Home From PAC...Choosing Our Path

We were incredibly blessed by attending the 2-day Pre-Adoption Class. We were challenged and reaffirmed by the information and material that was presented. To give you just a little bit of an idea of what the days were like: we were assigned a "small group" that had a social worker as the facilitator. She did a lot of teaching and we did some exercises in getting to know other couples, talking through the questions and challenges of adopting, and race issues. There were also large groups that included panels of birth mothers/adoptees/adoptive families, videos about attachment issues which included actual footage of the children waiting in orphanages around the world, videos and presentations on race and culture issues. Lots and lots of information.

But something happened when we were in St. Paul. My husband really came alive. The first day I was so happy to see him asking questions and engaging people. The second day there were sessions that were country program specific. We had signed up for the country program we had decided on. But at the last minute, I mean literally within 10 minutes of the session starting, he asked if he could go on his own to another country program session. And so he went, while I stayed in the other session.

When we met back up I had lots of questions about what he had learned. He told me he would share with me on our way home, which was in 5 hours.

We went to dinner. He shared his heart, explained his feelings from all angles. To give you just a little bit of an idea, the country program he is interested is extremely unpredictable, requires more work on our part, and is actually a pilot program. The country program we have been planning on is extremely predictable and comparitively easier than virtually all other international programs, in our opinion. I was so touched by Ryley's sentiment and drawing to this other program. So now we are faced with a choice. We will move forward, but we are unsure about where our child is. My husband is completely prepared for a difficult road ahead if we choose this other country program. He is willing to endure anything to find his child. And I am absolutely inspired about my husband's heart for the orphans. I can't wait to see where God leads us, how He will grow our family.

Psalm 25:4, 12 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;...Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

PAC Dec. 18 & 19

We received our invitation to attend our required pre-adoption class on Nov. 28th! I just got off the phone with the Director of Social Work at Children's Home Society who has reviewed our application and even presented our file to the country program we are hoping for, and they both agreed that we are excellent candidates for adopting! God is so good...I've been worried about a brush with the law that occurred when I was 19, and it appears this won't be an issue for the program we are interested in. We've also been struggling with cash flow issues, as we have a lot of expenses this time of year (including taxes on Ryley's farm income). To make a long story short, I know God will provide and it will work out...it's just difficult to not be able to see how. But that's what faith is, right? His timing is perfect.

We were able to share the news of our plans to adopt with a few of our friends at Lake Community Church yesterday, and we were very blessed by that! Our dear friend, Anna, even prayed over us. I am always amazed at the power of speaking a prayer over someone. And then I was able to share an intimate conversation with Deb, who we haven't had a whole lot of time to get to know...but she is a mother that I will strive to be like. She has a deep love for her children, and anyone she comes into contact with, for that matter! Both Anna and Deb are so compassionate, and I am always reminded of who Jesus is in their presence.

Ryley was able to go ice fishing again yesterday with our friend, John. My sweet husband has had such a stressful few months, and I could tell his demeanor was more relaxed when he got home from fishing. I am very much looking forward to the harvest being done! Hopefully this week, although we are supposed to get 3-6 inches of snow in the next 24 hours.

Thanks to everyone who has been encouraging and praying for us. We are so blessed.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.