Born of the heart..just not below...

This past week has been busy, busy, busy!  We had our preschedule procedure on Friday in Mobile to remove another stubborn polyp. Our fertility doctor says that everything looks good and hopefully they won’t come back. (After 2 surgeries for the same thing, let’s hope so!) We also had our interviews with the 2 Adoption Agencies we narrowed it down to. Great news to report -both interviews went well and we were accepted to both. The hard part comes now in deciding which to go with. One of them actually offered us a $4000 adoption grant, good for their agency, and available for up to 45 days for us to determine if we wish to work with them.

We are beyond excited at the doors God is opening for us. Our number one concern now is financing the adoption. If you have never looked into adopting, let me tell you it is costly! One of the agencies we are looking at has a fee of $ 17,000(down to $13,000 with our grant) + roughly $6000 in legal fees + roughly $1400 for the home study + about $1000 in expenses for the birth mother… not to include the cost to travel if our birthmother is located in another state…ESTIMATED cost of roughly $21,400! That’s just one agency. The cost is enough to turn you around, but we believe our first child will be born not below the heart, but within the heart! We strongly feel adoption is the path God is calling us to and we are prayerfully answering the call. I know in my heart that anything God leads you to, He will provide as well.

We say all that to say and ask that you still be in prayer for us- more than anything we are seeking God to supply the finances needed to move forward. We are looking at a few fundraising options provided by Show Hope (an adoption agency) and a variety of adoption grants.

So stand united in prayer with us and for us as we seek Gods will in our adoption journey, all along the Anderson Adventure.

Jesus bring the rain

After spending a good deal of yesterday researching, talking to, and applying to various adoption agencies I became slightly overwhelmed. During the application process if anyone would have walked by my office they would have been confused because I literally laid hands on my monitor, closed my eyes, and went into prayer over our applications- but then again I know the power of the God I serve and favor of His spirit. I never imagined with the number of children in need of a forever home that the cost would be so ridiculously outrageous. To the point where one agency quoted me roughly $28,000- and many indicated that it could go as high as $45,000! For agencies "not to profit" it blows my mind how their services to "put you in contact with..." can cost so much. The up side of the day was that our case worker with foster care did give us the great news that our application and license will be for foster and adoption- however with the way the system works we run the risk of being months, even days, from being able to adopt the child we've been fostering and the child may go back to their birth family... For us it's a risk we'll take when and if the time comes.

Nonetheless, the hubs and I talked about the possibilities over dinner and were very hopeful and excited with the idea that we could soon be parents. African American couples are highly sought after and sadly far fewer apply to be adoptive parents. One agency said the fastest placement they have had was 24 hours- can you imagine that?! Excitement would be an understatement- we would be on call and would have to fly out whenever we got "the call"

After dinner we talked and prayed about it again. This morning when I got up and started doing my normal Saturday morning routine- I popped in the iPod and the 2nd song I heard was just what I needed- one of my favorites. In so many ways I thought about the lyrics, their meaning, and the love of my God. I wanted to share those with you- Mercy Me " Jesus bring the rain"
** Also please forgive any typos.... iPad blogging isnt always easy... Lol**


I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty

Happy New Year!

Happy new year! 

We have really been enjoying our first 7 days of the new year. Believe it or not I have had a solid 3 weeks off work and I'm actually pretty excited to be heading back on Monday - relaxed and refreshed...Well at least until about 8:15!  We, as most, have taken the time to set some new goals for the year and we're excited to start working on some of those soon. 

As an update to so many things- we finally got all of our sustainability reports back and have officially done everything other than training to start the foster care process. We are so excited to welcome these precious little ones into our home. We're hoping too that doors may be opened for adoption with this as well. I'll have to keep everyone updated on our training- which we plan to start within the month. 

Also keep us in your prayers as we head back to Mobile later this month for another minor procedure. The fertility doc is going to remove the polyp they saw in our last visit. He wants to ensure that everything is free and clear before we start any ivf procedures. Speaking of ivf and prayers, please continue to pray for God to open doors financially for this. We know that if it's His will He will provide and we're being patient ( or trying at least) for things to work themselves out. While reading over all the literature we were given, we also didn't realize the monumental time commitment ivf will take. Everything we've read says we'll be testing once or twice a week and that means continued trips to Montgomery or Mobile.  Its not as difficult for me, but extremely difficult for the hubs to take off and many of the appointments will require both of us. I was also surprised with  the number of self injections I will have to take. Now, for anyone that knows me you know I don't do shots well AT ALL- and to think that I or the hubs will have to give me a shot twice a day for nearly 1 or 2 months....to say my nerves are shot( no pun intended) is an understatement. The injections alone are really making me reconsider. 

So as we walk into the new year with  joy in our hearts- we pray that the peace of the Father, the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit  be with each of you in 2012 all along the Anderson Adventure.