Ten months of pregnancy but who is counting?

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I couldn't help but think of my two little ones that I miss so deeply. Hoping next year, Mother's Day, God will bring us all together. Waiting seems like an eternity to me but knowing for the kids it is a 7th of their life! I remember when it seemed Christmas took forever to get here. Now it feels almost like we just had it last month. I am praying for a miracle, that God would bring us together sooner than I expect. I know His timing is perfect timing. He is using the time to prepare our existing family for what is to come.

Isaiah 55:8,9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Lots of Scary Stories

Kevin here. I never heard so many scary stories until we attempted international adoption. Stories about orphanage conditions, about kids damaged by drugs, alcohol, deprivation or abuse. Stories about their inability to bond with their adopted families. Stories about the estimated time frame versus the actual much longer time frame. It reads like a Stephen King novel and they never have a happy ending.

Call us a little crazy but we aren't doing this for a guaranteed happy ending. It all has to do with your perspective.

From a worldly perspective, compared to these kids, I am a king. We own a home, a car, a TV and our kitchen is stocked with food. They showed up at our house with only the clothes on their backs. No suitcase, no toys, not even a toothbrush. How could we with our comparative wealth turn our backs on these poor children?

From an eternal perspective, God has said in His Word that children are a blessing. Even if everything goes wrong in our lives here on Earth, my desire on my judgement day is that God will look at me and say, "well done, good and faithful servant". We hope that our actions will make a difference in the lives of our children but we leave the outcome in God's hands.

Matthew 25:34-36,40 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me'. The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"

How Our Journey Began

Last summer an unexpected thing happened! We were called and asked to host a couple of children from Ukraine through a hosting program. Some of the other families scheduled to host were unable to do it. A friend called us up out of the blue and asked if we would be interested. Our response was "No I don't think so." A few more days went by and the program director called and said someone had referred us to her. Again, we said sorry. Another day went by and a message was left on our answer machine saying someone had referred us to this agency and thought we would be a great fit. At this point we felt that maybe we should at least call back and consider. We spoke with the director and agreed to host only. Kevin said "Don't get any funny ideas." I reminded him we had always talked about having at least four children.

On July 23, 2007, we met two wonderful kids. We brought them home to live with us for three weeks. It was amazing how they fit perfectly into our family. We didn't want to see it that way at first. We were really trying to protect our hearts. It was inevitable though, we fell in love with them. Our other two children, Garrett and Morgan pray every birthday wish for a younger brother and sister. The only way this was ever going to happen for them would be through a miracle of some kind. That is what I see this as. God's hand was in it from the beginning and has continued opening doors. I always prayed that if God left a baby on my doorstep that would be a sign He wanted us to have more children! This was kind of like that. They were a little bit older than a baby but anyway...

Last October we put our dossier together and shipped it off to Ukraine. We were really hoping to bring the children home this spring. That isn't going to be possible now due to the SDA shutting down early last year. The Ukraine also has a quota on international adoptions. We recently just found out our number won't be filed at least until middle of September. At least we have a number. There are many other families who won't even get the chance to file at all this year.

The waiting process has been very difficult. As difficult as it is for us it must just seem like an eternity to our little ones. All we can do is allow God to shape us during this time and pray God keeps our little ones safe in His arms.


Hebrews 11:1, 6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.