The Two Faces that Changed Our Lives Forever

The rest of the story

I ended the last blog at the point where we decided to adopt domestically. So here's the rest of the story. For anyone who's adopting domestically, here's some advice: don't look at the waiting children's list until you are completely done with training and your home study. Here's why...we fell in love with a boy named Shawn. His smile was beautiful and we just knew he would be ours. We prayed for him and looked at his picture daily. We rushed to get all our trainings done and we really did finish them quickly. A few weeks before we completed everything, Shawn's picture went off the waiting children's list. We were heart broken. So as you can see, it's not a great idea and we learned a lesson : )

So at our home study(which really is not as scary as you might think) our caseworker asked if we would be open to foster care. Initially we had decided on straight adoption. Greg said, what else do we need to do? and when she said nothing, we agreed. That was in January. Then the waiting began...

We started getting emails from our agency with pictures of children. If you want to submit, you email back and wait some more. The adoption coordinator is allowed to choose two home studies to be sent on to that particular child's case worker. Then they look at all the home studies and choose 3 to go to the final staffing where they pick the family. As you have probably already figured out, it's a long and frustrating process. We waited patiently, okay maybe Greg waited patiently but I didn't! It seemed like forever!!

On Friday April 8th, 2011, Greg got a phone call from our agency asking if we would be willing to take two foster children, ages 6 and 7. He immediately called me and after a short discussion we said yes! After rushing to clean out our two rooms, the kids arrived less than two hours after the initial phone call. It was like two little tornadoes came in our house, ha! While we tried to fill out all the information and sign all the papers they opened every drawer and closet we have! Eventually we finished and the CPS workers left. We went through their two bags they brought with them and believe me, it wasn't much. That night was a bit of a blur. Surprisingly enough, they asked if they could call us mom and dad. Of course, we said yes.  After we got them in bed, Greg and I looked at each other and knew that our lives would never be the same....we were parents.

The Beginning

Well, I made the mistake of declaring that I would start blogging tonight in front of witnesses so here it goes...I'm going to take the next few posts to update everyone on our adoption journey. We started off with a prompting to adopt internationally but after attending the together for adoption conference and hearing Pastor Robert Gelinas talk on the church as a redemptive agent of change we knew we would adopt out of foster care before we considered adopting a baby internationally. I think it's important to take a little time to talk specifically about the conference and what made us change our minds- or more accurately how God moved our hearts towards domestic adoption. Robert Gelinas is a pastor in Denver, Colorado with a huge heart for orphan care. Robert's goal is to have no children in foster care in his county. And the awesome thing...they're close! Everyone in the church plays a role all the way from adopting to buying bunk beds for families. James 1:27 says "pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you". So, do I think we were called to adopt? Yes! But do I think God calls us all to be a part of the process? You can't read that scripture and say no. In Psalm 68:5 God is referred to as the "father to the fatherless", so if God is the father then who is the mother? His bride, meaning the church! We need to step up and be the church that God calls us to be. So, I will end this post with a challenge, if you claim to be a Christ Follower, what part are you playing in orphan care? More to come on our journey.... On a side note: let it be known that on this day, Greg Clark made a promise to plan a birthday party for me in 2013. Will he be a man of his word? Come back next September to find out : )

The Rising Shout - Charlie Hall

Verse 1:
You part the heavens, touch the earth
You open eyes to see Your worth
And the walls are coming down, and the walls are coming down
And every plan of Yours prevails
Lord, Your purpose never fails
And the walls are coming down, yes, the walls are coming down
And the walls are falling now
Chorus:
With a hand of strength and a heart of grace
You are merciful and mighty to save
So pour Your power out, let a rising shout
Echo through the earth as Your kingdom comes
Let Your kingdom come
Verse 2:
We are maked here by Your power
We are ready for this hour
And the walls are coming down, yes, the walls are coming down
You are building up Your bride
You are filling her with fire
Bridge:
And the walls are coming down, yes, the walls are coming down
And the walls are falling now
And the clouds are blowing now
And Your truth is raining down
And the earth is shaking now
With the thunder of Your power
And the walls are coming down
Yes, the walls are coming down
There's a shout that's rising now