I’m a little overdue for an update… I wish I could tell you that so much has been done over the past few weeks but honestly, we’ve just been up to our ears in paperwork! It’s crazy how much paperwork is required for adoption. And then once you get it, you have to get it certified only to get it certified again. It’s amazing how anyone can decide to become a parent and birth a child but you have to be put through the ringer to adopt… medical, financial, psychological, background checks, references… whew! We’ve completed our medical checks, had our 1^st home study meeting, and sent off our fingerprints for our FBI background check. Now we are working on educational classes and our autobiography and marriage questionnaire for our social worker so she can start the home study write up. Everyone says that our social worker will know more about us than we know about ourselves- a little scary, huh? Anyways, all this will make up our dossier which is a collection of papers and info on Will and me and why we should be allowed to adopt. Once our dossier is complete, we hope to have a referral in 6-9 months. We are slowly treading through.

But onto exciting news…

Thanks to an awesome friend at Bethel, Shelby Blake, we have our first fundraiser!! She was able to design a picture that we wanted of the world showing the connection from Poland to Tennessee… the little journey we will travel to bring a special child home!! Check it out…

We then had this picture flipped into a puzzle of 513 pieces. Yes, 513! Being the genius that I am (or rather that I’m not), I didn’t think about how hard it would be to put this puzzle together… we hope to have it done before the baby comes home. Lol…

 

 

And here’s how it will go… We are asking for a donation of $5 for each piece. When you donate to our adoption for a puzzle piece you get to write your name on the back of your piece. We will then connect the puzzle and eventually (and hopefully) when it is completed we will be able to frame it and show our child one day all the pieces of the puzzle that brought him or her home. YOU could be a piece of this puzzle and this amazing journey. Please let me know if you are interested and tell all your friends. You can call me or Will, email us, facebook us, or whatever. We will keep puzzle pieces with us at almost all times so you can donate whenever!!

The Questions...

The big questions- I knew the questions would come… some good, some not so good, some serious, some silly, and quite frankly some stupid. But as we all were probably told as a kid, if we don’t ask we will never know. So I expect questions. In fact, I welcome questions. That way, you will know. So let me address a few that we've had so far… well the not so stupid ones at least.

Why adoption? Do you not want biological kids?

Well yes, we do want a biological child… just like we want an adopted child. And that’s just that. We WANT BOTH! Have we been trying for a biological child? Yes, we have, for quite some time. But hey, I've already told you how the whole planning my life thing myself didn't work out. Like one of my friends texted me the other night… God just has something else highlighted right now.

So you've been trying and haven’t gotten pregnant… is there something wrong?

Nah, I don’t really think so! Sure there are some things that didn’t match up on my blood work but nothing I feel stressed about now. It’s been given to the Lord.  I guess the only thing that is wrong is MY opinion on what I think GOD’S timing should be.  I was offered the medication and stuff but Will and I decided that it’s just not us. We don’t want to go through it. Not that’s it is wrong if anyone else does it. Like I said, it’s just not us. We rather put our time, energy, and money into adoption.

So you’re adopting… are you just going to stop “trying “ to have biological kids?

Ummm… do you really want me to answer this one? :)  We’re young and pretty healthy and will more than likely be able to have biological kids one day. It just hasn’t happened for us yet. And what’s the big deal? Why not adopt now? We are ready! I love what my sister once said… “Adoption is not just for the barren. It’s not just for people to feel 'normal' and 'complete their family'. We aren't called to a life of normal.” We are adopting regardless of what the future holds for us- biological kids or not. Our decision has been made. So get on board. :)

Ok, ok- so you are adopting… why Poland?

 Will and I prayfully considered international vs domestic and although I probably can’t give you an answer some may want to hear, we felt led to do international. In my opinion, EVERY ORPHAN needs a home regardless of what country they are in so try to not to judge either way. I know people that have adopted both domestic and internationally and EVERY CHILD IS BEAUTIFUL and all of the parents are nothing short of a BLESSING to not only their children, but also to me and Will. So after we decided on international adoption we began narrowing countries down based on our age and length of marriage. We looked at the age of the children, their needs, and the requirements of the country. After the weeding out process was over we had a few countries on our list and Poland was the one! It’s been researched, studied, and most importantly prayed about. We weren’t specific about gender…. We are open to a boy or girl!

When do you get to bring a child home?

Ugh, the question that stinks to answer. Adoption is a LONG process. One that the Lord will surely grow my patience with. The total process can take anywhere from 12-18 months depending on how paperwork goes. We are fresh in… it’s going to be a while. But hey, this just gives my mother-in-law time to pick out what her grandchild will call her! J

What can you do to help?

So glad you asked! J This WAS not a stupid question but rather the SMARTEST of all… haha! First and foremost, PRAY! Pray for our child, born or unborn. Pray for our strength and patience through this process. And pray that the PROOF OF HIS LOVE will be shown all throughout this process. (have you figured out my theme yet? Lol)

Adoption is not only emotionally draining but also financially. We have some cool ideas for fundraisers… bracelets, shirts, and a 5k hopefully in the fall. Buy some Thirty-One stuff from me…let Will cut your grass! J It’s all going to a good cause. Stay connected and I’ll keep you posted if you are interested in helping us bring a little home!

Finally…

I hope this helps answer a few of your questions! If you have more, then ask! Just don’t be shocked if there is an answer on the other end that you aren’t expecting. But if you know me or my family by now, then you expect it. J

The News Is Out

We officially broke the news... I guess the saying is true- nothing is officially until it's "Facebook official." :) So after telling family, close friends, and our awesome church it was that time last night!
We are ADOPTING! We are going to POLAND! And we are soooo EXCITED!

Adoption has been on our hearts for a while now but if anyone knows me then you know that things just don't happen unless they are on in ink in my planner... and more than likely highlighted! (Kimberly, Kelsey, Carlie, and Kim...wink wink) I never dreamed that adoption would come now. Later, but not now... at 3.5 years of marriage, as barely a new grad, and as living at my parents. (Yes, a story for another time.) I had my plans in place and this was to come farther down the road. Funny how God makes you think you're completely in control and then all of a sudden throws you for a loop. I love His humor. He totally wrecked my planner! ha! God's been laying something on my heart for almost a year a now and I just couldn't figure out exactly what it was. After being in Russia to bring home my 2nd nephew with my sister, however, adoption seem to have a connection with it. And of course I have a man that patiently listened to me talk to him almost daily about it. I tried to hush the calling I felt until I couldn't do it anymore. It hit me square in the face on the way home from working out early one morning when For King and Country's song "The Proof of Your Love" came on the radio....you gotta listen to it if you haven't heard the song. Through my sobs I realized that it was exactly what God was calling to me to be... PROOF! PROOF OF HIS LOVE! And what better way to do that then to get the chance to show a child this proof. A child that is small, hungry, lonely, cold, and fatherless in this fallen world... because hey, that's exactly what me and Will were- we were small, hungry, lonely, and cold in this crazy, fallen world at one point. And what did Jesus do, He adopted us! He wrapped his loving, warm, and awesome arms around us. He fed us, loved us, clothed us, and blessed us beyond our dreams and He is still doing it today! And how could I deny this is what God has been speaking to me about when Will felt it too?

Ahhhh,  can you hear my excitement? We are going to get the chance to do this for a child. We are going to love the fatherless. We are going to show mercy. And we are going to do for the least of these! And best of all, we are going to do this for a child we call OUR OWN!

Will and I are already blown away by the amazing support everyone has shown. Please join us through this journey!! We know we can't do it without you!