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Monday, November 8, 2010

Big News!!!!

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”  Proverbs 13:12

This verse seems so appropriate at the end of one journey, and at the beginning of another.  Why in the world are we starting another blog?  Over the past year I (Erika) have felt the desire and calling for our family to adopt.  Mark and I discussed the possibility even before marriage during premarital counseling.  We agreed that if we were unable to have biological children of our own, that adoption would be an option for us.

We were blessed with our three boys so we didn’t “need” to adopt.  However, the discussion of “what if” came up at different times.  With the craziness of life though, truly considering adoption seemed crazy.  God seems to be into crazy. 

I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were supposed to “someday” adopt.  Over the past couple of years I have learned that most of the time in marriage the best thing to do when Mark and I aren’t on the same page is to keep my mouth shut and pray.  So I asked my two close friends to commit to pray with me that if the Lord wanted us to adopt that at the right time He would move Mark’s heart to that place.  That was about 8 months ago.

There are many more neat details to the journey from that place to where we find ourselves...and I will share those in later posts.  I want you to come back:)  Where we find ourselves now is on the edge of what feels like our first base jump.  Have you seen videos of that insanity?  I’m feelin’ it!

We are beginning the process of international adoption.  We desire to adopt from Africa and are currently praying through the decision of whether to pursue Uganda or Ethiopia.  We met with Nightlight Christian Adoption agency last week and believe that is who we will go through.  We have not officially applied yet because we are still saving towards the application fee.

We are requesting to adopt a little girl, with the hopes that we will be approved for two children.  We are open to adopting a sibling group.  We are hoping to adopt a little girl that is anywhere from 6 months to 3 years old.  That has not been set in stone and if we adopt a sibling group then we are open to an older child as well.

We have so many, many more questions than we have answers.  We do know however, that this is right and this is good:)  We are so excited!  We have no idea how long it will take, how the funds will come about, or truly just about anything else.  This is God’s idea though so we are looking forward to watching Him come through BIG time.  I hope Mark will share in the next post some of his perspective. 

There will be more to come on the process God used to move Mark’s heart to a place of initiating this journey.  We will share progress and details as they come...as well as how you can be involved in this journey.  But first and foremost please, please pray over this for us!  Please pray that we are obedient, surrendered and discerning.  And please pray for our little girl and if she has a sibling.  They may be out there right now, probably are.  Please pray that the Lord will shelter and protect them.  That He will place His servants around them to care for them and that they will feel secure and loved no matter what their circumstances.  Please pray that He will speed the days and the details so we can bring them home:)

8 comments:

  1. eeeee! So excited for you! Praying now! Love ya!

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  2. So wondeful!! I will be praying! Can't wait to hear all about your process!

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  3. You KNOOOOOOWWWWW I am so excited about this! YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Love me some (ever)changing Chapmans! I'm all in!

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  5. Erika,
    I just saw this on facebook and had to come read. So so exciting. I look forward to keeping up with your progress. Praying for your family!

    Love,
    Robin Matthews Parker

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  6. WOW!!!! This is GREAT NEWS!!! I am so excited for you guys!!! Brad and I have always talked about adoption too, who knows what God's got up his sleeve! I am so happy for you guys and will be praying for you to see many miracles along the way!!!!

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  7. This is so incredibly exciting! Praying for you guys!

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