Congratulations Jim & Aimee

I am SO thrilled for this precious couple on the birth of their son, Allen James (AJ).

Jim and Aimee began working with CAC and applying to agencies toward the end of January.  In February they presented to a birthmom due in May who just so happened to be looking for adoptive parents just. like. them.  I just love how God works!  Sweet baby AJ entered the world on Wednesday and Jim and Aimee are in baby paradise!  It has been an honor to watch this couple love and minister to AJ’s birthmom throughout this journey.  Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!

Worthy of My Praise

It was a TOUGH couple of weeks in the justice world…aching for friends and clients with empty arms…sickened by the number of babies who lose their lives to the ‘freedom’ of choice that only brings death and destruction…carrying burdens that I couldn’t possibly carry on my own.

This mission/calling/job/life of justice through adoption can be very tough at times.  I felt a bit like Job when he questioned the Lord and was lovingly, although sternly, rebuked for his arrogance and unbelief.

~Job 38
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm.  He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone — while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

~Job 40
The Lord said to Job:

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”

 Then Job answered the Lord:
“I am unworthy —how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more.

~Job 42
Then Job replied to the Lord:“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.

I am thankful for God’s gentleness as I wrestled with and questioned Him this week.  His patience and kindness is astounding!  I have a renewed knowing that my God reigns!  I know that He is GOOD, even when I see bad things happening all around me.  I know that he HATES injustice more than I could comprehend.  I know that He has called us to do HARD things, regardless of how we feel or what fruit we may (or may not) see from it.  Most of all, I know that He LOVES me, my friends, my clients, and my family more than I could possibly understand.  He is GOOD and He is WORTHY to be praised!

Drug Exposure Website

I was just informed of this website that includes information on the effects of drug exposure in utero.  Very helpful and insightful!

This is the general link to all things adoption: http://www.adoptmed.org/

This link will take you directly to the drug exposure information: http://www.adoptmed.org/topics/prenatal-drug-exposures.html

Congratulations Randal & Heidi

Randal and Heidi started with CAC in August and began applying to agencies in September. For the last 6 months, I witnessed this wonderful couple say yes to a number of babies in need of a forever family. However, those babies were not “their” baby.  This week they were made aware of a baby girl born on March 4th who was in need of a family.  They presented their profile book and got the YES they were hoping for!  It was an absolute privilege to get to know this couple over the past 6 months.  This sweet child of God is going to be well-loved!

 

Darcie’s Adoption Story (guest post)

My daughter’s adoption was easy.  Well, in adoption terms, that is.  When my husband and I decided that the time was right to start our family we ventured into the adoption world with hopeful hearts.  We pursued international adoption first and God shut every single door!  Feeling a bit defeated, we soon received a phone call from a girl we knew distantly telling us she was pregnant and scared and would we consider adopting the baby that she was pregnant with.  Yea, that really happened, and the rest of my daughter’s adoption went just about as smooth.  Yes, it had a handful of financial strains, uncomfortable moments and uncertainty, but as we immersed ourselves in the adoption community I began to see how uncommon our situation was.  Experiencing my daughters adoption (she is now almost 3), made us eager to do it all again and add to our family!

One day I was at Babies R Us on a rare day out on my own, and I saw a pair of pajamas on clearance that said “Big Sister” and I snatched them up!  I bought them one size bigger than my daughter was wearing at the time.  This was June-ish, we had just started with CAC.  As you know, your prayers include a lot during adoption, and certainly they include timing…nobody wants to wait long.  Our prayer was to have a baby by Christmas, we wanted to be able to spend Christmas with our new family member!  Time passed, and over the course of 4 months we presented to one birth mother and were not chosen and were then approached about another local adoption that we threw ourselves into.  It is a long story, but that birth mom decided to parent in the end.  We were starting to feel weary, starting to have thoughts like…maybe God wants us to have just one child…we truly were so blessed with her!  We started to ignore that our prayers had been answered in terms of financing, we had prayed about how to fund our next adoption and through some really interesting circumstances, within months we had plenty of money to fund our adoption.  Not because we make a lot of money, but because God wanted to grow our family.

