and Corey Asbury on my iPod singing about the holiness and beauty of this God that we serve (on the album 'Holy') I am overwhelmed by His presence and His caring love. We have a lot of documentation to read and contracts to sign and money to raise so I decided to read a bunch of the paperwork on the plane. There is so much peace around this situation and I am filled with awe at the notion of what is about to occur in my family. Listening to the music makes me aware that this entire process has been orchestrated and ordained by Him. All we have done is obey and put one foot in front of the other, filling out paperwork and mailing it all over the country with more information that I care to think about.

When we first started this process most agencies we talked to looked at us like we were from Jupiter ("You have kids AND you want to adopt AND you WANT an African-American child?"). They just didn't know what to do with us. But we continued following the calling of God in our hearts and filled out the paperwork they asked for. Then, in November came the news that my wife was pregnant with our fifth child. Who would want to place with us now? Our home study wasn't even complete. Would the agency even finish it? They did finish it as we were so close to completing it (just needed one more set of finger prints and a personal reference). The were very nice but made it very clear that their agency wouldn't place with us and that it would be difficult to find someone. Of course we were very disappointed, but continued to speak to our souls and believe and trust in the God that only does wondrous things.

Our home study was completed on February 19, 2009. Now, here it is only 77 days later we get "the call". In spite of everything set against us. In spite of all the hurdles that we have setup for God. Most couples wait around a year to adopt. We haven't even waited 3 months. (Of course that's not counting the 7 years of waiting on God to open the door before now.)

Adoption is such a part of God's heart that he will overcome all the hurdles in his path to place the fatherless in homes and provide for orphans.