Being Brave

Someone said to me the other day that we were so very brave to be adopting 2 children..one being an older child. Can I just tell you that I am SO not brave. I went from my parents house to college to being married and have never lived by myself. I can probably count on my hands the times I have spent the night at home alone ( and that was with much whining and complaining!)

I am one of the most cautious drivers ever. I will choose a route based on the lack of left hand turns I have to make. I really hate to drive somewhere I have never been before. In fact, I am driving alone to Georgia this weekend to a retreat and have woke up every morning this week reciting the route and my plan of attack to get there..just so I am prepared.

I also HATE to speak in public. In fact I break out in hives all over my neck and face and look terrible. Greg is most assuredly the speaker in our family!

Adoption kinda chose us. God laid it on my heart and I could not stop thinking about it. I just KNEW we would eventually adopt. He planted the seed so long ago that by the time we were able to begin the paperwork, it was as if it was just naturally the next step.

Now, Micah was not at all in the plan, but when I saw his picture for the first time and heard his story, I knew. I just knew that he needed to be part of our family.

Greg, who was less enthusiastic about adoption in the beginning was completely on board for Micah and even has "talked me off the ledge" quite a few times when the doubts and fears of an older child adoption crept in.

In fact, back in July, we received an email from our family coordinator saying that we needed to decide if we wanted to wait for Micah's paperwork or go ahead and take a sibling group under five IF they came up. Greg and I discussed and prayed about it on a 5 hour trip to the mountains. By the time we got there, we knew there was no way we could accept two other children and even go meet them and bring them home and see Micah there at the transition home. He was our son and we would wait on him. So we emailed our FC and told her we would wait. A few hours later a family posted on our Yahoo Group they had received a referral for a sibling group under 5 years. That would have been us, but I tell ya, God had given us such a strong desire and peace about Micah it was ok that we then had to wait through the rainy season to get our referral. Actually it was better than OK because Sarah Faith wasn't even born until after the rainy season. :)

I write all this to say that I am not brave at all. We are letting God lead us and He has showed up in some BIG ways. With Micah. With Sarah Faith's crazy referral circumstance. With providing for the cost of adoption. God has shown Himself so mighty to us that I almost feel guilty when people call us brave. It would be like riding your favorite roller coaster as many time as you want and then people telling you how awesome and brave you are. Not really..all you did was jump on and enjoy the ride.

I want to say that if anyone is feeling God pulling at your heart to adopt or maybe to adopt an older child, I say walk straight forward. He will bless your socks off!

Please don't let age ( I met a couple in there 50's adopting and they were SO Happy!)

or money ( there are SO many resources and hey, we have a BIG GOD!)

or doubts ( just click on the blog links to the side of my blog and read about other families and the blessing adoption had brought to their lives)

or maybe you think you will put it off until you "have your own kids". Can I say I am seeing an increasing number of couples choose to adopt FIRST and I think that is AMAZING! When else do you have more resources and time than before you have other children in the home? The travel part isn't as much of an issue and I just think that it would be an awesome way to START a family.

I have met (on the adoption journey) rich and poor, single moms, couples with no children battling infertility, couples who have chose to begin their family with adoption, couples with many children at home, couples from 20 somethings to 50 somethings. ALL TYPES of people who have been BLESSED by adoption!

Lastly ( man, this post is long!) if you have any questions, please feel free to email me or FB inbox me. I would be more than happy to share more of our story or answer any questions you might have. I will also commit to pray for you and your decision.

I have prayed since the beginning that our adoption would have a ripple affect. I would LOVE to know that our story had been a spark used to lead others to adopt, so if I can help you in any way..please let me know! :)

~ Jackie