Beginning to End

Two years ago, we were led by the Lord to adopt. Little did we know where this journey would take us. We started our process with meeting with our pastor from Choice Baptist Church, Pastor Tim Wilcox. He was extremely helpful and supportive in the decision to adopt and encouraged us and prayed with us about our journey. Our family was on a spiritual high because the Lord was asking us to do something for Him and it was clear to both Aaron and I. We began our adoption with China. We worked very hard to complete and satisfy the Chinese and American government with all the documents and paperwork and meetings they required. After about 10 months od weekly accomplishments, we were told to make sure we did not bring our bibles or mention the Lord while in country. An alarm went off in my head and Aarons as well. Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other Gods before me." Although we are concerned about orphans and God calls us to take care of His orphans, He still must be first in all decisions. We decided to pull our of the China program and adopt from Guatamala. Again, we gathered all the paperwork, documents and necessary meetings with our adoption agency. When all was in order, we found out that Guatamala was ending their adoptiions with the United States for the time being. That clearly was a closed door for us. This is when we hit our low and did not know where to go. Around the same time, I found out I was pregnant with Daniel Isaiah. The family was so excited. I called the adoption Agency and told them of our good news. They were happy for us, but it did pose a problem with their requirements. needless to say we had to with draw from our agency for help. we were told that they could not help us until our youngest was one. This posed a huge problem because most documents and paperwork expire 12-18 months after they are notarized or have official seals on them. We knew our journey could not wait, but did not know what to do. Aaron was leaving in 4 weeks for Africa for a six month deployment and we were both a bit upset about the turn out of our adoption.
All along we both have had wonderful support from friends and family. A year prior to this I had met a wonderful lady, Kim. She and I had an instant bond due to several similar circumstances. We are two peas in a pod as my mom would say. One of our similarities was that their family of seven were adopting. I thanked the Lord every day for her friendship and the understanding we had for eachother and the up and downs we faced with our adoptions.
As Aaron began his deployment in Africa he discovered two orphanges outside the base he was working at. Hmmmmmm...my mind definately started wondering the point of this. I knoew there was one, but did not know what it was. I realized this was an open door for our family. I asked Aaron to find out if we could adopt from this orphanage and in so many words we understood it was not possible. All along I have been seeing pictures of Kims children (Siblings) from Acres of HOpe, Liberia, West Africa. My heart was huge for them and I felt like I was going to be an aunt again. One day it hit me. Kim is pregnant, she has four other children, her husband is a Marine...Why wouldn't we be accepted as we are from the same orphanage. I comfronted Aaron with this idea. He was on board...Let' go for it!
Now let's recap the order of this....

China to Guatamala to Africa...Wow...now I am excited all over again!!! The neat thing was, everything has fallen into place. Our paperwork is all completed for Liberia. We have been accepted not only for one, but two children, which we are even more excited about. I traveled to CHarleston South Carolina last week to get my fingerprints done, because the last set expired and now once Acres of Hope receives that document, we will be waiting for our referral. God has worked out every detail of this adoption to get us to where we are at. I had someone say to me, "Don't you know when to give up?" I know this was said out of concern for Aaron and I, but when God tells you to do something, you step out in faith and let him work out the details. He does not say it is going to be easy...but it will surley be worth it!