Doubting Adoption?

Everyone has been really supportive and excited about our adoption. However, I know that some people wonder about this HUGE decision we've made and not vocalize it. This post is for them, and maybe you, too! Have you ever known beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were supposed to do something. Whether spiritual or not, it doesn't matter, just something you were 100% sure about. Well, that's how sure we are about this adoption. Jesus says that His sheep will know His voice. I don't claim to hear God speak huge life-changing things to me all the time. There have been several times in my life that I have felt His call and heard His voice so strongly in my spirit that I knew it was Him. And I know that He guides me because I submit myself to Him. And Daniel, too, is very sensitive to the Holy Spirit's calling.

Adoption has been a BURDEN to me in the past year. Not a bad, heavy one, but an all-consuming one. I don't know if I can describe how strong it was for me in the past year. When I heard stories of the little girls being killed, abandoned, or left to die in China it was hard to turn a deaf ear. Now, the years before, it was a more like a nice dream. And when I thought about it, it was light and free. But when I decided to give up the dream, it became a burden. Obviously, I was not supposed to let this dream die. And when Daniel and I made the final decision, it was the most beautiful feeling I've ever felt. It was all joy, light, wild excitement, and PEACE. There is no fear. And I believe when we are walking in the LIGHT that God desires for us, there is no fear. We have no fear of finances, we have no fear of another child, we have no fear of what Hope will look or act like, we have no fear of her health, we have no fear of her future, we have no fear of any disruptions in our lives, we have no fear. Neither of us.

Again, I quote: Adoption is not about families finding children. It's about children finding families. I challenge each one of you rent the DVD China's Lost Girls from the National Geographic series. You know, there are needs all around us. We are presented with them everyday. We give money to our church, we give money to missionaries, and we do things OURSELVES to make a difference. My brother in law Andy has said that if every family would adopt just one child it would make a big difference. Could you imagine?

To know that God is trusting one of His precious children into our hands is amazing. What are the chances that Hope would live a safe life, die, and go to Heaven? Very, very slim. But now, we know that Hope will be given a chance in life to fulfill her dreams, and purpose that God calls her to! She will never know what it's like to be an orphan. She will never know what it's like to not be loved and accepted. She will never know what it's like to NOT believe in Jesus as her Saviour! She has hope now! And that is so beautiful to me. No matter what the cost, it is worth it. We look forward to the good times, the bad times, and the ugly. We are ready for the challenge no matter what it be. We know that God has given us the GRACE, for we can already feel it! It is such a good feeling to know that we hear the voice of God and even better to follow it! It is such a good feeling to know that we have a little girl waiting to join our family! It is such a good feeling to know we are saving her life from Satan's grasp and she is destined for greatness.

The Bible says that caring for orphans is true religion. Does that mean we should go visit them and pray for them? Yes, but what if we really dig deep and do more? Would that make God proud? Don't you think that is His heart? Is there ANY chance that God would NOT want these precious abandoned children adopted by families who are blessed way beyond measure? When you really examine it, it doesn't seem like such a "big, scary" decision. It just seems NATURAL. It just seems like the right thing to do. And we are doing it.

We are ready to it, today, tomorrow and forever. We can't wait. You know, we are adopting Hope, but once we get her, she won't be adopted anymore! She will be ours! Our very own. Adopted on a certain date, but into our family forever! We feel honored to do it. We know that Hope is changing lives RIGHT NOW. She may be changing yours!