Eyes Wide Open

In 2007 when we could no longer ignore God's tugging(or direct answer in the mailbox!!) at our hearts to adopt from Guatemala, we took the plunge with our eyes closed. I say "eyes closed" because we leapt with open hearts but with a bit of blissful ignorance. We did the home study and paperwork with eagerness and excitement. We couldn't wait to meet the next little "g" and we loved her even before we saw her referral picture! Upon receiving that first referral picture, I don't think anything could have kept us from jumping on a plane to meet our daughter for a visit trip. But something happened on that visit and the next visit and again on our pick-up trip. We fell in love with a culture, with the people, with Guatemala! We were forever changed and there was no going back to that blissful ignorance. It was a growing and stretching time, and the Lord made it very clear that this process went beyond our adoption. He was calling us to do more and to step farther out of our comfort zone. It led us to become involved in an adoption and orphan care ministry at church which led me to El Salvador where we visited many orphanages. It has led us to speak with many people about adoption whether it be domestic or international. It has led us to some wonderful people at the Eagles Nest Orphanage in Guatemala. It led us to Show Hope. It has led us to many, many wonderful friendships!! Adoption has been such a blessing in our lives in more ways than we could have ever anticipated!

What we did not anticipate, however, was adopting again. We ARE the "gfivefam" and we were finished. And beyond that, the country and culture that we fell in love with was no longer an option for us to adopt from again. We felt that God closed the door for us, and we would continue on a path to help others adopt while still supporting Guatemala and El Salvador. Part of our ministry at church is to take meals to those families that have returned home with their children after adopting them domestically or internationally. Several families were returning home with their children from Ethiopia, and again we felt God tugging. But we responded with, "No Lord!" "We are done!" "Africa is SO far away!" "We just can't swing it financially again!" "We know too much this time and it scares us!" "And Lord, just to lay it all out there, I don't know how to do African hair!" Did I just admit that? I know, it sounds like a lot of lame excuses doesn't it! We began to educate ourselves on the realities of Ethiopia, and God was opening us up to the huge need there! He was calling US! He didn't put a letter in the mailbox this time, He opened our hearts with EYES WIDE OPEN! We know the need, and really WHY NOT US?? As Grant says, "We have LOTS of love to give!" I can't say that we haven't had "freak out" moments this time! We know this time that God is going to stretch us by going to Africa and showing us things we have never seen before. We know we are going to be a very cultural family that will get more stares than we do now. But as Gerald says, "Bring it on! Let's embrace it!!"

So there it is... We are adopting again! Home study~check, Gladney Application~check, CIS paperwork~check! We are well on our way, and there is no turning back now. We are working on the dossier and dreaming of our next little girl!

Oh, and this is my excuse for my lack of blogging updates! :)