Delays...

When Adam and I submitted our application for adoption to Moldova, the social worker told us that this program is going through a transition, so we are not surprised about the delay. Sad, yes...surprised, no.
So this is the reason: Moldova's Minister of Labor and Social Protection is running for a new position. Unfortunately, everything is being put on hold until she either gets elected or resumes her old position. This could be as early or June or it could be indefinite. Because of this, our adoption agency is not able to accept any new dossiers (all our international paperwork) at this time. Adam and I were just starting to work on this.
What's the good news in this? We haven't yet submitted our official contract with Carolina Adoption Services (we were about to this week) Along with this contract is a big sum of money that is due and we are so thankful that we didn't send it in yet, just in case it was non-refundable. The other part is the new law that is trying to be passed by Moldova is that they want all adoptive parents to spend 1-3 months IN COUNTRY to bond with the baby. This would be completely impossible for us. So, we are thankful that the news was NOT that this bill had passed.
We would appreciate your prayers for discernment and wisdom as we continue on. We have said from day one that we will continue with adoption from Moldova until the door absolutely closes. So it's not closed yet, but we do have some things to pray about.
Thank you for your support..we are so appreciative.

All Our Needs

Adam and I have had such a busy month and it's hard to believe we are heading into June. I was looking at the last time I had posted something, and it was right when we started our homestudy. Well, we have one more visit with our social worker and this part will be complete! Carol comes to our house next Tuesday to finish up our interview and check out our house. I can't believe how fast time is going.

I have been reminded of a verse in the Bible that says "My God will supply all your needs." I have always loved this verse because it is so simple yet such a powerful promise. But God was quick to convict me in how I read it. I have been quick to assume that it was just talking about my material needs. Of course, I do believe it does refer to Him providing in that way. But He has taught me over the last month that He also supplies our emotional and spiritual needs...always. Over the winter, I participated in an online Bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministries. Through this study I have met some amazing women all over the world who have become genuine friends. One in particular is my friend Noelle. When I shared with the group that Adam and I were in the very beginning stages of adopting, Noelle contacted me immediately. Her and her husband, Ryan, have adopted their beautiful daughter Sierra from China about 7 years ago. Sierra is now 8 years old. Noelle has been an amazing source of encouragement to me over these last few months. Really, words can't do it justice in how her friendship has been a gift to me over the last several weeks. Noelle owns her own fitness bootcamp in California and, within a month or so of us becoming friends, she e-mailed me that she had told all her bootcampers about Adam and I and was going to donate a portion of their fees for the month of March to our adoption! About a month ago, Adam and I not only received their donation but the most beautiful letter from EACH PERSON that participated. Adam and opened it before I had gotten home and when he handed it to me he said "You're going to need some tissues while you read this. No, seriously, you will." He was right. Adoption has its' waves of emotion that I can't really explain and that day was one of those days where it felt like it was impossible. But after reading the words of encouragement from people we have never met, God's peace just flooded me. And he reminded me that He does supply ALL our needs. The way the Lord has been speaking and the people He has been using along the way to speak His Truth has been such an encouragement to us both and we are just humbled by the Lord's care for us.

Needless to say, Adam and I are planning a trip out to California when Hope or Noah comes home so we can meet all our new friends. :) I can't begin to tell you how grateful we are for each of them. We have read and re-read their letter often! (I wish you could see their picture. Noelle sent me a pic of all of them, but for some reason it's not uploading right)

Please pray for adoptions in China~ Noelle and Ryan have been waiting 5 years to bring home their second daughter and are expecting another 2-3 year wait. Join us in praying little Presley home and please pray for Noelle and Ryan that they continue to have the perseverance needed during this long and hard wait.

Thank you for praying and checking in:)

Ryan, Noelle, and their daughter Sierra






Our Homestudy Has Started

This past Thursday, Adam and I started our homestudy process with Wide Horizons For Children in Waltham. Our meeting with our social worker, Carol,  took almost 2 1/2 hours and were a bit tired by the end, to say the least. We talked mostly about our marriage: how we met, what attracted us to each other, what we think each other's strengths/weaknesses are, how we handle conflict, etc. It was fun to think back to when we started dating and talk about how our relationship has grown. I couldn't help but think that we have alot of FUN together. I feel so blessed to have Adam as my husband.

The other great part about our time with Carol was that we were able to share why we wanted to adopt. We got to share a little about  our faith and that adoption to us isn't JUST a means to start a family. We also were able to talk to her alot about Moldova and how much we love the country and what we have been doing there for the last 6 years.

We have 3 more visits to complete our homestudy: 5/2~Adam meets with Carol individually; 5/15~I meet with Carol individually; 5/31~Carol comes to our apartment to check it out. And on 5/21 we have to attend an 8 hour adoption workshop to meet the requirements for our homestudy. So, needless to say, May will be a busy month!

We decided on names: "Hope" for a girl and "Noah" for a boy.  When you pray, will you pray for him/her by name?  Hope/Noah is probably around 6 months-1 yr old right now. Please pray for protection as well as pray for the caregivers in the orphanage, that they will be filled with genuine love for the kids there so that when Hope/Noah comes home he/she will already know what love feels like and will be able to attach to us easier.

Psalm 139:16,17~ "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."  Can't wait to read this verse to Hope/Noah:)

We  pray you had a beautiful Easter! As I get older, Easter has become my favorite holdiay. There is so much joy in the fact that the tomb was empty and Jesus is alive. There is victory, power, and hope for our lives in it. Our church had a beautiful service and afterwards, Adam's family came over to have dinner with us. After they left we made our annual trip to CVS to find leftover Cadbury Mini-Eggs:)

We appreciate each of you..thank you for praying!!

