Selecting children, having faith, and the waiting game

I wanted to write this post because we are currently in the waiting game again and I felt I left out some information in a previous post about selecting children to adopt. We have been selecting children and waiting since April. After praying for God's will, God showed us He does still want us to adopt, so we have been seeking children of all ages and groups. And, yes, we are still waiting!

One of the things not shared with us in the beginning was that a family can select as many children as they want. Now this is for the state of Texas. I'm not sure how it works in other states. We thought we could only ask for one child or one group at a time. No, you can choose as many as you are interested in at a time. Our sweet, patient worker sometimes submits for up to 5 a week for us.

This can be a hard time as you select a child based on one picture and a short description of that child. I don't know about you, but how can you know this is the child God wants you to have?

Well, I decided to give it all to God and I would urge you to do the same. And I mean completely trusting in Him and what He wants for your family. I realized the more and more we looked, we were still being very selective.

We initially only wanted children between the ages of 6-10 and no more than 2 children. Now, I am asking for all sorts of children, even sibling groups of 3, which my husband said no to. The only thing we realized is we don't believe He wants us to have a child older than our oldest son, who is now 13 and that we can't take in a severe child. Besides those 2 things, we are trusting God completely. Are you?

Every day I would look at the website and the broadcasts sent out to us and realize we were still being too selective. I started asking for several children a day asking God to shut the door on the ones He does not want us to have. Yes, my friends and family do think I'm crazy! But, I am not about to tell God what I believe He wants for our family.

This has given me an incredible peace as I realized He is doing exactly what I asked for. We have received a few phone calls and emails saying we are being considered for different children. Occasionally,  we hear that we were not selected for a child or children, but mostly we don't hear back at all. Thank you, Lord, for shutting those doors!

One day I received a phone call saying we are being considered for a group of 3. An hour later another group of 3. I'm not sure if God wants us to have one of these groups or if He is trying to show us something. Whatever it is, I am trusting Him to close the door if they are not the ones He wants for us.

We know we are currently in the top 3 for one of the sibling groups, but again, we have been waiting for over a month. We do know we are still being considered and there is a new selection date, so we are just waiting.

Do we see ourselves with 3 or want 3 children? No! But, do we really know what God wants us to have? Again, No! We just have to trust that He knows what is best for us and who needs us.

I have had friends and family who roll their eyes or make comments about how many I have submitted for. They think I'm being impatient or testing God. Or they'll make comments like I don't think God wants you to have older ones again or I don't think God wants you to have 3. All I can say to you is - Don't worry about what others say or think. I value my friends and families' opinions, but they are their opinions. How do they know what God wants for your family? Be careful when taking advice from others.

I urge you to prayerfully consider how you are handling the adoption selection process and just remember to be patient and trust in God. Let Him lead you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

The selection process date is set!

Well, it has been just about 3 weeks since we first met the sweet 12 year old girl at the adoption match party. We have spent hours reading through her files, talking to her case worker and our case worker, and even her therapist. It has been an emotional journey learning about her past and truly deciding if this is the one for us. After much discussion and prayer, we do believe in our hearts that she is the one and God will be with us every step of the way.

We found out today that we are one of the top chosen families, like we had expected. Next week, our worker will go meet with this little girl's worker, CASA, and other workers to make the final decision on who is the right family for this child. If and when we are chosen, we will start having phone calls and visits with her soon after. We have also been told that a team of people who know her well will meet with us and share all they can with us to help this little girl.

Meanwhile, I continue to pray, study, and ask God to bring others into our lives who can be a support system for us and for her - I specifically prayed for a family who has adopted older children and have their own biological children. So what do you think happens today? I run into an old neighbor from 6 years ago who I have been dying to see since we moved back. They are one of the first homeschooling families I met and greatly admired. They have several sweet children and I found out today they have been busy themselves adopting possibly 2, ages 10 and 12. They have had the children in their homes since December, so she has all sorts of advice for us. Thank you Lord! I am constantly amazed and so thankful for our loving God and all He does for us! He continues to supply what we need when we need it!