 | Early on in our adoption journey, a well-meaning person told me she wished that Craig and I could have one of our own children some day. After I picked up my jaw from the floor and before I turned Hulk on her, I thought to myself, “She doesn’t get it.” As we prepare for the finalization of Isaac’s adoption, I am reminded of this naivety. She didn’t understand that adoption describes how you enter a family. It is neither a label nor an indicator of how someone is valued. Imagine sitting down to dine with a family that has adopted. Certainly the parents wouldn’t use an introduction like, “These are my sons Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John- he’s adopted.” I point out the silliness of this, because adoption is every part of having a family of your own. |
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Back in January I shared “A Letter to Baby.” In it was the letter I had originally written on July 9th, 2014 to our unknown future child. At the time it was written Craig and I had no answers to the who, when, or how of this future little one. When I shared it with you on the blog in January, Craig and I were six months into our adoption journey and waiting to be matched. There were still so many unknowns, but we felt convicted that God had placed it on our hearts to grow our family.
The letter was intended as a love note, but it was also a reminder to me that, even back then, God was providing. Two years have passed since that letter was first written. You may remember that I started my letter “Dear Isaac” and today, I write to you with Baby Isaac nestled up to me and a message of encouragement for you for what God has placed on your heart to do! It’s been longer than I’d like since I’ve written or updated you on our adoption journey. I can’t say much has changed on our status, but I wanted to share a snapshot of what’s taken place. Last Monday, we received another “not yet” after sharing our family profile. The rest of last week was well, quite interesting for both good and disappointing reasons. It’s been overwhelming at times to watch God move the mountains and put together the images of an intricate collage. I hope to share more on this soon.
We are preparing to share our profile again this coming Monday. Of course we are excited that it could be a match, but we are also preparing for other news and realize there is more at work than Craig or myself. One big lesson I’ve learned in this journey is that I can only do so much. Like nearly everything in life, you can try to do everything right, but that’s not a guarantee of results or that it’s going to be any easier. The second piece to this lesson is that God’s got this. We’ve already seen Him at work throughout this whole journey. There is no denying that He has generously blessed, protected, provided, and then some. Receiving this lesson has meant that I can give God this situation and any other for that matter, and He’s got it! At the end of this journey, I imagine a flip book of all the snapshots in our adoption journey. Each snapshot individually is motionless, but when turned quickly they demonstrate the God’s movement. He is at work! In love, Beth For such a time as this.
The line kept popping into my head. I was struggling to even know how to write this week. It’s been another challenging one in the journey of adoption. Craig and I received another “not yet” on Thursday. I had imagined this journey differently- easier, simpler, less painful. For such a time as this. I didn’t really want to write. Craig told me to take this week off, but I knew I couldn’t. There was a story here to be told. And that line. It lingered. For such a time as this. I couldn’t place it. So, I Googled it. It’s from Esther 4:14. I can’t tell you the last time I was in the Book of Esther. But I can tell you that I needed that verse. It’s been a week of perseverance. No, make that a season of perseverance.
As Paul reminds me in Romans 5:4, “perseverance develops character; and character, hope.” Well, I can tell you that I have more character than the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network combined. :) It was a tough week and it’s been a challenging season. We’ve been stretched and pushed in such uncomfortable ways that we’d give Stretch Armstrong competition. Still, with all the discomfort, we have been developing perseverance and we end this week full of hope! Let me give you the three-day ssstretchhh: Some time ago, though it feels like forever, I wrote a letter to Baby Burge. In it, I called our baby “Isaac.” I’ve written before about Isaac and his parents, Abraham and Sarah from the Bible (Read Baby Names and Mountains). Their story, which begins in Genesis 12, is a record of God’s work displayed in their lives. His perfect love, provision, and timing are demonstrated throughout. Early on in our journey of growing our family, I have held on to their story and these truths about God.
This week a family grew through adoption.
It was not ours, no. But we rejoice knowing that a baby girl has a loving adoptive family and birth family. And, Craig and I can feel confident that we did the right thing by making ourselves available. In this adoption journey, we want to be available to respond. Craig and I have had many recent discussions about this together and with God. The challenging (and rewarding) part of making ourselves available is that we make ourselves vulnerable too. We have to prepared for a “yes” and a “not yet” from God. On Tuesday, I got a call. A birthmom had come into an adoption agency in Florida and wanted to place her baby up for adoption. A C-section was already scheduled the following morning. Wow!? At that moment, we had to ask ourselves: Are we really available
And sometimes this happens…  Life. It gets me sometimes. It has a long history of being challenging to folks and in these past couple weeks, I’ve been feeling especially challenged by it.
It’s been a year of growth for us, both through adoption and in our faith. We wanted to take some time to reflect back on 2015 to capture our growth and one day share this with Baby Burge.
1. If you had to describe your 2015 in 3 words or phrases, what would they be? Craig: Busy, Challenging, Growth. Beth: Yea God!, Confirming, Blessed. 2. What was your most common mental state this year? Craig: Brain dead (from being in school). Beth: Eager. 3. Which worries turned out to be unnecessary? Craig: All of them. Beth: What he said. But I’m a slower learner. 4. What was your favorite compliment that you received this year? Craig & Beth: That we’re going to be great parents! On Thursday, I received a follow up e-mail from our adoption coordinator. In it we received brief information that confirmed some of our thoughts about an opportunity we found ourselves in almost 4 weeks ago. At that time, we were first contacted by our coordinator about a birthmother seeking to place her child- a sweet baby girl due in January- up for adoption. Our family profile was shared with her, as well as several others’ family profiles. It was so exciting for us! This could be Baby Burge. The first week went by. No worries. I thought. She needs time. Then the second and the third weeks passed. A dose of reality set in. This may not be Baby Burge. We learned from Thursday’s e-mail that she’s struggling with knowing how to move forward. It’s unlikely that this is Baby Burge. So, now what?
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An Ephesians 1:5 Blog"In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." -Eph. 1:5 (NIV)
I am an adopted daughter of Christ sharing how God is at work as we grow our family through adoption.
I pray that I can begin to express in words how God's been at work in our lives. I pray that He will be glorified as we share with others. I pray for you! I pray that as you read this you will see God at work in your own life and that your relationship with Him will be blessed. Categories
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