Decision Made!

As many of you know, we have been praying about adopting for a very long time. We have known, and have been convicted, that the Lord clearly states in His Word to care for the fatherless, widows and strangers of this world. We just didn't know what exactly this meant for our family, but we knew we needed to do something. Kent and I have always been open to adoption, whether we had problems conceiving or not... it didn't matter. It is beautiful, and we have always thought this. The way God orchestrates His sovereign plan in bringing parents THEIR child, biologically or from all the way around the world, is absolutely incredible and moving beyond words. I have been ready for months now, but it wasn't God's perfect timing, b/c Kent wasn't there yet. I had a strong feeling God would bring Kent to this place, but I was really having to trust Him and wait on His timing for us. It obviously wasn't right yet... until Saturday night, Aug. 15.

On this Saturday evening, Brooks, for the first time, spoke his own prayer... out loud... without direction... without repeating, at the dinner table. It went something like this, "God, thank you for this food. Thank you for Mommy and Daddy, and help those without mommies and daddies in this world." Tear... seriously, it was SO sweet! We hadn't been talking about this much, although we had in the past. We know God put it in his heart and mind! Anyway, that night, Kent was praying during his quiet time that God would show him clearly in His Word. Kent says that he got through his time with God in the Word, and there was nothing new. He was disappointed and asked God again. Then he felt God was revealing to him..."I have already shown you in my Word. Tonight, I showed you through your son." Then he knew it was time to move forward and pursue our little girl!

Believe it or not, he didn't tell me that night. The next evening, he was going through some books on his book shelf, looking through some of what he had underlined in years past and he came upon a book called, The Potter's Freedom. (Side note: We thought in the past, if we did adopt, we would do so internationally b/c of our heart and passion for missions, the Great Commission, the extremely poor, and the dark areas of the world.) He then noticed something underlined, nothing of note, but his eyes gravitated to the top of the page and it referred to "Ethiopians". We know God is sovereign. We know he knows our child by name. He knew God was leading him to that page to confirm our thoughts toward adopting an Ethiopian child. He still didn't tell me that night! Three nights later came the BIG REVEAL (Wednesday, Aug. 19)! He was in the living room, with every light in the room on, looking at the video camera. When I asked what he was doing, he just said he was just messing with it. Then he asked me to proofread a letter he had written to our supporters that was on the ottoman. I was confused b/c we had just sent our newsletter a few days before. He said he forgot something and to read it! So I did. And I knew almost right away. The first line was this scripture:

James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."

I could barely read the rest through the tears! I knew he wouldn't write to everyone until he knew this is what we decided to do!! I WAS SO EXCITED!! I can't even begin to describe the feeling - other than it was like I was finding out I was about to have another baby... pure delight, joy, excitement! I couldn't wait to tell EVERYONE I knew! I told Kent I had been waiting on this day for SO LONG! Oh, and by the way, he was recording me reading this letter the whole time! That is why he had all the lights on in the room! So I called both our moms and did the first step in the process online the next day.

Everything else... length of trip to bring child home, one trip only, our passion for the lost and oppressed, and so many other details... are in place perfectly b/c that is where He has our little girl. And He has put it in our hearts (Ethiopia) for a reason, and has made it known. Right now, our hearts are with a little girl, between the age of 1-2 years. Who knows what God has in store? But we trust Him... and we know He will lead us to her.

Please, please pray for us in this amazing journey. I know there will be surprises, good and bad days, and lots of waiting. Also, please pray for our little girl and her birth mother... their safety and provision, the birth mother's health and choices, and that she will seek Father and find Him in her circumstances. Thank you for sharing in our joy and in this journey! We can't wait!