Family Musings

To say the least, the last couple of weeks have not gone very well for our family.  It seemed like every time we turned around, something happened to one of us.  I jokingly tell everyone that one thing I’ve learned in 36 years of life is that if “something” needs to happen it will happen to me.  However, this time it goes beyond the simple “something.”  The events of the last few weeks are directly related to bringing our precious Igor, Leeza, and Trenton home.

The Enemy never wanted this adoption to take place and he has steadily thrown “little dramas” in our path since December when we committed to adopt our children.  Now, since we are literally days away from receiving a travel date, he is worried and is throwing all kinds of “something” in our path.  The reason he does not want these adoptions to go forward is because he DOES NOT want three beautifully and perfectly created children of God to ever hear of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  He does not want our three children to learn of the One who created them and loves them more than any human could love them…even more than their mommy and daddy waiting to bring them home.  He is worried because, unlike society, he KNOWS our special needs sons and daughter ARE able to learn about and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  He knows that each one of them IS worthy and capable of so much more!  And, he knows that part of the reason God has called us to adopt 4 children with Down syndrome is because we are to tell the world that babies with Down syndrome WANT to be born and they WANT a family who will love and cherish them!  I’m reminded of the old saying that says “God doesn’t make junk!”  Babies with Down syndrome ARE NOT junk…they are created by God and DESERVE TO BE BORN!!!

The Enemy is justified in his worry.  As with our adoptions of Copeland and Silas, we have answered a call from God to adopt Igor, Leeza, and Trenton.  But unlike our two previous domestic adoptions, we now have to step out in faith and travel to a foreign country to adopt three special needs children who will be transferred to a mental institution to die if no one comes for them.  We have had to rely on faith each and every time there has been a document that needed to be completed and ultimately approved by the US State Department.  We are relying on faith that the Ukrainian State Department of Adoption (SDA) will, in fact, approve us to adopt our babies.  We are relying on faith that He will provide the $35,000 + it is costing to bring our beautiful sons and daughter home.

We are humbled that He would ask us to rely on our faith in Him.  We count it a privilege that God has asked us to adopt our children and spread His message of faith, hope, and love.  Wasn’t it James who wrote the following almost 2,000 years ago:  “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”? (James 1:2-4 NASB)

So, bring on the broken car windows, stolen laptops, stolen confidential adoption documents, badly sprang ankles, ear and eye surgeries, and various illnesses!  WE HAVE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD'S PROMISE THAT IGOR, LEEZA, AND TRENTON WILL COME HOME SOON!!!!

Stay strong our beautiful precious children, we are coming...