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.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

One More Baby Step

We have met our next milestone! Our dossier was mailed to Bogota early this week. This means that we are now waiting approval and assignment from ICBF (Colombian national level child welfare organization), It will take about three weeks for our dossier to be translated into Spanish- and then once the Colombian government approves the dossier, we are waiting on assignment. We are told the waiting list for two kids 8 and under is about 12 months. We have also been told that there is not anyone on the 8 and under list?! So we are not exactly sure what to expect, this much we do know: God is in control and He knows exactly who are children are and when He will deliver them to us. I confess we are anxious.....

Today we are reminded of James 1:2-4 which reads:

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)

We are trying to count all the waiting as joy, but it IS hard. We don't feel like our faith is being tested as these verses discuss, but our waiting does produce steadfastness (or endurance as it says in the NASB) We know that our call in this adoption is of God and all of His plans for us and also the timeline that goes along with those plans are perfect. Our trust in Him remains steadfast even if we do feel a bit impatient.

We'd like to close with the words of the great hymn by Fanny Crosby:

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

We are rejoicing in Him and giving Him all the glory in this our second adoption journey.

Jim and Betty
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Friday, March 5, 2010

Dossier Complete

We wanted to update you on what is going on with our second adoption. We have made considerable progress and were able to get our dossier in the mail today! YEEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWWW. That means we have finished everything we can do, the last step was to get the approval from INS which we received last Thursday. This week we had to get several documents Appostiled in Topeka by the Secretary of States office. You will never truly have an appreciation for the administrative requirements to adopt internationally until you live through it. Betty has done an amazing job keeping all this on track and organized. By the fruits of her labor and the providence of an Almighty God, we are complete. Now the wait begins anew. The next steps are:

1) Review of our Dossier by our adoption agency
2) Dossier translated into Spanish
3) Approval of the Dossier by Colombia
4) Referral of our Dossier to one the regional offices (sort of like Washington referring out to one of our 50 states)
5) Wait for the assignment of OUR girls (Katie says - long and agonizing wait)
6) Final documentation to INS
7) Obtain travel Visa from the Colombian Consulate in Chicago (this time we are required to go in person)
8) Travel
9) Gotcha Day!

We covet your prayers in these matters as always. God bless each of you and thanks for loving us and praying for us.

Jim
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