The Beginning

Hello to Everyone who will read this blog! 

We are excited to start this blog and adoption journey with you.  I have chosen to call this blog site "Our Adoption Journey" because anyone who has experience with looking into adoption, quickly realizes that it is a JOURNEY.  We have felt God calling us to adoption for a while  now... really before we had our 3rd child Addyson.  We thought that since we chose to have 1 more biological child that we would stop at 3, and that would be it.  Well, God quickly placed in our hearts, once again, the need for adoption.  Now that Addy is approaching her first birthday, we find it a great time to start our journey.  There are so many different avenues to explore for adoption as well.  We have looked into International, domestic infant, and fostering to adopt.  On the international side there are many programs available for healthy infants, toddlers and many many older waiting children.  There are also many waiting children in many countries who have minor to major special needs.  We have prayed over and researched all of these options.  Currently we still do not have any decisions made in detail.  We know that God has a plan for us though, and we are being patient and seeking His way! Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".     We also know that it may seem crazy to alot people to adopt a child into our already large family.  We haven't had all good responses when we brought the subject up in conversation.  But we stand firm on our faith and know that "mans wisdom is not God's wisdom."  There are many questions and concerns that people raise up.  How can you love an adopted child as your own?  Will that child fit into our family?  Will our finances be secure enough to support another child?  What if that child has medical issues or family histories unknown?  Will our other family members accept and love the child?  These are all concerns we have felt and asked ourselves over and over.  But we go back to when God called Michael into full-time ministry.  It seemed crazy for him to quit an awesome career as a police officer.  And I had an awesome full time job with good income.  We left family and friends and a church family to follow Gods call to a little town called Olla, La.  We never felt more comforted with the whole situation.  Once Michael and I surrendered to do God's will full time , it was almost instantly that He supplied our needs. This adoption process will not always be easy or fun, but we have God on our side.  We want to be obedient and we know that God will bless us in the process. 
As for now, since we do not have many details in place.  Please be in prayer for our family.  We will be attending an informational  meeting this week about fostering and adoption in Louisiana.  The statistics in our own country are staggering.  There are over 500,000 children in America in the foster care system.  Of those , 120,000 are available for adoption.  On the other hand, there are 300,000 Christian churches in the U.S.  If 1 couple from less than half of these churches committed to adopting  a child, than the orphan crisis in America could almost be solved. 
My prayer for you is that God would open your heart to consider adoption or foster care.  To grow your faith, to trust in Him. 
Thank you to all who will commit to praying for us through this.  Your prayers are appreciated much more than you know! 
With God all things are possible!!