My Father's House

Today, in the middle of class this song popped into my head:

"Come and go with me
to my Father's house,
Come and go with me
to my Father's house..."

Then it was like God was speaking to me.

See, Lance and I have been pursuing a possible adoption since we received a phone call in May (2014). Little things have been progressing over the past few months, slowly, but all in God's timing.

This past week or so we have decided to start preparing a room for the child. We bought a bed, a rug, and put some toys in their to make it their special place. All the while we won't know for several more months where this journey is taking us, and even a few months after that before any adoption would be finalized. So, why are we preparing this room?
                                           1. We want this child to know they have a safe place to come.
                                           2. We want this child to know they are loved.
                                           3. We want to be as ready as possible when the time does come.

Here's the part that relates back to God....

When Jesus was ascending into heaven for the final time, he told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them in his father's house. Jesus promises us a place in heaven, even though he knows that not all will receive his gift of salvation.

Here we are, preparing a room, for a child who has already stolen our hearts; and we don't even know the outcome of everything. All we can do is be like Christ and prepare the room. All in God's timing will things come to past. We press on through faith in His will, not ours.

Just a thought that came to me today, and I felt like I needed to share.

Keep the prayers coming!

~Becka

Loving the God way

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up- 

Galatians 6:9

We often discuss that we know that without a shadow of doubt we will love the child(ren) who will come into our home through adoption. This is a fact. We have a special place in our heart for the child(ren) who will one day call us "Mom" and "Dad".

Then, the thought struck me... it's the same way with the relationship between God and me. He created me. He knew me before I was even in my mother's womb. He loved me, before I knew him. That's how we are as we journey the road of adoption/foster care. We already have the love for a child in our hearts. We know that no matter what we will love that child unconditionally, to the fullest.

God is that way. Even, before we accept Him as our Savior and Lord He LOVED us. And now, as followers of Christ, we can never love Him as much as He loves us. That's the beauty of being adopted by Christ into God's forever family, and us adopting a child as part of our forever family. Love. Unconditional. Predetermined. Love.

Please do not mistake me as a theologian (ha!), or someone who just said it all the "correct way". That's not what I meant to take away from this post. Through this journey, it becomes even more clear to me just how much God loved us that He chose to adopt us. He didn't have to give His only Son in place for us, but He did. God's love is the ultimate example of adoption. 

~ Becka

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable- James 3:17

A funny truth a friend (who's on the same journey) sent me a few days ago... 

Praying for Adoption

Although Lance and I have not finalized an adoption at this point in our journey, we have been through various steps. As I ask people to pray for us, I often wonder if it would be helpful if they knew what to pray for in general. So, here is a list (of sorts) of what to pray for when a friend or family member is going through the adoption process-based on our current experiences.

The child-

* Pray for their health (mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional)

* Pray the court system will take into account their needs

* Pray for the lawyers who are involved in the decision making process

* Pray for the workers (if the child is in foster care) as they also make decisions for the child

The biological family (natural family)- 

* Pray for the biological mother and/or father who is either giving up their rights or having them terminated (TPR)

* Pray for other biological family members who have a significant part of the child's life (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)

* Pray the biological family will seek what is best for the child

The adopting family-

* Pray for the adopting mother and father who are opening their hearts and homes to someone they have never met

* Pray for the other family members of the adopting mother and father as they open their family to a new member

* Pray for the adopting mother and father as they are completing the home study process (this can be nerve racking, as they are laying all their personal information out there for someone to sift through)



Overall, pray that both families will continue to seek God's will for the child throughout the entire process. Remember adoption doesn't happen over night, and sometimes there are "speed-bumps" and "yield signs" throughout the process. Pray the families will persevere through it all. 

Just a few thoughts...


Becka

Some verses I have bookmarked on adoption,

 please feel free to share if you have some to add to the list!

James 1:27

Psalm 68:5-6

Matthew 18:5

Exodus 2:10

Esther 2:7

Ephesians 1:5

Psalm 27:10

Jeremiah 1:5

Psalm 113:9

1 Sam 2:1

Exodus 13:17-18

John 14:18

Closed doors, open windows

A little over a year ago we closed the door to ever having biological children. I am not doubting God's miracles, we are just no longer pursuing anything with doctors. The day we made that decision was not easy for either of us, and of course he was on the boat-this made it even more difficult for him. Over the past year we have grown in our marriage and for that I am ever so thankful. God continues to show us it is not our way, but His.

After 10 grueling months of living in a travel trailer- whose idea was that?- we decided to buy instead of build. The main motivation for this was that Lance happened upon a house almost exactly what we wanted to build. (God thing!) Words can not express the feeling of being back in a house again. I know the saying says "home is where the heart is", but that tin can kept getting smaller every month!

