Here we go!!!

 
So I have started this new blog to journal our next journey to China... It was really a toss up if we should add to our family blog or start a new one. We decided to start this for a few reasons, we really would like to be a bit more transparent on our adoption process than we were the last time. We have kept things really sugar coated ecspecially for our families that would have way too much input an advice to offer. I have really struggled with this because I know we shouldn't care how others view what we are doing as a family. But we also love our families very much, what we feel as them not being supportive, really comes from a place of love and worry on their side. All that being said, we were not ready to lay it all out there that we are starting the adoption process again.When we adopted Mina we were very secretive about our plans. We didn't really want all the questions from family and friends that come with all of the unknowns about adoption. When are you going to China? Why are you going to China? Are you sure you want to do this? You already have 3 kids, your crazy, you guys really want 4 kids? I am pretty much an open book, I am not the type to keep things in, but for this... only a few of my closest friends knew about our adoption plans before we had Mina's photo and we were counting down the days for our trip. Secrecy does have its upside, When we did receive the questioning from the "not so supportive" few, it was pretty much a non-issue. Mina was our daughter, no matter what anyone had to say. Marc and I would love to have the support of our family and friends but it surely isn't the most important thing to us. So as much as I love posting cute photos of my kids (they are pretty darn cute), I know that most people who read this blog are adoptive families as well. I am committed to tell our story for them and for the people who are considering opening their families to the blessing of adoption. It will be great to be able to share how God works this out from start to finish. A few months ago Marc and I prayed that God would let our hearts be content with our family and that he would either take away our desire to adopt or make it a possibility. Over the past few months we have come to the realization that we both strongly feel like we have another child waiting for us in China!!! We do truly believe that this is God's plan for our lives and we are leaving it up to him to show us the way. That is what will be so great about journaling this entire process start to finish.. And being completely transparent about the whole thing... We expect God to show up in a big way... We started the process yesterday!! We want to adopt another child from China!! We will go through the China Special Needs program, just like we did with Mina. We have NO idea how long the process will take but we are looking forward to the journey. A few months ago we started to pray that God would show us how we could financially be ready for another adoption so soon. A few days later Marc's job security was ripped out from under him. We were crushed on many different levels. Please pray that his company either decides to keep his division (this is still up in the air and will be for awhile) or that he finds another job. (this is yet again why our families have HUGE reason to worry, ecspecially in this wonderful economic situation we find ourselves in.) We really feel like we are meant to move forward in this adoption process even though logic may say otherwise. Now it is out of our hands... I'm am excited to see how it works out!A day or two after the news of his job, our Pastor wrote the following on his blog...
www.stevenfurtick.com
When God answers by fire
October 15th, 2008
“…The god who answers by fire-he is God.”
1 Kings 18:24

What do you do when you really need rain, but instead, God answers by fire?

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah declares to the people that God is going to show up and prove himself after 3 years of drought. And God does exactly that.
But…
When it hasn’t rained in over 3 years, and you hear that God is about to show up, wouldn’t you expect him to show up by sending rain?

I wonder how many of us are praying for God to send rain into an area of our lives, but it seems like He’s turning up the heat instead?
-Praying for God’s provision…but the bank account continues to dip
-Praying for God to grow your church…but another disgruntled faction just took their tithe and moved their membership elsewhere
-Praying for God to heal your marriage…yet your husband seems to be getting colder and more resistant by the day

It can be difficult to trust the intention of God when He’s forecasting more fire in your already scorched situation.
Remember:
God eventually did send the rain that Israel so desperately needed. But first He had to reveal His glory and authenticate His sovereignty by fire.

God often answers by fire before He sends the rain.
The fire incinerates our altars of idolatry, and burns away all of the false securities that we tend to trust in.
That way, when the sky finally opens, and the rain starts to pour, there’s no doubt:
He is God.