We have officially renamed our blog and changed it from Eyes on Ethiopia to Open My Eyes to See. It's strange, actually, because I initially set up the blog address for Open My Eyes at the same time we did Eyes on Ethiopia because I just had a feeling we would use it down the road. Of course, I had thought it would be much later down the road, after our international adoption was complete. While our journey has taken this turn, our eyes remain open to all of the fatherless children in the world. We will continue to keep our eyes on Ethiopia and will keep that blog address as well to see how we may be used to care for orphans there. For now, though, Eyes on Ethiopia will simply link you to Open My Eyes to See. Lots of eyes to keep up with. :)
Thanks once again for all of the support and prayers as we have made this transition. We're looking forward to being back on track with our journey and updating more frequently again.
fam pic
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Big Sisters
While I know we still have some catching up to do with where we are in this new process, the short version is that we have gotten underway with a domestic adoption. Our homestudy is completed, and that document itself will be used as we move forward. (That also means time and money spent thus far have not been wasted.)
We do have a small amount of paperwork to complete as we make this transition. Part of our domestic packet includes questions for children we already have. Can I tell you just how excited our oldest have been about this? Bailey and Callie were both so thrilled to have an "assignment" and have a part to play in the stack of papers that they have seen us working on up until now. They both very carefully answered the questions in their best handwriting. They have been involved in our discussions and prayer time throughout this journey, and I think their having such a concrete role in the paperwork aspect of this made them feel valued by our agency.
They are already awesome big sisters, and we are going to have one spoiled little one on our hands with these two around. So proud of these girls and so excited to have them as such a big part of our adoption journey!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Change of Plans
We had mentioned in our last post that we have been intentionally taking some time to process a big decision related to our adoption journey. Over the coming weeks, we hope to share more of this process because it has been quite an experience as we have sought wisdom and discernment and allowed God to direct our next step. We have learned many unexpected lessons these past couple of months, but the most profound outcome of our time spent praying and processing all of this is a major change of direction for our adoption journey.
There have been several events and happenings related to Ethiopia, and even specifically to the adoption process there, that have reduced our certainty that an Ethiopian adoption is the right thing for our family at this time. We have been very careful not to make this decision based on fears or emotions, and we have intentionally taken time away from our blog and the adoption process in general to be sure that we are clear on the right next step for our family.
While we were a bit surprised ourselves that our story has taken this turn, we continue to be excited about the call to adopt that God has placed on our hearts. Over the past couple of weeks, we have begun to make the transition to a transracial adoption here domestically.
There are many more pieces to this story and many thoughts that went into this decision. We know that many of you were praying for us as we sought clarity on what was happening, and we so appreciate your support during this time. We will try to put words to some of the happenings of these past few weeks simply because God did some incredible things in our lives that we'd love to share. He is, after all, the Author of our story!
In the meantime, we look forward to posting updates on our domestic adoption. We have already gotten things underway, and there are so many things that have not changed:
- we are super excited about having a little one (or two!) join our family
- we are humbled and grateful that God has chosen this journey for us
- we are thankful for all of you and for your prayers and support
- we continue to have our eyes on Ethiopia, and we will pray for its people, for its orphans, and for those who are in the process of adopting from there
There have been several events and happenings related to Ethiopia, and even specifically to the adoption process there, that have reduced our certainty that an Ethiopian adoption is the right thing for our family at this time. We have been very careful not to make this decision based on fears or emotions, and we have intentionally taken time away from our blog and the adoption process in general to be sure that we are clear on the right next step for our family.
While we were a bit surprised ourselves that our story has taken this turn, we continue to be excited about the call to adopt that God has placed on our hearts. Over the past couple of weeks, we have begun to make the transition to a transracial adoption here domestically.
There are many more pieces to this story and many thoughts that went into this decision. We know that many of you were praying for us as we sought clarity on what was happening, and we so appreciate your support during this time. We will try to put words to some of the happenings of these past few weeks simply because God did some incredible things in our lives that we'd love to share. He is, after all, the Author of our story!
In the meantime, we look forward to posting updates on our domestic adoption. We have already gotten things underway, and there are so many things that have not changed:
- we are super excited about having a little one (or two!) join our family
- we are humbled and grateful that God has chosen this journey for us
- we are thankful for all of you and for your prayers and support
- we continue to have our eyes on Ethiopia, and we will pray for its people, for its orphans, and for those who are in the process of adopting from there
Thursday, January 20, 2011
This is the hard part
Well, we've definitely been quiet on the blog this past month or so. Part of that had to do with the wonderful Christmas season that we celebrated. We were busy with family but not in a stressful kind of way, which meant that we spread our celebrations out over several weeks and had lots of sweet family time. We also rang in the New Year with great expectations for 2011.
