Paperwork Pregnancy

Although this is the beginning post of our adoption blog, it is certainly not the beginning of our adoption journey in our hearts.  I knew long before I was married that adoption was in my heart. I prayed and asked the Lord for a husband who also would find delight in growing a family through adoption as our "plan A".  And the Lord blessed me with Adam.  He has always been just as sure as I have been that adoption was the way for us to grow our family.  

We actually began attending adoption meetings in 2004.  We wanted to adopt, but we knew it just wasn't the right time yet.  We have continually prayed and waited for many years.  But we feel that now is finally the right time for us.  

The Lord has laid the nation of India on our hearts strongly since 1999.  During that time we have had the opportunity to meet and befriend many wonderful Indians.  We have learned so much about the people and the culture.  We have come to love the food and a good cup of Indian chai tea.  So, when it came to adopting it was a natural choice for us to desire to adopt from India.  We felt that we would be able to provide culturally for an Indian child.  

We are still in the paperwork phase of our adoption.  So far we have done paperwork, more paperwork, and yet there is more paperwork to be done.  Next week we will be going to town to get a lot of the documents notarized for our placing agency and our homestudy agency.  

As we traveled to be with our family and friends for Christmas last week I turned and looked in our empty back seats and I thought of our precious babies.  I could imagine them sitting in their car seats and going to Granny's for Christmas.  But until I can hold them in my arms, I will hold them up in prayer and keep trudging along in the process, which I know will be long.  We pray each day for them and for their birthmother and the situation surrounding them.  We believe that the Lord is holding, loving, and healing them and those involved in their birth.  

The verse the Lord gave us when we were engaged has remained our family verse and even in this situation it still fits.  "We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May Your unfailing love rest upon us (including our babies), O Lord, even as we place all our hope in You."