19 November 5 days to our GOTCHA date!
God continues to answer prayer. Today we have been told where we will stay. CHI has arranged for us to rent an apartment while we are in Bogota. We are happy to know the arrangements and have a bit more of an idea of what to expect while we are there. We were also told there will be another CHI family in the apartment next to us. They will be adopting a sibling group of 5 and their gotcha date is the same as ours. It will incredible to have someone from home to share the experience with us. They are from the state next to ours.
We were able to get the boys room more or less in order today. The girls room will not fully come together until we are in Colombia. The beds for the room Ashley and Tatiana will share will be delivered while we are gone. Other than these beds we will be set by Saturday. We still have not started packing, but since we don't leave for 5 days, what is the rush! :-)
We also were blessed with an unexpected e-mail today. It turns out there is a couple in our church we had not met who are from Bogota. They sent us a note and offered to help us out with travel information and also understanding the children's culture. We will try to meet them before we leave for Bogota. This is amazing that God would place this couple in our life as we are sure they will be a great help. All thing work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Your continued prayers are both appreciated and greatly coveted!
Why "Eight Is Not Enough"?
When we were younger, there was a television sitcom that was called "Eight is Enough". The television watching world was entertained with the thought of a family with eight children. Most of us were shocked at the prospect of such a large family- myself included! Then ever so slowly, God began to work on our hearts, until we surrendered to Him all of our lives- yes even gave Him sovereign control over the size of our family and He has blessed us immeasurably, with eight biological children. Each of these children have been an amazing gift to us and we cherish each of them. And we praised God for them and felt to ourselves "eight is enough" - at least for a time.
Then God began to stir our hearts. It was as if He spoke to say to us "these 8 precious children I have given to you, but what have you given to my orphans in return?" A burden began to build on our hearts to adopt. We knew that for us God still had other plans for us as parents if we would be faithful to His calling- that eight is not enough. And so, we followed this call to adopted and He has continued to blessed us through adoption. First a sibling group of three from Soacha, Colombia. They joined our family in November, 2008. In May 2010, we adopted twin infants from Texas. In September of 2012 we were privileged to return to Colombia and adopt a sibling group of two from Cali. At this time, we anxiously wait for our travel date to depart for China where a very special girl and boy wait for their forever family. By the time they all reach adulthood, we will have had the amazing privilege to be parents of children in our home for a half century. Our life is full beyond measure, beyond our wildest expectations, yes even beyond anything we could have ever hoped. Truly, eight is not enough. As of late we have wondered if God's plan for us as parents all along was not for eight children, but rather eight plus eight. Our heavenly Father knows and His word assures us "I know the plans I have made for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you." We trust He knows the number of His children He wants us to love and to nurture on His behalf, and whether that is eight or eighty times eight we stand ready and say speak Lord, your servants are listening and are prepared to be father and mother to your fatherless on earth.
Then God began to stir our hearts. It was as if He spoke to say to us "these 8 precious children I have given to you, but what have you given to my orphans in return?" A burden began to build on our hearts to adopt. We knew that for us God still had other plans for us as parents if we would be faithful to His calling- that eight is not enough. And so, we followed this call to adopted and He has continued to blessed us through adoption. First a sibling group of three from Soacha, Colombia. They joined our family in November, 2008. In May 2010, we adopted twin infants from Texas. In September of 2012 we were privileged to return to Colombia and adopt a sibling group of two from Cali. At this time, we anxiously wait for our travel date to depart for China where a very special girl and boy wait for their forever family. By the time they all reach adulthood, we will have had the amazing privilege to be parents of children in our home for a half century. Our life is full beyond measure, beyond our wildest expectations, yes even beyond anything we could have ever hoped. Truly, eight is not enough. As of late we have wondered if God's plan for us as parents all along was not for eight children, but rather eight plus eight. Our heavenly Father knows and His word assures us "I know the plans I have made for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you." We trust He knows the number of His children He wants us to love and to nurture on His behalf, and whether that is eight or eighty times eight we stand ready and say speak Lord, your servants are listening and are prepared to be father and mother to your fatherless on earth.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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1 comment:
Sounds like an exciting trip is in store for your family. How nice to have someone so close to share the adventure (and the struggles) with! Looking forward to reading about your growing family.
Karen
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