Patience

Isn't that truth?

I'm finding it hard to be patient this go around. I think the first time with Adiah I was just kind of clueless about the whole process. I mean, I knew that at some point I'd be finished with our paperwork. I knew that at some point we'd get a call about our little girl. I knew at some point we'd travel to go get her. They say ignorance is bliss and in this case I think it's a tiny bit true.
With Rhett, we found him as we were paper chasing so his sweet picture was in my mind as we were finishing up and it felt like time flew. It only took us 11 months from applying with AWAA to being home with him. Crazy fast!
However this time.....I think I know whats on the other side. The excitement of finishing up. The excitement of the call. The excitement of knowing the one God chose for our family. The excitement of traveling to get our sweet one. And so I'm finding myself thinking ahead too much. Not being in the moment and enjoying the process. And I don't want to look back on this time and not think of it fondly.

So today....I choose peace. I choose a good attitude. I choose to be in the moment. I choose to look forward with excitement as we go down this road to....whoever God has for our family. I choose to trust Him with that.

In other news, we finished up our home study visits on Saturday. We may need to add a few things because Emily is living in Tennessee for college right now but hopefully it won't hold us up too much. After our home study report goes through several people for corrections, etc then we get to apply with the govt for our approval to move forward. Exciting times, people! We're working our booties off over here!!

1st home study visit

Our first home study visit is scheduled for this afternoon and to say I'm excited is an understatement! Our social worker is the same one who has worked with us before while adopting Adiah and Rhett. We're excited about that. She's sweet and helpful!

Our second visit is scheduled for Monday and that's our full family visit where she comes to the house. Emily will have to be skyped in since she's at Belmont but it's nice that they're working with us on that.

And then our last visit is next Sat!

I think I've officially finished gathering documents for our home study and dossier and so begins the portion where I send things off for certification/authentication, etc. Once our home study report is finished then we apply with the govt for our approvals....blah blah blah. So many things to keep straight.

Anyway, just wanted to post something on here about where we're at right now.

So ready....being patient and trusting His timing. I'm a work in progress. ;)

Why again? After all these years?

I know its a question that many of you are thinking.

Why again after all these years? You already have 5 children. Don't you want to be done raising kids ever? Isn't enough enough?

Listen. I get it. Please don't think that we didn't wrestle with some of those same thoughts. 

Because we did.

But here is just a tiny glimpse (without giving too many personal details) into why.

When Brian and I got married we never really thought too much about how many kids we would want to have one day. We talked about "if we can't have kids....I guess we'll adopt". But really that was it. Very early into our marriage (like '3 years' early...like 'in the middle of medical school' early) we got pregnant and had Emily. Then Natalie 2 years later. Then Ridge 2 years after that. So honestly adoption wasn't really on our minds or hearts after that. So we decided to "help pregnancy not happen" and found a Dr to do the same. 

And then....

Brian had a car accident in 2004 that ripped our world apart for awhile. And we found God. In a new and powerful way. He changed so much about us during that season of pain and healing and so we began thinking about "if we never had another tomorrow" what would we wish we would have done. And so we began the process to adopt Adiah from China. And it was amazing and life changing and challenging and wonderful. Our hearts opened up to love in ways we NEVER knew was possible. Not just Brian and I, either. Our kids began to love differently. And outside of themselves. And big. 

And then God gave me a dream. No...not that "I have a dream" kind of thing. A literal dream. About another one. And it freaked me the freak out! Because...."GOD! We already have 4 kids and Brian will kill me when I tell him about this. And I want to travel. And do things. And....yes. Ok. I want this!"

So I told Brian about the dream and he didn't kill me (sorry to spoil the surprise!) and he said we'd pray about it until we knew exactly what God meant by that dream. So that's what we did. God showed us the way to Rhett and so here we are with 5 kids. And it's all kinds of wonderful (and loud) just as I'm sure you're imagining. 

So why?

Well....for the past couple of years Brian and I have grieved our decision that we took into our own hands early in our marriage to "control" how many kids we have. Plain and simple. And I won't get into the whats and whys and all that business because that's private. And I know that there are differing views about that. This is our personal journey, however. But we knew that God was stirring our hearts for another. Whatever and however that looked. And as weird as it is for us to be thinking down this road again...we trust Him. And as much as I dragged my feet on getting started (because oh my word the paperwork!) my mother heart is anxious to bring home whoever God has for our family! We're pumped! So yes....I'll have a college kid (she's at Belmont University in Nashville. Waahhh!). One almost graduating high school (she's in 11th grade right now). One beginning his high school career (he's in 9th grade). Two in elementary (they're in 3rd and 2nd grade currently). 

But like we realized after Brian's accident way back in 2004...we're not promised one more day. And our time here is short. And for some reason He has opened our hearts up to this again. So we're fervently working on this paperwork. And trusting his timing. And believing for big things! 

I'll keep you posted.... :)

Announcement time!

Well! I felt it was only fitting since we have  "The Road to Adiah" and  "The Road to Rhett" blogs floating around out there (and poorly managed I might add....dang you social media!) that I go ahead and begin "The Road to...?". And since we don't know who it is we'll be bringing home I guess the title of this blog will stay that way until we know. I wanted to have a way to document our new journey as we bring home another sweet one from China!!

Yep! That's right...

And we couldn't be more excited and anxious to get this paper chase finished. We have gathered almost all of our documents for our home study and are waiting for the phone call from our social worker to begin our visits. I have NO CLUE how long this chase will take us because its been a minute since we've done this (We brought Rhett home in January of 2010. I'm sure things have changed!) but I'm hoping to be DTC by March. Is it possible? Pray with me that it is!!   Next post....why again?