Since the first of the year, we have been processing a pretty big decision related to our adoption journey. As is the norm for me, I took to the internet and read lots of blogs and articles and became pretty obsessed with the parent forums out there. You would think I'd have learned my lesson from the triplet mom forums I used to browse during our pregnancy. Nevertheless, I found myself searching for answers in the middle of a lot of noise and information overload.
For the past few weeks, then, I have been trying my best to do what is actually very hard for me. I have been still. I have stayed off of the blogs and forums and have (not as successfully) tried spending less time online in general. Instead of spending precious time searching for our answers, I have decided that maybe, just maybe, the best thing to do after all is to simply be still and listen.
I have to report that, so far, it works! It's amazing what happens in the quiet and stillness. We still have some processing to do, so we do ask that you pray for discernment for us as we look ahead to our next step. We are fine, and we continue to be excited about our adoption journey, but we just needed to hit the pause button on things here at the beginning of the year as we carefully consider the right next step for our family.
We continue to be so thankful to be on this journey, to have family and friends praying for us each step of the way, and to have a Heavenly Father who is patient enough to wait on us to be still so we can hear Him!
Since the first of the year, we have been processing a pretty big decision related to our adoption journey. As is the norm for me, I took to the internet and read lots of blogs and articles and became pretty obsessed with the parent forums out there. You would think I'd have learned my lesson from the triplet mom forums I used to browse during our pregnancy. Nevertheless, I found myself searching for answers in the middle of a lot of noise and information overload.
For the past few weeks, then, I have been trying my best to do what is actually very hard for me. I have been still. I have stayed off of the blogs and forums and have (not as successfully) tried spending less time online in general. Instead of spending precious time searching for our answers, I have decided that maybe, just maybe, the best thing to do after all is to simply be still and listen.
I have to report that, so far, it works! It's amazing what happens in the quiet and stillness. We still have some processing to do, so we do ask that you pray for discernment for us as we look ahead to our next step. We are fine, and we continue to be excited about our adoption journey, but we just needed to hit the pause button on things here at the beginning of the year as we carefully consider the right next step for our family.
We continue to be so thankful to be on this journey, to have family and friends praying for us each step of the way, and to have a Heavenly Father who is patient enough to wait on us to be still so we can hear Him!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
A precious picture
There aren't many words even needed for this picture. A friend sent this to me this evening as a reminder of where he is ... with Him. Even with all of the unknowns ahead, this is known. I am heading to bed tonight with this image in my head and heart ... going to dream about the day I get to join that embrace. So ready for a group hug!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
100% ... most of the time
This period after our home study completion has been an unusual time. For so many weeks and months, we had a to-do list on the fridge of all of the forms we needed to complete and gather. That list is long gone, but we don't have any other "assignments" at the moment and don't know a whole lot about what to expect in our next step. We are just enjoying the Christmas season with plans to start our grant applications after the first of the year. That means there is a lot of time to think ... for someone like me, that is not always the best thing to be doing. I'd rather have some tasks to focus on and some t's that need to be crossed and some i's that need to be dotted. I'm good at those sorts of details. Time to think, for me, means time for doubt and fear to take over.
Not that I doubt we are on the right journey. I can truly say I believe 100% that God has set us on this path to adoption and that there is a little boy, maybe even 2, in Ethiopia who will soon be eating at the very dining room table where I am sitting at the moment. I believe that with all my heart. Here's the thing, though. I don't always believe that 100% of the time. I believe, but I need help with my unbelief.
I've shared on this blog before some of our thoughts and feelings about how incredible this process is and how we are already being abundantly blessed by even being a part of this journey. We are and continue to be, but I have to be honest here. This is also a little bit crazy. Right? Am I the only one who sees this? Surely, someone will back me up on this! Seriously, I find comfort in knowing that what we are doing is not ordinary. Not because we are extraordinary but because that just further proves to me that my God is! He has called us to do something that I know I would not have chosen to do without Him. The fact that I sometimes think we are crazy and that I have fears along the way and that I allow doubt to lead me to the "what ifs" simply shows me that I am, in fact, normal. If I was simply skipping along this road and acting like all was perfect, I would kindly ask that you sit me down and knock some sense into me!
Really, you have my permission. The minute I act like all is under control and smooth sailing is the minute you know I've lost it. The reality is we are incredibly excited and eager to meet our little boy(s). That reality also includes lots of fears and unknowns. We have a lot of money to raise. There will be a day when we get a referral. My understanding is that we will have 7 days to accept that referral, which will include paperwork and a check. The thought of seeing the face of our child for the first time gives me chill bumps, but the thought that we may see that face and not have the check ready makes my stomach turn. I want to say that there is no way around doubts like that, but there is. Bottom line is faith. With faith, we move forward and we anticipate the day we receive our referral and we trust. That's it ... faith, move forward, and trust.
