homestudy

We are moving forward. Finally beginning our homestudy.

I say that because we have been waiting a year to even start.  Just too many people on the list. I find it amazing that there are so many orphans who need families and yet, it takes so long to be placed. So many orphans who don't have a mother to hold them or a dad to love them. We just continue to be faithful and walk through the doors He opens.

I'm beginning to realize (not that I didn't know it but it's so different when you live it out) that when we have our daughter home it will ONLY be a miracle from God. My van just happened to break down last week. Never has before. Never needed anything other than maintenance. Yet, as we get ready to do our homestudy and pay for our homestudy, we have a major problem with my car that need seven hundred dollars worth of work. Seven hundred. It's funny, I'm not worried. I know those things will happen. And I know the God who is bigger. It's just money. We believe He gives us everything and He will provide. We would covet your prayers as we continue and finish our homestudy...

Just walking in faith. And so humbled He has called us to this journey.

     ~Melissa

Laughter. Crying. Giggles. Singing. Clapping. Screaming. And mostly, "Mommy!"

These are just a few of the sounds I hear on a daily basis. I adore the sounds of the three energetic  passionate, loving toddlers that call this house a home. That's what it is. A home. It may not be the most organized (although I do love a clean house) or decorated (love that too), but it is a home that is filled with love, laughter and most importantly, is overflowing with God's love. I want it to ooze out of everywhere. I desire when people see me, they see God.  Not for all the things I can do but all the extraordinary things Christ does IN me. And when they enter our home, they know it's different.

I long for the day when people see my three littles, they see three sold-out lovers of Jesus. 

So many people have asked when was I going to start blogging our journey. Well, today is the day. Today is the day I am going to step out again. Step out you say? It's stepping out to me because I love to keep things personal. Why? Probably because I like to think I have it together and honestly, want people to think that too. But with honesty comes freedom. I was sitting beside a dear church friend this morning and while talking to her, I realized she didn't know about our decision to adopt. After sharing and hugging and crying, I decided I am going to start to write it down. I NEED to write it down. And if I end up helping or encouraging one person, then I did what I was supposed to. But also, there are people who want to join our journey with us and we need their prayers. We need their encouragement.

We are adopting a little girl from Japan! We have actually been waiting a year since December 2011 and have received acceptance letter from our adoption agency this past December (2012). We are so very excited and eager to have her join our family. It still looks like a long journey, but we will take the steps God has before us and let Him lead.

So thank you for joining our adventure with us. We are blessed.

Love-

Melissa