New Beginnings

As we approach a new year, I comtemplate the various new beginnings 2010 brings. A new job position, a new home, a sister's marriage and steps towards parenthood. Our house goes on the market, we have three potential homes for our new place, the initial homestudy paperwork is nearly done and I am faithfully following the events of Embracing Orphans during their Christmas trip to Jamaica. I wonder if any of the children Carl describes may be the child God has chosen for us to parent. He has described the aching hearts of three young sisters or the two new boys at Blossom Gardens. There are so many other children at Blossom Gardens I do not know if God has more than one child planned for us.

If we could pull it off financially, I would plan to go to Jamaica this summer to meet my future child(ren). Baby steps and God's timing. Right now, the most overwhelming aspect is the amounty of money we have to come up within the next three months, than more by June and even more by December. January brings fundraising planning. Any ideas would be a Godsend. May God bless you in 2010.

Time of Excitement

We have barely started along the path to adoption and I am so full of joy right now. I know this will not last as time drags on and we continue the wait to bring a child home. I do not know how I will feel in a month, six months or a year. This time next year we will be finalizing our plans for our first trip to Jamaica. I know I will eventually come off this excitement high, but I don't know how far my emotions will fall. For now I will ride this wave of excitement that will carry me through the Christmas season.

This anticipation is similar to waiting for the holy child, the messiah. Not knowing when the child will arrive and what God has planned for us all. Whatever may come will be for his glory.

Adoption Lawyer

We have found an adoption lawyer. We have been having trouble finding a lawyer in the Olympia area willing to take our case since it is an independent international adoption.

My husband and I went with my mother and sister to visit my youngest sister at work. One of her close friends, Jill, and Jill's family were there enjoying tea. Jill's father, Art Klym, is a family law lawyer. I asked him if he had recommendations for a lawyer and he offered his services. He has done similar adoptions and even has a home study contact. God brought us together so we may bring our child home. It was an ordinary miracle, an event that many believe is just coincident, but really was allowed by God to happen so his larger plan may unfold. It will be a miracle if this adoption goes smoothly; I just know that God will be at my side through the joys and the frustrations.

Beginning the Journey

My husband and I are in the beginnings of our adoption journey. After finally deciding we want children after ten years of marriage, we have chosen Blossom Gardens in Montego Bay, Jamaica as the location of our forever child. I new Olympia was small town even with 250,000 people, but I did not realize it would be difficult to find an adoption lawyer. Granted our adoption situation is rare - independent international adoption - but we are not unique. We will eventually find that special lawyer who will help us with expanding our family. After Thanksgiving I will begin interviewing home study agencies. The decision has been made finally and our lives will never be the same.