​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!
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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.

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…