The song, "Blessings", by Laura Story has been one of my go-to songs when I feel overwhelmed. I listen and sing and cry and allow myself to just cry out to Jesus during that time. It's one of those songs that I instantly tear up to because I feel that it so accurately depicts how I want to view the hard things that have happened in my life.
That being said, we have some very exciting news! We have been selected by a birth mother, and, if everything continues to go smoothly, we will be having a baby in the not-too-distant future, as they are expecting to induce labor in less than two weeks! We met with the birth mother and her family last night, and it was truly a beautiful experience. They are loving and giving, and we have been so blessed to be chosen to become a part of their lives.
Though we are rejoicing and are excited, this is never a sure thing until after the baby is born and the legal side of the paperwork is done. From our meeting last night, it appears that things should work out, but we are still cautious as we go through this. That being said, there are a few things that I would like to let you all know.
First of all, we will not be putting up pictures on social media for quite awhile. This is for the protection for everyone involved. Also, if you have questions about the process, please don't hesitate to ask us! We do not mind sharing what we are going through with you all, but this is not something that we feel we should be sharing all over social media. Of course, we will be uploading pictures once the baby is a bit older, but for now, things on our social media pages will probably be a little quiet.
Because we have gotten rid of most of our baby stuff, we have made a registry on Amazon that I will include on Facebook, or you can search our names on the Amazon baby registry. Please do not feel that you have to get us something! I will also be sharing our GoFund me adoption page, since we still have about $4,000 that we will need to pay once we get this little baby. We are hoping that we can do some fundraising here in our town too since I will be without a job for awhile as we go through the bonding process after he's born.
The biggest thing that we ask for is for your prayers: prayers for the birth mother and her family as they go through this incredible difficult and emotional time, prayers for baby's health, prayers for baby's and birth mom's safety throughout the next few weeks and through labor and delivery, prayers for us as we move forward into welcoming this new life into our family, and prayers that God will use this opportunity to bless everyone that is affected by it.
None of this has been by accident, and we can see God's hand working in this process. There are still major unknowns for everyone involved, but we do know that God has had this come about for a reason!
Thank you for your continued love and support over the last four years. This has not been easy, but the best things in life rarely are. We are truly blessed, and we are thankful for God's love and blessings!
Love,
Joe, Shiloh, and (soon-to-be big sister!) Lydia
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Choosing JOY
Hi Everyone,
I apologize for not writing in so long! It's been a bit of a roller coaster few months! It's hard for me to believe that it's been nearly six months since my last post!
What's new with us? Well, we have been blessed, but I will be honest and say that I'm not too sorry to see 2016 end. Last September, we received a call from the agency asking if we would be willing to be presented to a birth mother who had recently had twins. We knew that it was only a possibility, but our hearts were hopeful as we waited for the news about whether or not we would be the ones chosen to take care of those sweet little babies. Unfortunately, the situation did not go as expected, and the children were placed with social services. It was another hard blow, but not nearly as hard or bad as what happened last March.
However, other than that, we have had a plentiful few months. Joe has had enough work that I have been able to quit working full-time. I am now substitute teaching for the Glendive school district, and I'm able to be off of work by the time that Lydia gets off of school, which has made it much easier for me to help Lydia do her schoolwork and spend more time together.
That being said, we got a phone call just over a week ago about a possible match. We were called because the situation was a difficult one, and we had to know all of the issues before deciding to be presented or not. We chose to be presented. After waiting a week, we were informed that, unfortunately, the birth mother chose another family. While we grieve our loss, we also rejoice for the other family. Who knows how long they have been waiting or what they have gone through!
It is through all of these things that I have been brought to the realization that joy is something you chose. No matter what is going on in your life; no matter what you are struggling through. You can choose to focus on God's love and plan for your life and live and rest in His love and peace. James tells us in James 1:2 to "Consider it PURE joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kids, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." As I thought about that, it hit me. These trials are to help me become whole and complete in God, not lacking anything, but only if I choose to consider it pure joy. I can choose to consider it pure evil and be mad and unhappy and discontent, or I can choose to have faith in God and believe that His timing and ways are perfect. It's up to me and what I choose.
