Beautiful Breezy Sunday - Lots of "Think" time

Today I'm going to share a struggle that I have about adoption.  Well, maybe more than one.  I'm sure as the process moves along, my struggles will change as well.

When undertaking such a monumental responsiblity, there is nothing more important than knowing this is God's plan for our lives.  I'm working through the bible study "Experiencing God".  The one thing I don't want to do is strike out on something I want to do - then hope God will bless my efforts.  I need to know that this is God's plan - and I am being obedient to the call.

In the study, it talks about seeing God at work around you, and joining Him where He is.  In joining Him where He is already at work, you are always in His will.

I finished the book we were given yesterday at our most recent CE class.  Fields of the Fatherless by C. Thomas Davis.  Very insightful reading, in to what the fatherless people of today look like, and what God thinks about it.  It sites many Scriptures revealing God's heart for the orphan, the widow and the poor.

It was encouraging to my heart to see how God has commanded us to reach out of our comfort zone and engage in making a difference and to show compassion.  If it is His command to reach out to the orphaned.  Then I can rest in knowing our adoption is in His will.

Below are a few comments from the book:

There you have it.  The definition of compassion is about involvement.  To be compassionate means to get out of the boat of our current circumstances and get into the boats of those who are suffering.  We are called to bear the burdens of those who are in need of our companionship - to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).  It's not exactly a popular message.


There's a common, very human reason for our resistance.  You see, the reason we don't help the beggar on the road, or the single mother we know is working herself to death, is the same reason we won't help the orphan dying on the other side of the world.  We flee from the need in front of us because of our ancient, ruthless foe, fear.


.......the fear of our lives being rudely interrupted enters into the equation of our attempts to help.


We overcome our fear when we refuse to give the enemy a foothold, and we refuse to respond to the fear.

So in closing today - I am thankful that God put this book in my hands.  By chosing to adopt, we ARE joining God in His work.  Fear is a normal reaction to our circumstances - however, we choose not to be paralyzed by it.  The best thing of all is that by being obedient to God's command to care for the orphaned, and relying on Him for all our needs - HE is the one that gets the GLORY - we are but vessels.

Holy Spirit, please cover the heart of the child you are bringing to our lives with resilience.  Grow our hearts with Your love so that we may be vessels of healing.  Amen.

Continuing Education of the Adoption Process

Well my previous update talked about the word "nurture". In really thinking about the word, I must be honest, I realized how deficient my nurturing skills were with my three grown children. The bad thing is, you can't go back and do it all over again. The good thing is, God gives wisdom. Nurturing can and does extend to even our grown children. I'm so thankful we have a God of redemption and forgiveness.

Today, we had two more continuing education classes for our adoption process:

1. SIDS, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Early Childhood Brain Development, Health & Safety Issues.
2. Transportatin Safety for Children Training

I won't go in to all the details, but I can tell you this - if you are going to be a parent, or if you are a new parent - INVEST YOUR TIME IN PARENTING CLASSES! Don't make the mistake of thinking it's all about on the job training! Education is PREVENTION! Things you'd never think of in everyday life are brought to your attention. It's amazing what I am learning, and I've raised (realizing now, how by the grace of God that really was) 3 grown children - and have been introduced to ideas, even now, I've never thought of.

NEWSFLASH!!!!!! BIG OLE WIVES TALE!!!!!!! DO NOT LET YOUR BABY SLEEP ON IT'S STOMACH - learn this motto - FRONT TO PLAY, BACK TO SLEEP! The statistics on SIDS are staggering - oh, your child won't suffocate on it's own spit up, another wives tale!

Have a plan for frustration when you bring your baby home! Oh, there WILL be days/nights they have fits of uncontrollable screaming that would even make a saint go nuts! Who are you going to call, to give you a break from the blood curdling, hours long screaming? A ten minute break can give you a fresh and softened heart to endure the situation.

WOW, cannot begin to tell you how much we learned about car seat safety! Heck, I thought - buy the car seat, pop it in - and wa la! We are good to go! Boy was I mistaken! What kind of car seat do you need, how is each one supposed to be installed, when to move shoulder straps, where to put it in the car, stress fractures, it goes on and on - If you want to know where you can go, to get your installed safety seat looked at and certified - check out http://www.safekidsgreaterhouston.org/ - for a location you can go to, just to make SURE your child is as safe as they can be.

When we left class today, we were given a wonderful book: Fields of the Fatherless by C. Thomas Davis. I'm almost through with it and plan to give my blog rating to the book tomorrow.....until then - if you are in Houston, enjoy this fantastic weather and be blessed!

Adoption, Day 1 of my story

Adoption.

The word brings about many thoughts and emotions, depending which side of the process you may be on. Today I'm going to share some of my thoughts, from my perspective.

We (David & Donna) are on the side of seeking God to bless us with a child.

David and I have been married 4 years today! David has no children, I have three grown children. Adoption???? What MUST I be thinking! I've done this all before - I know the CHALLENGES!! The nights with no sleep - the screaming ear infections - the teething that can make it seem like you have a fitful alien in your arms, rather than that loving, cooing, soft human being you love to bath, then sink your nose into - taking in the scent of precious life. Ah, then they get older, get a sense of independence, and start to let you know who they think the boss is.......need I say more?

But oh how precious the gift - when God is in the middle of you and your children - and you experience the the wholeness of what motherhood really is about - the relationship of serving, loving, extending patience and mercy - teaching them how to make choices - watching them grow in to maturity - then experiencing the day when they are adults - and you see that all those things you thought you did wrong - are still in God's hands!

I have been blessed to have the opportunity to do it all over again.

Hopefully, with more wisdom than I had the first time.

We need that extra wisdom. David and I have opted to adopt from our states Child Protective Services. There will be challenges.

But, with God, all things are possible. He is Great and Mighty to save! He is the healer of all hurts! It is going to be a privilige and an honor to bring a child in to our home. One that God alone knows we can nourish. What an enriching word "nourish" is - it just dawned on me how deep it is.......

1. to sustain with food or nutriment (I'd personally add to sustain with Spiritual food as well)
2. to cherish, foster, keep alive
3. to strengthen, build up, or promote

Wow, this word touches my heart. Isn't this a precious picture of what our Father does for us? Is it not an amazing blessing to have the opportunity to be a vessel of God?- to nourish a hurting child.....I'll have to stop here today - I'm speechless and humbled. More tomorrow.