Several weeks ago when Ryan and I were discerning about our adoption -- stick it out with Haiti or move forward with another country-- I had a great phone conversation with a sweet friend from high school. Jenny is also an adoptive mom; her son was born in Ethiopia. At the start of Jenny and her family's adoption journey they were adopting from Rwanda. Similar to our story, they made the decision to change countries due to government processes. I was able to be very transparent with Jenny and share how difficult this decision was for us... are we not being faithful? How long do we wait to make a decision? Bummer bummer, why is this happening? I remember her very clearly explaining that she experienced the same feelings and went through a sort of grieving process too. But, that eventually God revealed to them His plans and purposes, and everything became so clear....
I think our family is beginning to see the other side of God's tapestry. The side that we don't often get to see. The side that we often wonder about and wait to see. A tapestry has many pieces, many parts... all woven together to create a beautiful picture. I am loving the picture that God is showing our family, and all of the pieces are starting to become more clear to us, just as Jenny said would happen.
When we began our adoption process in January, we needed to ask one of our pastors for a letter of recommendation. We have 4 wonderful pastors at our church. We chose to ask Pastor Bjorn for a few reasons: his office was next to mine, so we had come to know each other a bit more, he was in a men's group with Ryan for a short time, and we loved worshipping at "his" Sunday evening service. I remember when we sent him an email request for a letter his response was something along the lines of... "Yes, very happy to do it... but you need to know I'm also jealous!" :)
This request for a letter eventually evolved into occasional knocks on my office door.... Pastor Bjorn had some questions about adoption! :) Then the little knocks evolved into emails. Pastor Bjorn and wife Esther are praying about adoption! Then these emails evolved into Bjorn and Esther are GOING TO ADOPT!! Throughout all of this, our hearts are BURSTING with joy that another child will no longer be an orphan, but a son or a daughter, in a wonderful home, with beautiful sisters, and amazing Christian parents!
Ryan and I feel so incredibly blessed that not only are we going through the adoption process with another couple... in our small town.... in our church!... but that we are also going through the same home study agency, AND adoption agency! AND.... also from ETHIOPIA! And although perhaps not together, our children will actually be at the same foster home! (Now is that not a miracle!!??) And an added bonus... our girls are the same age and will even be in the same preschool class! I love that we are walking through so many life stages, at the same time.
Esther and I have developed a sort of "pen pal" friendship. Our exchange of emails come frequent and long. I ask her questions, share my thoughts, express my feelings, and often send a quick, logistical email... "Do you know what _______ (adoption term/form/requirement/etc.) is?" I am already so thankful for her friendship, and I pray that our friendship will evolve into even more for many years to come. I also pray that our little "Opias" can grow together with a special connection to each other and their birth country. This mommy's heart is so full of thanks and awesome wonder of it all!!
Seems to me, that these pieces are not merely coincidences.... but rather that God is revealing part of the other side of His tapestry.
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