Adoption

Two years ago I sold bulbs to family and friends to raise money for an adoption fund. I was overwhelmed by how many people not only bought bulbs from me, but also graciously donated extra, with encouraging notes telling me I was doing a good thing. Two years later, here we are in Southern California. So much has happened since then. So much has changed. But our desire to adopt has not changed. I have often regretted having started an adoption fund, not because I don't want to adopt any more, but because I feel pressured to hurry up, lest anyone think the whole thing was a scam!

The truth is, we really do still hope the Lord provides a way that we may some day (soon) add to our family through adoption. I am a mom; that's what I do. Our youngest is already 3 and will be in school in no time! Then what will I do? I am ready for more children and there are so many children in this world that need a home. Adoption seems like a pretty logical choice for us , right? I thought I had figured it all out and could work through the obstacles fairly easily. However, two years later the obstacles are still there, plus a few. In order to adopt internationally, we need to make a certain amount per person per year, which we were no where near reaching two years ago. To adopt domestically, we got hung up on the size of our house, which is still the issue. In addition to all the red tape we are wading through, I frequently debate if it is even wise for me to have more children placed in my care, with my diagnosis of Crohn's Disease. But then I remind myself that we have managed to raise four children already (with much help from others from time to time!) and only by God's grace. If He sees fit to provide more children for us, then we trust He will also provide the means for us to raise them as well.

The reason I am writing this post is to update those who contributed to our fund and assure you that we are still planning to adopt as soon as we are able, whether it be internationally or domestic; infant or older. We would love to have a big family and we would love to be able to share our home. Your prayers concerning this would be much appreciated! Thanks again to all of you who have helped us so far. We greatly appreciate it!

I had my "quick thinking" skills tested tonight, when suddenly Jakob woke up unable to breath! Croup is such a dreadful, scary thing! But I learned what to do from Anne of Green Gables. (Maybe Jerry will finally have to admit that it really is a good movie). It also helps that we had a baby on oxygen for so many months. Not only did we obtain lots of experience and knowledge about breathing issues, but we also accumulated lots of great equipment and medicine. So much for getting to bed early tonight. But I will have the whole bed to myself, as Jerry decided to sleep with Jakob.

I have been checking out various blogs tonight, mostly of people I don't even know, and I am finally convinced that blogging could be fun. So I am going to give it a try. I am still kind of confused about how it works so bare with me. The reason I have become convinced is because it seems like a pretty easy way to record memories and share pictures. We really don't have anything too exciting to share. We live a fairly simple, unexciting life. But I must confess that I am extremely fond of my four kids and I want to treasure these days that I have with them. It is going so fast! Is my oldest seriously 9 already?? It feels like just the other day we got to take her home from the hospital! So we have four and would have loved to have at least four more, but pregnancy doesn't agree with me much. I had HELLP syndrome with three of them, and the fourth was way too scary. He was born at 30 weeks, weighing 2lbs. 8oz. and had to stay in the hospital for two months. But we have enjoyed him (and the others too) so, so much! I want to have an infant in this house for the next...20 years or so. And each age has it's own set of blessings. Jakob, our five year old, keeps us on our toes, but he is a great source of humor in the home. And Wesley, who is 7, is our very persistent child. But he's also such a sweet boy. I love hearing him talk to his baby brother. Eliese, our oldest, and our only girl, is a very big helper. She is great about babysitting Josiah, and I wonder how I ever managed a baby without her help! Being a mom is definitely a lot of work, but I just love having our house full of laughter and joy.