Faithful Reminders

Over the month of March, I have been trying to raise money for our adoption through my Pampered Chef business. Starting out, my prayer was to raise at least $1000 to help offset the cost of our next round of payments to our adoption agency. For me, this was a big goal because I don't make a huge commission off the products and knew to take home $1000 would require some big sales. So i just kept praying through it.
One of the women who responded to host a show for me sent me an e-mail this past week. She had been discouraged that she hadn't been able to collect as many orders as she had hoped for so she started to spend some time in prayer over it. That afternoon the doorbell rang. It was the mailman delivering certified mail. In the envelope was a note from a friend of a friend stating that she heard about Adam and I's adoption and didn't really need any kitchen items, but felt burdened to give towards our adoption fund. Attached to the note was a check for a $1000!!! Of course, I had to read it a hundred times and then I started crying.:)
Isn't God amazing? It is these moments that Adam and I cling to when we start to doubt or feel anxious. 2 Corinthians 9 talks about God's generous provision and we have certainly felt that this week. I know there are some friends out there who are taking some steps of faith..I encourage you to keep trusting~God is there, is sovereign, and is the Ultimate Provider.
We are hoping to re-schedule our home study soon and get the process moving again. We received the green light from Carolina Adoption now that I am working:) (Oh P.S. I LOVE my job:)
We'll keep you posted! Thanks for checking in:)

Back To Work!

Last year, while I was working at the jail, I had interviewed for a job at an agency that does foster care counseling. It seemed like the perfect job for me and I was desperate to get out of the work situation I was in. When they called me to tell me that they were offering me the job, I was so excited. But the hiring manager told me not to accept it right away, that he really thought I should take the weekend to think about it. At that time, Adam and I were almost done paying off debt, and with this new job, there would be a paycut and it would take us a bit longer to pay off the last amount we had left. So after much deliberation, I turned the job down. We knew God was telling us not take it right then, but it was so hard to turn down, knowing that I had to go back to a job I disliked so much.
Fast forward to about 2 weeks ago when our social worker called us to let us know that I had to find a job. The next day I went online and saw that the SAME JOB I had interviewed for had come back around and was available again. I was hesitant in sending my resume again because I had already turned it down once, but I did anyway. The hiring manager called me that night to let me know they were very excited to see my resume come through again and he scheduled me for an interview a few days later. And..I got the job! I am going to be a Clinical Coordinator and will be doing counseling for foster families. I couldn't be happier!
It's amazing how God times things. His "No's" are sometimes "Just wait.." He knew that I was going to need this job at this moment....and had already been paving the way to provide me this job last year. In the mean time, He provided abundantly for Adam and I in which we were able to pay off our debt and increase our savings..all in preparation for our adoption. We know without a doubt that His hand is constantly guiding us and we are so grateful.
We are taking things one step at a time because when we start to look forward, passed the present, it is overwhelming because we have no idea how we will get there. But we are dwelling on these reminders of God's faithfulness to us thus far and it's enough to keep us moving:)
My dear friend, Colleen, sent me this verse a couple of weeks ago, and I have been reading it every day:

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping-

believing that he would become the father of many nations.

For God had said to him, " That's how many descendents you will have."

And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though at about 100 years of age,

he figured his body was as good as dead.

Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise.

In fact his faith grew stronger and in this he brought glory to God.

He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.

Romans 4:18-21

A Few Hoops

Tuesday night, Adam and I were literally on our way out the door for a church dinner, when our placement agency in North Carolina called me to discuss our registration form. They were concerned with me not working and come to find out, my unemployment does not count as income to the Moldovan government. So take away that, they were concerned that the Moldovan government would deny us.

So, after a brief meltdown and a few "I'm screwing our family up" rants, Adam (so level headedly) said "You can easily find a job. That is not out of your control." So true. And later that evening, our Pastor was speaking to us and reminded us that this is one of the many hoops that we will be jumping through over the next year or so. He so confidently reminded us that this was NOT the end to us starting our family, but really just the beginning. So I am on the job hunt with full force:) Please pray I find one quickly! We would so appreciate it.

We start our homestudy on Monday! We will meet our social worker, Carol, for the first time and spend 2 hours with her discussing Adam and I's relationship, how we came to pursue adoption, etc.

Over the last month I have been part of an online Bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministries and it has been absolutely what I needed. Through it, I have met a woman who has been waiting for a daughter from China..for 5 years! It has been a roller coaster of a journey for her, to say the least. She has become a wonderful source of encouragement to me and I am deeply thankful for Noelle's friendship. I love how God places and orchestrates people to come into our lives at just the right time. I shared a verse with her this morning that I am continually meditating on today:

Psalm 119:45-50

" Remember your promise to me;

it is my ONLY hope.

Your promise REVIVES me;

it comforts me in all my troubles."

I love the word "revives" because to me, I picture something coming back to life; something that became lifeless even for just a brief moment, but has new hope and new energy. In the midst of all our "unknowns", God's word is constant and breathes new life to us.

Thanks for checking in and for your continued support. We love you:)

We have a social worker:)

Adam and I just got a letter in the mail today that we have been assigned to a social worker and that our homestudy will start in the next couple of weeks.
We are so excited:) Thanks for your prayers!