how did we get here?

I figured I'd revive the old blog (and boy do I feel rusty at it...) to explain a little about our recent big announcement (ADOPTION!) and maybe chronicle the details on this new step in our lives. I kind-of loved pulling this thing back up - I love that the last post was from 2011 when I had 2 little kiddos and was pregnant with a third and then life was a whirlwind and the blog was the first to go. Anyways, I digress.

Adoption... it's something that Adam and I have always talked about since first getting married. It's always been in the back of our minds, wondering about if/when and in the meantime being blessed by God with many arrows via the biological route. We've prayed for and watched dear friends add sweet kiddos to their families through adoption and each time our hearts were pricked more and more for our China baby. When Hudson (precious blonde arrow #4) turned one, I really felt that adoption was the Lord's next step for us but Adam wasn't so sure (money, long timeline, lots of logistical work, heck: a 5th kid) and we would have periodic conversations about it, but really after the first couple of those conversations didn't go well, I just committed to praying daily about it (not bringing it up constantly ever, not talking about it unless Adam brought it up, not nagging Adam about it, but just literally praying about it and entrusting it to the Lord that He would lead us in the way that we should go). I prayed that if a baby from China was God's plan for us that the Lord would change Adam's mind (specifically praying Isaiah 30:21 - that Adam would know - this is the way for your family, walk in it). And the Lord answered my prayers!

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Daily prayers for a year. Thanks be to God. [I have many friends who have prayed for things, babies especially, for much longer than this and my heart breaks for them. This statement of praying for a year and receiving a tangible answer is in no way meant to minimize those who have longed for things for much longer and who still wait ---> for those friends I know 2 things: 1. God hears you, 2. God is good. Keep crying out.]

Last October, we went to a benefit for the Pregnancy Resource Center in Charlotte and the speaker there was very pro-adoption and that night Adam told me that about a week prior he knew that we were supposed to adopt and he was just waiting for the right time to tell me. That was on October 8th, 2015. I had been researching agencies, narrowing them down, and after discussion with Adam, we decided to move forward with America World Adoption Agency (AWAA). I've posted a timeline on the right hand side of the blog for those who'd like to follow along with us on this journey.

So the short answer as to how we got here? God led us here. We are SO excited and SO thankful.

We're excited because... I don't know if you know this about me, but I love adventures of any kind. On our recent (last summer) 11th anniversary trip to Hawaii we went on this big 17 mile kayak trip around Kauai - named one of the top adventures in the U.S. by National Geographic. I like to say that in an alternate life I would have been some mountain climber or hiker or something that involved big things and taking risks. And in my/our actual reality, God led us to this adventure of adoption - something that involves big things - big hearts, big love, big money, big travel... and taking risks. I love it so much.
We're thankful because... I feel like we're able to even do this thing (emotionally, financially- but hello we'll need a lot of help with that obviously - get ready for tshirts etc, etc) because of all that God has blessed us with already. He has blessed us with stable jobs, with healthy kids that are well-adjusted, with a house, food, healthcare, a great church/community of support, friends.  Really all that we need. We're able to open our homes and our hearts to another little one out of a response of thankfulness from all that He has already given us and blessed us with. We have all the material things we need and we have a family - the one thing that China baby needs... a family. We can be that for her.

I hope to keep up with this blog as a way to document our adoption adventure for friends, family, and most importantly, our baby girl that's waiting for us on the other side of the world.

Next post up... why China?