The Beginning

How do I start? How do I correctly reveal the state of our hearts before deciding to adopt and after? How do you explain to someone the depth of KNOWING without a shadow of a doubt that this journey is EXACTLY what you are called and designed to walk through?

I'm not even sure where to exactly start. I've always loved adoption and the families it creates. I had never really thought that our family was called to adopt. Probably the first thing I can point to is attending a church service in Portland, OR at Westside A Jesus Church December 16, 2012. Here is the link to the podcast: click here . (Let me just warn you up front that this is a challenging message to listen to!) I left the service with a seed planted in my heart and an agitation (which was a good thing) for the plight of the fatherless. I prayed about it and then told Paul what was on my heart.

There was no movement.

2013 came and started and the seed of adoption kept growing. I felt that I needed to attend an adoption conference to find out more about adoption in general from foster care, to domestic adoption to international and how to be a part of helping orphans. I attended an amazing adoption conference with Tara Bradford and a team of wonderful women from Journey church in Bozeman, MT. I learned so much! I was both excited at the prospect of adoption, and felt renewed in our efforts to work with a school (CGA in Kenya) that works with the fatherless. I received wonderful advice from the women attending and I am so thankful for their words and encouragement.

I waited and prayed.

As a family we decided to open our home to an exchange student for the 2013-2014 school year. It fell through.

2014 came and an opportunity to host a student from China came to us. We said yes right away! We had already decided as a family to host so adding Tao to our family was a no brainer! She was amazing to have! We love her dearly and cant believe the year is already done! She is precious to us and I now have a daughter from China!

As her year with us came to an end, Paul and I had a serious talk and adoption came up. It was a definite calling to both of us and a 100% yes from us both and our kids. Crazy!! We are starting!! We were told that we would be put on a waiting list to start the process. Ok, that's fine. We were told it probably wouldn't open for us until sometime this fall or more likely next spring. We really thought that we had a little bit if time to organize our lives a little bit. HA!! Nope!! It went fast and we were called in May to say they had an opening and we could apply to adopt and begin the process with adoption in Haiti. WHAT!?!?! REALLY?!?!?! Whoa!! Here we go! So now here we are!

Paul and I both decided on Haiti for the adoptions because we have both been to the country and experienced the culture and the amazing people. Again, we have a huge peace that this is what we are to be pursuing. We know this is a long process and we are praying that you will walk alongside of us in prayer as we go along this journey.


Psalm 68:5-6a
⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
    is God in his holy dwelling.
⁶ God sets the lonely in families,

2015

So far I have only been writing a once a year blog post. This is soon to change! I will keep you all updated as we begin a new journey. It's exciting and we will definitely need you all to walk with us in prayer.

Well, Here it is 2014!!!

Holy cow! Time flies! I'm sitting here trying to catch up with changing passwords, etc. and I seemed to remember in the back of my mind that I had written a blog at one time. :) So here I am trying to play a little catch up! Is there any way to get back the last year and half? sheesh! I am now sitting here trying to think of what to even write about. There seems to be so much going on, but not enough time to chat. I think I will write a blog about Eliza's diagnosis. That is pretty fascinating. We shall see if I actually get around to it! :)

AAAAANNNNNDDDD We are BACK!

Hello friends! We are back on! So much time has passed I am sorry. (For one thing our "normal" computer went out, boo!) So? Where to begin?? So much has happened and so much growth too. Eliza is finally sorta crawling and her first word was "bird," and Zoë read her first word, "hat". Paul keeps busy at church and is involved with the new building project. I stay busy with the girls going to the library, tutoring, bible studies, house "stuff", art projects, running and more!

This past month was a  BLAST! Paul took me to Chicago for my birthday and I ran the Chicago 1/2 marathon. I would recommend  it to anyone! It was seriously SO much fun!! 16,000 people +!! LOVED IT!! Can't wait to do another one next year. Maybe in Oregon? We shall see.

Today is a blustery sort of day, good for soup and snuggling up to watch a movie. Cinderella came out on video and of course Zoë remembered that I was going to buy it for us last spring, so guess what we will be watching tonight? :)

Alright, that was a quick update, but I WILL be writing more! Yay!

~Abbie

We are still here!

We are here, we are here, we are here!! Life has been going on and the blog has been left behind. Sorry friends! What an amazing time we have been having with our sweet girls! Both Cricket and Peanut bring such joy into our daily lives. We have been busy this summer with birthday parties and friends and family visiting. I took the girls to visit their grandparents for a week and they LOVED being with "crappa" and Granny Jannie. Paul's parents came to visit as well and we had a blast while Paul was in Africa. It was so great to have them join us in our daily lives. Cricket is still not walking yet despite passing her first birthday. Peanut is growing into the "independant" 3's and is doing quite well with keeping mom and dad on their toes. I will try to update more as I have time!