We are saying Yes!! (Big News to Share!)

(ETA: This post was orginally written on May 7, 2012. We weren't ready to share our news at the time, so I kept it saved in my bog archives. There are several more posts to share to get everyone up to date on where we are now...I will be posting them all soon!)

 Brent and I have had a huge opportunity placed in front of us. It came straight from the hand of God. At first, we weren't sure what to do with it. Afterall, it's hard to step out on faith, with so many unknowns surrounding you. But there are times where you know that, really, that's all we've got. Faith that God has His arms wrapped around us in every situation that we face in life. And faith that God will use all things for His glory!

So, we are saying Yes, Lord! We are going to adopt a baby from South Korea!

International adoption is something that Brent and I have always talked about. I think we even brought it up before we were married! We have known for a while that we both have a huge heart for these children, and we knew that God was working in our hearts. Since then, I have gone to Ukraine to work with the children there, and Brent has done the same in Nicaragua. And we both came home from those trips saying that we wish we could have just brought those kids home with us! It wasn't just a figure of speech...we really truly did. Since Brent has returned from Nicaragua, we have begun to talk more seriously about it. We just know there are so many children out there who need a home. And more than that, they need a family. It just breaks our heart to think of any child not knowing the love of a family. Not having a mom or dad to tuck them in bed each night. Not knowing what it's like to have grandparents who adore them. And we know that through God's abundant blessings, we can give a child these things.

 A few Sundays ago, on April 22, Brother Scott preached a sermon that completely validated in our hearts what we knew we wanted and needed and were being called to do. He was preaching from Genesis...on the faith of Abram. And he closed with a powerful challenge about decision making. We all have decisions to make in life. Some bigger than others. Some easier to make than others. He said that sometimes there's not necesarrily a right or wrong answer...no one will look down on you for either decision you make...and those are the hardest. He challenged us to look at our options. And ask ourselves two questions. Which option will make God my reward and my rewarder? And which option will best stretch and exercise my faith in God, so that He gets the glory for the decision we make? We talked after church that day, and we both knew our answer. We would put our faith in God, and we would walk this journey. A long journey full of challenges and unknowns. But a journey also full of blessings from God.

We did our research and found an agency in Little Rock, and from there we researched programs. Due to age restrictions in some countries, extremely lengthy travel requirements in others, and for various other reasons, we feel that South Korea is the best fit for us. We didn't necesarrily feel "called" to choose S. Korea as our country. There are orphans in every country that need families. None are more important than any other. South Korea just seems to be a good choice for our family. It's a long process...approximately 1 1/2 to 2 years, and our child, most likely a boy, will be around 18 months old when we bring him home.

We haven't begun any paperwork as of yet. We have our first meeting with the adoption agency this Friday afternoon, just to talk and discuss some details and financial things. And we pray that we will be able to begin soon after that.

We are so excited (and a bit nervous!) to begin this chapter of our lives. I don't know who this child will be that will one day be our son or daughter. I don't know if they are even conceived yet. I don't know their story. But God knows. And I do know that I love him or her already. I know that he or she has a family waiting for them to love them. And we can't to see where God leads us on this walk of faith!

Most of all, we covet your prayers as our family grows from a family of five to a family of six! It will be a long journey, but we know God is faithful to walk alongside us every step of the way.