This is my encouragement to you, whoever you are and whatever you may be going through, God is not absent. He is there, and He has promised that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It might not make sense right now. Heck, it might never make sense while we are living on this earth. The thing to remember is that God's ways are so much higher and wiser than ours that we might not know until we are with Him. I don't know that then it will matter as much to us as it might now. I don't understand why God would put us in a little girl's life, with every indication that she was officially going to join our family, and then allow her to be taken away. I don't think I'll ever really know, but I believe that we were put in that situation for a reason. Maybe we were a testimony of God's love to her mother. Maybe we will minister to someone else who goes through something just like it. I don't know, but I do know that it happened for a reason. If you are going through something like this or need encouragement, I would love to pray for and with you. God is near to the brokenhearted, and we take such encouragement from that since we have had times of intense brokenhearted the past few years.
For now, we are busy with life, and looking forward to a trip back east in April! It looks like we will be going to Disney World for a few days as well (though Lydia has no idea), so we are very excited for that surprise! We can't begin to express the depth of love we have felt from you, our dear friends and family, as we have gone through these times. I hope and pray that we will have joyful news very soon, but until God's timing, we will be content to rest in Him.
With all our love,
Joe, Shiloh, and Lydia
I apologize for not writing in so long! It's been a bit of a roller coaster few months! It's hard for me to believe that it's been nearly six months since my last post!
What's new with us? Well, we have been blessed, but I will be honest and say that I'm not too sorry to see 2016 end. Last September, we received a call from the agency asking if we would be willing to be presented to a birth mother who had recently had twins. We knew that it was only a possibility, but our hearts were hopeful as we waited for the news about whether or not we would be the ones chosen to take care of those sweet little babies. Unfortunately, the situation did not go as expected, and the children were placed with social services. It was another hard blow, but not nearly as hard or bad as what happened last March.
However, other than that, we have had a plentiful few months. Joe has had enough work that I have been able to quit working full-time. I am now substitute teaching for the Glendive school district, and I'm able to be off of work by the time that Lydia gets off of school, which has made it much easier for me to help Lydia do her schoolwork and spend more time together.
That being said, we got a phone call just over a week ago about a possible match. We were called because the situation was a difficult one, and we had to know all of the issues before deciding to be presented or not. We chose to be presented. After waiting a week, we were informed that, unfortunately, the birth mother chose another family. While we grieve our loss, we also rejoice for the other family. Who knows how long they have been waiting or what they have gone through!
It is through all of these things that I have been brought to the realization that joy is something you chose. No matter what is going on in your life; no matter what you are struggling through. You can choose to focus on God's love and plan for your life and live and rest in His love and peace. James tells us in James 1:2 to "Consider it PURE joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kids, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." As I thought about that, it hit me. These trials are to help me become whole and complete in God, not lacking anything, but only if I choose to consider it pure joy. I can choose to consider it pure evil and be mad and unhappy and discontent, or I can choose to have faith in God and believe that His timing and ways are perfect. It's up to me and what I choose.
This is my encouragement to you, whoever you are and whatever you may be going through, God is not absent. He is there, and He has promised that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It might not make sense right now. Heck, it might never make sense while we are living on this earth. The thing to remember is that God's ways are so much higher and wiser than ours that we might not know until we are with Him. I don't know that then it will matter as much to us as it might now. I don't understand why God would put us in a little girl's life, with every indication that she was officially going to join our family, and then allow her to be taken away. I don't think I'll ever really know, but I believe that we were put in that situation for a reason. Maybe we were a testimony of God's love to her mother. Maybe we will minister to someone else who goes through something just like it. I don't know, but I do know that it happened for a reason. If you are going through something like this or need encouragement, I would love to pray for and with you. God is near to the brokenhearted, and we take such encouragement from that since we have had times of intense brokenhearted the past few years.
For now, we are busy with life, and looking forward to a trip back east in April! It looks like we will be going to Disney World for a few days as well (though Lydia has no idea), so we are very excited for that surprise! We can't begin to express the depth of love we have felt from you, our dear friends and family, as we have gone through these times. I hope and pray that we will have joyful news very soon, but until God's timing, we will be content to rest in Him.
With all our love,
Joe, Shiloh, and Lydia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)