The Call

Many of you may know why we chose to adopt and many may wonder why would they adopt when they have been able to give birth to three children already. I am excited to share this with you but as I do, please know that I don't claim to be an English expert so please look past any grammatical errors.

It all started in April 2007 right around the birthday of one of our sons. I began to feel a tugging on my heart in such a strong and undeniably powerful way. As I sought the Lord in prayer I knew He was asking our family to adopt a little girl from China. I spent days weeping before the Lord asking Him if indeed this was His will before I shared this with Shane. The heaviness on my heart only increased as I prayed and read about orphans in the world and specifically China. I knew for some unknown reason-that our 4th child would be born in China. I have always had a heart for orphans and specifically foster children after working with several while I was a speech therapist. So, I was a bit surprised when I heard the call to China!

One evening while talking with Shane on the phone as we did every night, he noticed I had been crying. I told him I really wanted to wait until he was home the next day to explain what was on my heart, but he insisted. Because he was so concerned I began to share with him what I felt the Lord had been showing me. Silence, and more silence is what I heard on the other end of the phone. He said..."well, we can talk about it." I knew that was all I should expect because really who in their right mind would want to have a 4th child when their husband was traveling 4 days a week and had three children ranging in age of 6 to 1 1/2 at home. I must admit I struggled with that a lot myself even asking a friend-"do you really think it is the Lord calling us to do this, or is it something in my flesh!" She laughed and said what about your flesh would want to do this? Well, I thought and prayed about this and in the end knew it was my desire to obey Him and to live a life pleasing to Him-not the "world"-regardless of how crazy others may think we are, including family who love us tremendously!

After two weeks of little discussion, despite my efforts, Shane approached me at the dinner table. He had just flown home from work. He leaned down and whispered "I agree, God wants us to adopt!" I was in shock and so excited! It was then that this burden and heaviness lifted immediately! We were going to adopt a little girl from China!! I can honestly say that once he said "yes" to adopt, he never wavered! He was 100% on board! It was I who at times was overwhelmed with fear and wonder as to whether we had made the right decision-but I will share this at a later date!

It took us 3 months to choose an adoption agency-America World -July. End of July of 2007 Shane's dad was diagnosed with a cat IV brain tumor and had most of it removed within days of his first CT scan. We also experienced the loss of my grandparents in October 2007. May of 2008 my father-in-law fell down our stairs. This was a very difficult time as we had witnessed the Lord bring him back from living in a wheelchair to walking and talking again! We had many set backs with regards to our paperwork process but through it all we knew God was sovereign and despite our grieving He would have our little girl in China ready for us when He was ready! We were Logged In to China in July 2008.