For several years we thought we were finished having kids. Braden is now 11, Caris is 8, and Cade is 5 and all seemed perfectly content and it was almost, dare I say, getting easy! That's when it started ... you know, that "feeling" that the Lord is trying to tell you something and prepare you for something. That clear feeling that contentment isn't God's will in our lives. While we were pondering these feelings, it seemed that everywhere we turned someone was talking about adoption or orphans. Our hearts and minds were opened to the possibility that maybe the Lord was saying we may be done having our own bio kids, but our family was not complete. We heard several speakers, read several books, and after about 2 years of prayerfully considering our family adopting a child, we "pulled the trigger" as Greg likes to say. Not for just one child, but hopefully 2!
We started the formal adoption agency application process in September of 2012, sent in our country specific application and medical clearances in November 2012 and our full dossier was sent to Ghana, Africa on March 4, 2013. We are hoping to adopt one or two children of either gender under the age of 5.
Right now we are currently in the "sit and wait" phase. The endless hours of paperwork and research are done for now. We are waiting for a referral from our adoption agency. They will match us to a child/children and call us with the info. Then they'll forward any pictures, medical files and all other information they possibly have on the children to us for us to decide if we want to adopt them. Once we accept a referral we will travel to Ghana a few months later to offically meet and adopt the children in Ghana court. Then, we will return home to file for visas and passports to bring the children home. Once the visas and passports are in place we can again fly to Ghana to bring them home for good! That all sounds easy but there are a ton of steps in that process that need to be orchestrated before any homecoming happens.
We have already had a few roller coaster moments in this process and from what we are told, it's most likely just the tip of the iceberg. We know full well that these moments will only make the day we bring our kids home to this family even more sweet. Through this process our family is discovering such amazing feelings of our own redeeming love from God. We have been adopted through our belief in Jesus Christ - what a great picture of God's family! All colors, all nations, all under God's roof.
John 1:12 - But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
We appreciate your prayers for us during this next phase of our lives. Here are some ways you can be praying for us:
- For patience and peace during this sometimes LONG waiting period. (we don't even have any estimate of how long it could be)
- For Braden, Caris & Cade who are extremely excited about having more brothers or sisters but may not fully grasp the many changes this will bring for them.
- For our kids in Ghana. Pray that they may be getting loving care, enough food, and attention.
- For us to continue our education to be ready and equipped to take care of these new kiddos that will mostly likely be coming with deep hurt and sadness in their hearts.
We will try to update this if or when we get new information regarding our adoption. Thanks for loving us enough to read it!
Greg & Robin
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