Halloween night we received a phone call from one of the agencies we were working with, they had a situation that was a bit complicated and to call back if we wanted to discuss it.  We were at our church’s “Fall Festival” and got home too late to call back.  I didn’t sleep all night and in the morning I called and found out more about this situation.  To make a long story short, within about 24 hours we were preparing to bring home a baby boy that was to be born in about 10 days!  Our house was a bustle of activity!  Preparing our daughter, getting some boy clothes, cleaning the house….etc!  We packed up the day of the induction and drove 6 hours to meet the birth mom right before the induction.   It had all moved so fast, and then, over the next 3 days, it came to halt.  The birth parents were keeping the baby.   It was every adoptive parent’s nightmare.  It was terrible to live through. I am not proud to admit that we questioned God and felt a lot of anger toward the birth family.  That baby was going back into a very unstable, scary living situation.  Our knee jerk reaction was to quit.  But the Lord, as He always does in that still, small voice, would not let us quit.  So it was with a VERY HEAVY HEART that we chose to continue.

Thanksgiving day I got a call from Joann at the same agency we had experienced the failed adoption through.  JoAnn asked, “Have you had your turkey yet?” and then followed with a question of “do you want to grow your family TODAY?”!  Twelve days after our failed adoption, we got to meet OUR son.  We are from Texas, but happened to be in Missouri with family for the holiday.  Within an hour we were on the road and within 5 hours we were holding our baby.  Meeting our son’s birth parents was downright scary after what we had been through, but they were wonderful!  They were gracious, kind, and caring.  This was not the first baby they had placed for adoption and they knew that we had just gone through a failed adoption.  At one point my son’s birth mom told me, “Darcie, you are doing great!”  How selfless!  The Lord had a plan all along!

My daughter fits those pjs I bought her just fine and we got to spend Christmas with our newest family member, Jonah!  Looking back at every turn in the road, we STILL got to see Him working…when our adoption failed we were reminded of the wonderful community of friends and family that we have!  I was reminded of what a wonderful adoption consultant we have. (Carlee kept me sane and supported me when our hurt was so raw.)  It humbled us.  It taught us about prayer.  PRAY , PRAY, PRAY about every step and bring others in to pray about your adoption.    I once heard a quote from John Piper “The strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up to something good for us in all our delays and detours.”  God’s heart is in adoption and the enemy will attack your soul when you are down and out and, quite frankly, it is easy to let him do it!  But the Lord has promised so much more, hang on brother and sister in Christ.  Adoption isn’t easy, but my, oh my, so worth it!

Darcie
Psalms 68:6

Congratulations Jeremy & Jes

Jeremy and Jes started with CAC last summer and began applying to agencies in September.  A few weeks later they were contacted about a local birth mom who wanted to make an adoption plan for her child.  They presented, they were picked, and last week their son made his appearance into the world!  What a wonderful fairytale adoption story.  Welcome to your family, baby Janner!

Praise God that this couple answered His call to “care for orphans in their distress,” and Praise God making their path straight!

Congratulations Jason & Renee

Through a clear word from the Lord, Jason and Renee began their adoption journey in April of last year.  They began applying to agencies in June and were matched in November.  However, a few weeks before delivery, the birth mom decided to parent.  Heart broken and confused as to why God would allow for this to happen, they pressed on, standing on the word and calling the Lord had given to them.  In late January, with guarded hearts, the couple presented to another birth mom, praying for God’s will to be done…and they were chosen!!

Sweet baby Bellamy was born on February 7th.  I’m sure she will be positively adored (and possibly a bit spoiled:) by her parents and 3 big brothers!  She will also be right at home at her church with 4 other little girls who were adopted last year, 1 little boy who was adopted last month, and more to come this year!  Praise the Lord!  Welcome to the world, sweet Bellamy!

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God. 1 John 3:1