Category: Adoption Journey

Posted in Adoption Journey, Different Scriptures

Where to start??

Posted on by Wick

You’ve probably heard the exclamation, “jumpin’ Jehosaphat!”  But you might be about as familiar with him as you are with John Jacob Jingle-Heimer-Schmidt (na na na na na na na!!!!).  There’s much more to Jehoshaphat than a silly saying, however.  Check out 2 Chronicles 20:1-17 to read the beginning of a pretty cool story that happened to him…(I’ll wait, while you read.)

Before heading into the battle, we find in verse 21:  “After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing, Give thanks to God, His love never quits.”

It’s an important reminder to us to be people to head into situations where we must depend on God (i.e. all of life) with thankfulness. Thankfulness not for His performance, not for His actions, not for His favor….but for His LOVE.8743534855_014ae9b4c4_o

In this story, we know what ends up happening: Several armies all ended up converging at the same time in their pursuit of God’s people, and became confused as they met. They all attacked and killed one another. When God’s people arrived to what they assumed would be a battlefield, they came upon bloody masses of bodies that had been killed in a giant battle. God’s Word had proven faithful.

Certainly everyone there was thankful. It took 3 days for them to collect all of the treasures, weapons and supplies from the fallen armies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple with harps and lyres and trumpets. The fear of God came on all surrounding kingdoms….etc. It was an important victory, to be sure.

But what I want to point out today is the scripture we hear quoted all the time. Verse 21 – “Give thanks to the Lord, his love endures forever.” The memorable moment of how thankful God’s people are comes not after the victory (although there was plenty of celebrating), but before it.

What are you trusting God for these days? What insurmountable obstacle lies before you? What conflict does there seem to be no resolution for? What do you want to happen, and feel God desires it, but you have no idea where the resources will come from?  This adoption journey has definitely been one for us.  Both the financial aspects of raising money (you can still give if you’d like!), and even more-so the period of unknown waiting for a referral.

We don’t all have a Jahaziel (the prophet who spoke to encourage Jehosaphat and his people) telling us God will fight the battle for us. To assume that would be to rip this out of context and give us license to try anything. But it does give us a great model to follow. Whatever direction we travel, and whatever obstacle seems to be in the way – we should lead/begin our journeys with declaring our thankfulness to God. We are thankful for His Love, that endures forever.  For us, it’s a great reminder that even more than we desire to bring home a daughter who needs a family – it’s all meaningless if in that process we forget or reduce how important God’s love for US is as well.

No matter where our journey takes us…we have so much to be thankful for…and that is the foot we lead with. May your life discover new victories in Christ as you do so…

Posted in Adoption Journey, Uncategorized

longest. advent. ever.

Posted on by Wick

So here’s another official adoption update without much officially to update.  We’re still “next on the list” for a child who meets what we’ve been approved of.  We’ve even been able to extend the age a bit, because we began this process with a younger youngest child.(Illinois doesn’t generally allow “artificial twinning”, which means adopting a child the same age of your children.)  We’ve gotten e-mails in recent weeks that are exciting, and we’re hearing of sibling sets, and twins, and girls the age of our kids being adopted.  This is great news, as children who need a forever home are being connected not only with shelter, but in many cases with a home centered on Jesus, and God – the ultimate Father.

There are new posts on a regular basis by this author, or that news source, or this organization.  Many of them sounding the alarm about corruption in the adoption system.  Some saying international adoption misses the point.  Some simply trying to educate.  Others processing their own guilt publicly, after not asking questions in their own process of bringing home a child.pinkdrc

So much of the conversation continues to distract us from the truths.  Soooo many children are dying, and in need of being cared for.  So many women and children are being abused, forgotten about, and fought over.  The war in Eastern DRC continues to move toward the edge of who knows what, as UN Troops arrive in the next month or so for the first ever offensive action aimed at controlling the M23/rebel forces.

And in the midst of it all, it seems the brokenness of our creation offers a possible volcanic eruption.

I listen to NPR…probably too much.  It’s at the point now that when I read a book that talks about something thought provoking, I hear the voices of prominent NPR reporters reading me the text.  I hear stories from all over the world, and I realize there are so many important things happening.  But when I see or hear an extended report on something I feel like has gotten way too much media attention, I can’t help but feel the sting of injustice, when I know the current homeland of my daughter is enduring so much suffering.  I’m reminded that this…right here….this lump in my throat.  This filling of my eyes.   This emotion that rises when I read another report on the abuses against the people of the DRC….this is one of the reasons we’ve been called on this journey.  To have our hearts broken by that which breaks the heart of Christ.

Before we began traveling this road, I could hear reports from all over the world, and maintain my waffle square.  Safely compartmentalized in my Midwestern US world.  Now, my eyes and heart are being changed.  Already in the midst of wanting to “rescue” my daughter (I realize some bloggers challenging the evangelical adoption movement don’t like that word…deal with it.)…she has already begun to rescue me from what had become an all too localized world-view.

All of that to say….please continue to pray with us.  Not just for our daughter and family, but for the people and nation of the DRC.  May God come, and begin to set things right even now…

Also, we’re still raising funds for when that e-mail/call comes, and we begin the journey to actually bring her home…if you’d like to give, click here.  Thanks so much!!!

Posted in Adoption Journey, Different Moments, Different Thoughts

and so…

Posted on by Wick

It’s been a while since I’ve posted an official “update”.  We have so many friends and family who have given, and are joining us in prayer – I felt like I wanted to post “something”.  So here it is:  we are still waiting.

It hasn’t always been easy, and there are still moments where it’s not.  But we’ve been reminded through it all – sometimes it’s okay to wait.  Just like the blog I posted earlier this week, sometimes it’s good for us to remember that in the midst of ugly suffering – there is something beautiful and precious happening.  We can hope and pray that something along those lines is happening here.

8668379016_09631c718a_hWhether it’s the fact that our daughter is having a few more days with her birth family; or simply that God knows I haven’t quite released my desire to “do it on my own strength” yet….or possibly even just because it just hasn’t happened yet.  We continue to receive a peace about where we are at this point.  Waiting.  Trusting.  Breathing slowly.  Knowing that God’s activity is not contained only in the act of bringing home our daughter….these moments are formative, prayer-inducing, and Spirit-relying.  After all, “patience” is just one bit of the Fruit of the Spirit….right?

Pratically – we’re at the top of the list still.  We’ve had more than one occasion where we received the offer of a referral that almost met the requirements we’ve been approved for.  In each case, there has been a difficult moment of prayer, and incredible experiences of desperation before a God who we want to love – and who Loves these children.  It’s not easy to release a child/children who really needs a family, but we know there are several incredible families on the list after ours – many who are better set-up or shaped to receive these.

So for now, we continue to pray.  We check our e-mail about once an hour (at least).  We pray some more.  We try to figure out how to raise a few more bucks (only about $10,000 left to go, if you wanna give just click here!).  We talk about what God is doing, and look forward to how our family will grow….in so many ways.

And not forget that we have 3 daughters at home who are being transformed by being a part of our family as well.  Their little hearts are bursting with Love, even in the moments it may not be 100% transparent.  They get so excited to realize that by living from love – they are changing the world.  The WORLD.  They pray for Phoebe, and can’t wait to meet her.

Someday soon, we will move forward.  Until then..we continue to grow and be changed….