Faith, move forward, and trust, oh my! Faith, move forward, and trust, oh my! Going to keep saying it all the way down the road. I know ... it's kind of crazy. I take that as a compliment!
Not that I doubt we are on the right journey. I can truly say I believe 100% that God has set us on this path to adoption and that there is a little boy, maybe even 2, in Ethiopia who will soon be eating at the very dining room table where I am sitting at the moment. I believe that with all my heart. Here's the thing, though. I don't always believe that 100% of the time. I believe, but I need help with my unbelief.
I've shared on this blog before some of our thoughts and feelings about how incredible this process is and how we are already being abundantly blessed by even being a part of this journey. We are and continue to be, but I have to be honest here. This is also a little bit crazy. Right? Am I the only one who sees this? Surely, someone will back me up on this! Seriously, I find comfort in knowing that what we are doing is not ordinary. Not because we are extraordinary but because that just further proves to me that my God is! He has called us to do something that I know I would not have chosen to do without Him. The fact that I sometimes think we are crazy and that I have fears along the way and that I allow doubt to lead me to the "what ifs" simply shows me that I am, in fact, normal. If I was simply skipping along this road and acting like all was perfect, I would kindly ask that you sit me down and knock some sense into me!
Really, you have my permission. The minute I act like all is under control and smooth sailing is the minute you know I've lost it. The reality is we are incredibly excited and eager to meet our little boy(s). That reality also includes lots of fears and unknowns. We have a lot of money to raise. There will be a day when we get a referral. My understanding is that we will have 7 days to accept that referral, which will include paperwork and a check. The thought of seeing the face of our child for the first time gives me chill bumps, but the thought that we may see that face and not have the check ready makes my stomach turn. I want to say that there is no way around doubts like that, but there is. Bottom line is faith. With faith, we move forward and we anticipate the day we receive our referral and we trust. That's it ... faith, move forward, and trust.
Faith, move forward, and trust, oh my! Faith, move forward, and trust, oh my! Going to keep saying it all the way down the road. I know ... it's kind of crazy. I take that as a compliment!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Little hands
Just had one of those moments today when you realize just how fast time flies. As we were finishing putting Christmas decorations up, our oldest put her hand up on a hand print craft that she made in preschool several years ago. I try hard not to dwell on just how much she's grown up, but that was a very real reminder of how much she has changed in what seems like such a short period of time.
In reflecting on how fast all of the girls are growing up, I found myself thinking a lot about our little boy (still the possibility it could be boys.) It is likely that he is already born, although we have no way of knowing for sure. There are little hands that we will not get to hold while they are so little. We will not have a reindeer with his little hand print as the antlers for his first Christmas. Obviously more important than that, though, is the time we will miss. There are many months of his life that we will never experience. That is how it is meant to be, though. Someone else will hold his hands for the first time. Someone else will hear his cries and catch a glimpse of his first smile.
These are days and months that we have no control over. We don't know who is providing his care. It could be a family in the midst of making the decision to relinquish him to an orphanage. It could be his nannies at one of the orphanages our agency partners with. We pray for those who will care for him until we can welcome him home. They will always be a part of his life and a part of his story. Those who hold his hands now are special people, even though we may never meet them. In a way that still baffles me at times, they are a part of our family. Because they are his family, they are our family. His tiny hands are a reflection of their hands. One day, the imprint of those little fingers will make a fine reindeer or family of snowmen for an ornament. For now, though, I long for the day when we can simply hold them, and I pray daily for those who are loving him now and caring for him. I so wish that could be me, but I have to remember that it's not yet our turn.
In reflecting on how fast all of the girls are growing up, I found myself thinking a lot about our little boy (still the possibility it could be boys.) It is likely that he is already born, although we have no way of knowing for sure. There are little hands that we will not get to hold while they are so little. We will not have a reindeer with his little hand print as the antlers for his first Christmas. Obviously more important than that, though, is the time we will miss. There are many months of his life that we will never experience. That is how it is meant to be, though. Someone else will hold his hands for the first time. Someone else will hear his cries and catch a glimpse of his first smile.
These are days and months that we have no control over. We don't know who is providing his care. It could be a family in the midst of making the decision to relinquish him to an orphanage. It could be his nannies at one of the orphanages our agency partners with. We pray for those who will care for him until we can welcome him home. They will always be a part of his life and a part of his story. Those who hold his hands now are special people, even though we may never meet them. In a way that still baffles me at times, they are a part of our family. Because they are his family, they are our family. His tiny hands are a reflection of their hands. One day, the imprint of those little fingers will make a fine reindeer or family of snowmen for an ornament. For now, though, I long for the day when we can simply hold them, and I pray daily for those who are loving him now and caring for him. I so wish that could be me, but I have to remember that it's not yet our turn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)