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| Haitian art by Bigaud |
So I thought I’d give you a little glimpse of where we are in this journey to adopt a daughter from Haiti. Eventually the condensed timeline will be a permanent page on this blog, but for part one I thought I’d just show you chronologically how we got to the same page and made the decision to adopt.
There’s a lot of details in between these dates that could fill a book, but the big key ingredient here is prayer. Tons and tons and tons of prayer. Not just mine either, Mike’s too, and also the countless people who knew my private desire for God to bring Mike to the same decision. I asked other adoptive moms and wives to pray for us. I asked the ladies in our life group to pray for us. I filled out Stand In The Gap cards so the prayer team at our church would pray that Mike would hear the Lord’s calling too.
The one thing I did not do was nag, pester, manipulate or pressure Mike. I asked him about whether or not we could personally adopt a child once in May 2010 and once his opinion was clear, I left it up to the Lord and didn’t ask again until February 2012. Here’s what I DID do during that time, other than pray.
5/2010 First wrote out loud my desire to open our home to more kids. Sponsored Mbeyu. Mike was noooooot on board.
6/2010 The Cordes family announces plans to adopt from Ethiopia.
7/2010 Collected formula to send to orphans in Ethiopia.
8/2010 Attended first Alliance 14:18 meeting.
Formed 1:17 adoption ministry. Joined the group in a support role only.
9/2010 Wrote this.
9/26/2010 Just read the last paragraph.
Kristen Welch launched Mercy House and we became monthly supporters.
10/2010 Followed the Together For Adoption conference very closely online. Met Aaron Walling of A Child’s Right at WEFTEC
12/21/2010 Participated in Nat’l Adoption Day as a photographer and volunteer.
Christmas Café benefit for 1:17 adoption fund.
1/12/2011 Anniversary of Haiti earthquake…watched the Ivey’s adoption video.
3/11/2011 First annual Run 4 The Children benefiting 1:17 adoption fund.
7/2011 Our friends the Ferows decide to be foster parents. I wrote this: I’m Adopted
9/2011 Our group starts reading Reclaiming Adoption
11/2011 Orphan Sunday
Hudson Balin is born and joins the Balin family including adopted big brother Asher.
12/2011 Corben Smith comes home from China
1/2012 Our group starts reading Adopted for Life
2/24/2012 Together for Them adoption conference
2/25/2012 At the Holy Spirit’s prompting, I ask Mike why we shouldn’t adopt. He says we should. I flip out.
Stay tuned for Part 2 where I will update you on what happened after that big momentous decision.
