If I’m being honest, I’ve never been into dressing the boys in dress shirts, ties and khaki pants. Mainly because they complain complain complain about any attire that involves buttons or zippers.
I’m guessing this is just boy territory. My boys like to be boys and wear gym shirts and t-shirts.
When I saw that my friend Beckie was coordinating a “ditch the fancy” Easter fundraiser {and yes I know Easter was ions ago – hang with me as it pertains to the adoption} I was instantly intrigued.
Oftentimes, families use Easter as an opportunity to get cute matching outfits, go to church and then have a family gathering with awesome food. Beckie and her best friend partnered up to do something different and then asked us all to join in! We ditched the fancy clothes and used our money to purchase matching “Change Starts With One” t-shirts. Yes, even Jeff Rose participated in this.
A man who goes in public dressed like the rest of his family? Is a good man.
The money raised from this went to several organizations around the world addressing major world issues including orphan care in China. And you know our hearts are pulled towards orphans.
It felt really good to wear something that had such a huge meaning to us all.
As we wait and wait and wait to hear news about our adoption, we want to be here to show that we support and care about orphans no matter what phase of the adoption we are in. It almost makes the waiting less difficult.
We know we are just ONE family, but even ONE family can make a small difference.
We really thought that by this Easter we would already have a referral. But God’s plans are not always our plans and He is making that very clear to us as we pray for more patience.
Some days and weeks it’s easy. Like the days when SJ whines and cries over just about everything. Or the weeks when Bents is in trouble everyday at school. We often think, “Thank goodness we don’t have a 4th child because these three are enough to handle at the moment.”
Other days and weeks it’s tough. The moments when Parker asks us, “Who’s taking care of our baby if their parents can’t?” Or when we get an email from our agency that reads “Nothing new to report.”
Those times are make it harder.
But we know, above all else, that His timing is perfect and so we endure the pain of waiting with the faith that our child is out there… and we will meet them very soon.
We have officially been approved through the Philippines government since November 2012… which means we have been on the “wait list” for 18 months and counting. We were told last year that we would have a referral by the end of 2013.
It is obviously no longer 2013. And we still have not a heard a peep.
In fact, our agency has not heard any updates either. We assume that the typhoon has taken precedence (understandably) over things like adoption.
We are hopeful that we will get news soon. I remember thinking how exciting it would be to get to the point in our adoption where we could get the call any day.
We are there. Our phone could ring tomorrow and we could have a picture of our child in our hands. We know it’s coming. We know it will be sooner than later.
Sorry for the lack of updates on the adoption, but there hasn’t been anything to report. It was even hard writing this because saying that we KNOW NOTHING makes it very real that we do, in fact, have no answers. No child. No news. No expectations of when.
But we do have hope. We do have faith. And we know that God is leading this. I find comfort in that alone.
The back of these shirts said this:
“Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.” Proverbs 24:12
Rest assured that when we hear even the smallest thing…you will know!
Love that scripture–such a call to action for anyone! Thanks for sharing this and will say a prayer for your family:)
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Have you considered foster care? My husband and I started our adoption path with private adoption and God gave us a major curve ball by redirecting us to foster care. We took 9 weeks of classes and me our 7 week old son one day after getting licensed. His adoption will be finalized aug 19th. The road has been crazy. We now have his two older siblings in our home as well and are hoping to adopt them by Christmas. It’s an AMAZING journey. Worth looking into 🙂 there are kids in your town who need a home today!
We are licensed for foster care (because in IL you have to be to do International adoption). We still feel like God is calling us to adopt a child from the Philippines so we are praying for patience as we wait for His timing to be right! We have lots of friends who have fostered and ended up adopting their foster child. So very special!!
I’m praying for you friend. My heart is in the same boat…praying for all of us :). XOXO
I think of you often Shay!! We need to catch up on our adoption journey’s! Praying for you too friend!
Mandy> We are now in our 12th month on the waiting list, so I definitely feel your struggle. I have to tell myself daily that our plans are not God’s plans, our time not God’s time.
Our case worker didn’t hear a peep from ICAB between the typhoon and last week, when (FINALLY!) they emailed to say “no news.” On the one hand, at least we know there’s nothing to report. On the other hand, it would have been nice to get that “no news” email months ago.
Hang in there!
So neat that you are also adopting from the Philippines!! Please email me!! [email protected]
I love how you describe adoption being in your heart. How its something God inspired you to do. That basically sums up how I feel. My Husband and I are currently going through infertility treatments, but we always talk about adopting in the future, even if we have biological children. I guess it has been in our hearts too. Its so nice to read your adoption updates. Thanks for sharing.
My dad and step-mom adopted two children (my sister and youngest brother) 8 years ago this July, and it is such a blessing. My sister has planned that, no matter what, she’s going to adopt (about 4 years ago, the number was roughly 6) whether she has a husband or not. When God put it into my dad and step-mom’s heart, he planted a seed in mine. I love following along with your journey – God bless all of you for waiting so long!
I enjoyed reading your update. Hopefully one day soon you will get that exciting, life changing call. We are waiting to be chosen for our third adoption. Something I find helpful is to sit in the nursery room we have prepared for this child and pray. That time in prayer feels focused and it lets me give it all up to God in a way my busy life doesn’t otherwise allow. God Bless!
I just did this last week for the first time!!! It was so helpful!! Thank yoU!
Mandy, your family and your adoption has been on my prayer list. Thanks for the update, even though there is no real update, I have been wondering, but didn’t want to ask. I will keep you guys on my list!
I have been wondering about this for you guys! I know how hard the waiting must be! We will be praying for God’s perfect timing! Hugs, friend!
~Abby =)
Joining you and your family in prayer!!!
Thank you!
It’s so nice to hear the progress of your adoption (even if it’s at a stand still). God has a plan for your family in time but waiting is probably the hardest part of it all. I love hearing people adopting children that need nothing more than a family and home of their own. From your pictures it looks like you have three boys that adore each other and having another sibling will make your family complete. I’ll continue to pray for your adoption to be faster!!! Love your blog!!
Thank you so much Tricia! Your encouragement means a lot to me!
Praying for your family and that special little one God has chosen for you. God’s timing is sooo perfect, and it will all make sense when it happens. 🙂
Thank you Chrissy!
Praying for you and your family in this time of waiting! What a loved child this is already!
The wait is SOOOOO hard! And it only gets harder once you see your little one’s face because all you want to do is go get em already! We waited for weeks before receiving approval of our referral and are about to start our dossier. The courts are moving quickly in Taiwan but I have this nagging feeling in my gut that it’ll slow down the second our dossier arrives. THAT’S the wait I’m not looking forward to. Knowing we are approved, knowing birthmom has signed off and approved of us too, but our paperwork is sitting somewhere in a file folder waiting for a judge to take a peek.
But I heard somewhere from someone, don’t remember who, that this waiting process helps us to understand our kids some. They waited. They have endured. Even in the best of circumstances there is still heartbreak and loss and pain. And we go through that too. We can use that as a means to connect, to understand our child better. And that is the small silver lining I’m holding onto!
I pray you get your referral SOON!!! But until then, it’s probably best to cherish your 3 child status for as long as possible 😉
Hello Mandy!
I hope you meet your child soon, I come sometimes on your blog to see if you’ve had THE call! My husband and I have been approved from ICAB on october 2014 so we are patiently waiting. We are also sponsoring a child in the Philippines, which brings us much joy.
Mona 🙂
So cool! Keep me posted on your news too!