5 year anniversary of starting adoption process

Today is a day.  A big day.  5 years ago today we got an amazing phone call, one that we had been praying for.  Our application was accepted and we were starting down the road to adoption.  We were full of dreams.  Full of hope.  Since February 22, 2007 our hearts have been transformed.  Our lives changed forever.  We are so thankful for all the Lord has done and will continue to do through us.  We answered his calling and walked in obedience.

Since February 22, 2007 we filled out countless forms, put our lives on display, had fingerprints taken more times than anyone else I know, received adoption referrals for two boys, James and George, built an orphanage and school in Liberia, lost George's referral when his biological father took him home to live with his family, and watched adoptions get shut down in Liberia more than 3 years ago.  When we started 5 years ago we never imagined that this journey the Lord had us on would end like this.  Maybe we believed that adoption was the final outcome, but the Lord had a different plan.  We know his plans for our family are wonderful.  It is grace and mercy that allows we see part of his beautiful and grand plan.  It is with a super natural peace in our hearts that can only come from the Lord that we can breathe and endure the heartaches we had and be OK with not knowing the rest of his plan.  He knows and that is all that matters.

We have talked about it many times and always come to the same conclusion, we wouldn't change a thing if we had the chance to go back and do it all again.  Well, maybe we would have hugged and kissed those sweet boys just once or twice more before getting on a plane and flying half way across the world.  But other than that, we would do it all again just the same.  We were told adoption is not for the faint of heart, and we are living proof of that.  However, we now understand the strength that the Lord can give to us during such hard, confusing, and desperate times.

Romans 5:1-5 speaks to us about this chapter, this adventure in our lives.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

I just wanted to share a little bit about where we are today.  5 years later.  After a phone call that said you are approved to adopt children.

You can view our full adoption timeline by clicking here.

P.S. Sorry my blog has been abandoned for so long.  I share lots of things on facebook these days.

update

Here are a few pictures taken in the last week.  Things are going really well.  Garrett is over 3 months now and growing big and strong.  Garrett is now in daycare and I have a renewed spirit and focus at work.  If I am going to answer God's calling on my life to be a work outside the home mom, then I want to do the best job that I can do.

Here is Garrett after his bath tonight.

Here he is going to his first day at day care.

Here we are with Garrett on his first trip to the mountains. 

Here he is in his new hat. 

Sons

Here is a picture of James holding Garrett's birth announcement.

Lord, will these two boys get to be brothers?

This picture melted me.  Reduced me to tears.

Father's Day

We went to church, ate Five Guys and Fries, and watched Rocky IV.

1 Month

Our little Garrett is 1 month old today!!!  WOW!  Sometimes it eems like so much longer and sometimes just yesterday.  I LOVE looking at the pictures of our family!