We reopened our home for foster care with the intentions of just that, foster care. We know that in the future we want to pursue private adopt. However, we want it to be on God's time and not ours. Over and over again He proves that when we push something to happen before it's suppose to we usually get more heartache brought on by ourselves.

Last night God brought sweet twin girls into our home. People may not understand why we do what we do, and that's okay. If you know me from forever ago, then you know my heart is and has always been for children. Especially those who go without the necessities. About 9 years ago my husband started praying for a wife and I started praying for a husband. (Of course neither one of us knew this until about a year into our relationship.) I know God made us for each other, because Lance has that huge heart for children just like I do. All you have to do is hear it in his voice when I tell him we received another call for a placement. (He will deny, deny, deny, but don't be fooled!)

Who knows how long we will have these twins in our home, but I'm pretty sure they'll forever be in our hearts. One of the blessings of opening our home is hearing, "Will you hang it on the fridge?"

When it seems God has closed the door, remember there are still windows to open!

One Year Ago

This weekend, one year ago, a sweet little blond hair, blue eyed, scared girl came into our home. That Friday night we bought Tinker Bell sheets and comforter, a Tinker Bell night light, a Tinker Bell doll, a pink lamp, a princess bed time story book, and the list goes on. It was like having a new born child brought into our home. Everything was new, everything was exciting... even those wild temper tantrums that some of you were able to experience with us! We helped her to overcome her fear of water, we taught her how to love, and we showed her what "family" is really all about.

One year ago, we were lied to by a foster care worker. We were told this little girl who stole our hearts would soon be available for adoption. So, maybe we did allow ourselves to become more attached than normal. BUT if you know Lance and me, then you know how dear children are to our hearts, and getting attached was inevitable.

One year and 2 1/2 months ago we had to say good-bye to this sweet, blond hair, blue-eyed, brave girl. In 2 1/2 months she grew in her ability to face her fears, accept new things, and in love. She was only 4 years old when she came and went. She left 10 days shy of her 5th birthday, although our family and friends gave her the best birthday!

Two weeks ago as school was ending she came to my mind. I pray that she survived Kindergarten and will start 1st grade in August. I pray that one day she will remember Mrs. Becka and Mr. Lance, and the love we gave to her last summer.

Some pictures I finally feel comfortable sharing of our summer time together...

 A project we did together; a memory for us

 One of the many times swimming in Mr. George's pool

Her favorite activity!

 Fun with friends @ church

:)

Having fun... mudding!

Trip the Aquarium in New Orleans

On top of Mt. Magazine!

One of our 2 trips to Arkansas

Our story does not end with this one little girl, it began with her. We know God has a purpose for us, but just like everyone we won't know until it is meant to be known.


~ Becka

Home Sweet...

Home? What's that? I guess we will go with the old adage "Home is where the heart is." We are closing on the house next week. Although many respond with "that's great!" when I tell them we accepted an offer on our house only after 16 days of being on the market, I am having a difficult time to find the greatness.

It's funny how often times we continue to think we can plan it all out and it's going to work the way we planned it. 

So, my idea of selling the house was that it would happen in the following order: 

* Go on the market in late spring
* Start building on our land
* Get an offer around the first of the school year, when our house is almost finished
* Move out and into the new place by Christmas
* Have our new home sweet home

Reality:

* Go on the market in early spring
* Don't have a clue as to what we are going to do if it sales
* Get an offer during Spring Break, that we could not refuse!
* Close on or before May 17th (thankfully, it's getting closer to May 17th!)
* Move into his parents house 
* Still have no clear idea of where we will live...

God has a plan, even when ours fails. 

Open the Eyes of my Heart

This week has been revival at our church. And let me just say I am being revived! I have not had this kind of encounter with my Lord in a long while. God is truly blessing me through the preacher and the music.

The first night the preacher spoke out of 1 Samuel. If you know this book, then you know this book starts off with how Hannah could not have children, and she prayed and prayed. Her husband favored her and he prayed and prayed. God did bless them with Samuel. In turn Hannah returned him to serve with Eli in the temple. Well, the preacher starts off giving this background and states "there is something in a woman that is never satisfied until she becomes a mother." OH, how I know this oh so well. I know my God has a plan for me (us), because it is promised in His word He left for us.

Tonight (being the 3rd night) the song "Open the Eyes of my Heart" was sung. This brought back memories of a precious 4 year old, blonde head, blue eyed girl who stole our hearts (& the hearts of many friends and family) last summer. Some nights I would rock her, because it is how she slept peacefully (and honestly whatever it takes is whatever it takes). This was one of the songs I would sing. I sung it as more of a prayer for me and for her. I wanted God to show me life through her eyes. I wanted God to let me see love through the eyes of my heart.

Our hearts will forever be changed by "Pretty in Pink- Boots".

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart

I want to see You

I want to see You

~ Becka