God's Chisel

I love this video.

A New Journey

Danielle and I have officially embarked on the journey towards adoption by submitting our initial application just over a week ago. This paperwork had been in process for a number of months, but it never seemed to be the right time to complete it. However, several weeks ago the Lord laid on our hearts to finish it up and the paperwork that we dragged our feet on for so long was completed in about 10 days! We trust that the Lord has this timing in His perfect plans.

This will probably be at least a two year journey that we will take step by step with the Lord leading us. It will be a time of joy and excitement, but at times probably seasons of impatience and discouragement also. We will covet the prayers of our family and friends during all of these times. Much will happen in the coming months and years. I hope that this blog will provide details along the way. This blog has had different levels of activity over the past several years. I have chosen to leave the blog postings from our Honduras experience posted. This was a hard time for us. However, looking back, the Lord taught us much about Himself and us during that process- just as He will be teaching us through this new journey which will hopefully lead us to adopting a baby.

I do not know what form this blog will ultimately take. Hopefully it will chronicle the details of this entire process; providing updates and also posting prayer requests along the way. I do not know if I (Jeff) will be writing all of the entries, whether Danielle will write some on this blog (or start her own). Much remains to be determined.

Here is where we are at right now in the process:

• We have chosen an agency to work with: The Evangelical Child and Family Agency located in Wheaton, Illinois. After researching and meeting with several agencies over the past two years (we had to take a little hiatus from moving forward while addressing Danielle's chronic hives) and this is the best fit for us.
• We have submitted our initial paperwork (and money) to the agency. This morning we met with their pastoral consultant- the first step. After his report to the ECFA, we will be assigned a caseworker and begin the home study process which will probably take up to 4-6 months.

How we would ask for you to be praying for us:

• The Lord would be glorified through every step of this process and that we would be seeking Him first.
• The home study process would go smoothly. We are not sure what all to expect with this study.
• Finances. Adoption is costly. We have some of the money, but not most of it. We are trusting the Lord to provide the many thousands of dollars needed for this journey that He has set us on. Danielle and I have strong convictions that we do not want to go into debt for the adoption are trusting the Lord. He provided for me to finish graduate school debt free and I believe that He will do it again with this adoption. It will be awesome to see how He will provide!

This is an exciting time. Stay tuned for more details.

Right now I will keep this blog at the current website address- however I'll probably change it sometime. Let me know if you want to be informed if it moves.