I don't need to know what's next

This is our official blog announcement that we are in the adoption process.  This is something that we have always known was going to happen "someday" but it is finally here.  We went to our first adoption seminar from our agency last Fall and we were planning on starting the process this January but Jeff felt a strong "wait" command from God so we did.  In about March, my cousin Suzette asked if I wanted to go with our agency on a trip to China.  I figured this was a great way to learn about the kids and see what their life was like before they find a family.  It was an amazing trip as you can see from previous blogs.

The urgency to adopt became so much more real and Jeff felt released by God to move forward.  So we began the process at the beginning of July.  Since then we have been approved by our agency, started our home study and become matched with a child.  It has been a whirlwind of paperwork, social worker appointments, emails, fingerprints, signatures, doctor appointments, TB tests and emotion so far.  Right now we are pre-approved for our child in China and we are considered a "paper-chasing family".  We are trying to get all of our paperwork in a row so that they can give final approval and we can start the waiting process for being approved to travel and bring him home.  

Our girls are excited and so curious about what life will be like with a brother.  Jeff and I are so extremely thrilled to have a son.  There is so much to be joyful about but so much left to do.  

One thing I'm trying to work on with my kids is contentment and trust because they are always asking a million questions.  They want to know what we are having for dinner, where we are going, what is going to happen next every moment.  I make them a yummy dinner, we go cool places and do fun things every day and yet they just NEED TO KNOW.  I'm praying about this and asking God, "Why do they do this? I give them every thing they need!" And always, He reminds me that I'm just like them.  There is a new Christian song out from Moriah Peters called, "You Carry Me", where she sings the line, "I don't need to know what's next. You'll be with me every step."

What a statement. I don't need to know what's next.  I just need to be ready and available.  I don't know how long the rest of this adoption process will take, when our son will come home or what his medical outlook will be.  But I know He will be with us every step.  It make take us places we don't expect. It make be a longer road than we want to travel.  But I'm going to trust.

One of the scariest parts to me is the money.  Chinese adoptions average about $30K and we don't have that at the moment.  I didn't expect this process to go as quickly as it has and I have no idea how we are going to finish paying for that right now.  But I have to get up every day and believe that He has that step figured out.  If He brought us to this child on the other side of the world, he surely can figure out how it is going to be paid for.  

I ask for your prayers not only for the money and the process but for the health of our son as he waits to come home. Pray that God carries all of us.