Big Announcement

WE ARE EXPECTING!!!

To adopt, that is :-)  One of the things we have talked about since before we were married was that we would love to adopt someday.  We love kids and have always felt drawn towards doing something significant to serve God that also ministers to kids...and it is quite evident through scripture that He cares deeply for orphans and has commanded believers to do their part to care for them.  We came home from our conference in New York with full hearts, asking God what He desires for us and both of us felt as though He was telling us this year will be a year for something new.  We have prayed about it a lot and have sensed His leading in the direction of adoption.  The decision does not come without some apprehension about the adjustments this will mean for our family...especially our daughters....Brad...and me...and who knows how Kooper (our dog) will adjust..., but all kidding aside, there is a lot to consider and many more people involved in loving and nurturing any children we will welcome into our family and it is our prayer that all involved will come to love God's plan for us and through us and that this process will be blessed even though we have been warned that many frustrations and challenges may lie ahead of us.

We had our Orientation meeting today and will continue the process for training and the home study.  We are told it can take somewhere between 3-6 months to complete the process to be ready to adopt, plus it could take much more time to identify the child/children that would be a good match for our family.  It is our hope to adopt through the Foster Care system (appropriate, I know...all the punny people have been having a heyday with this one).  We have a passion to keep a sibling group together.  I have already been looking at the photolistings, but even doing that is emotional for me...when I actually think about it...it is quite overwhelming to see the faces of children (in Michigan alone) who are looking for a forever family. But, for me, the emotional part is good because it usually causes me to pray.  So far two sibling groups I have been interested in have been adopted...Brad keeps telling me to stop looking, but I am thinking it is working out pretty well for them for me to keep looking and praying....maybe if I decide I am interested in all of them; good people will adopt them :-)

Anyway, thanks for reading...if you are a believer, please pray for us as we continue through this process and seek God's plan for our Fosterrific family.