Our Adoption

Through this process the one thing that God continues to bring into focus for us is our own adoption by Him. We took along some reading - books, magazines and a few articles. One of them that we have read over and over again is one that we would like to share a few excerpts from on this blog.

It was an article written by David, Pastor of Worship at Morningview Baptist Church.

It is important for us to understand this (our adoption) as Christians, because if we do not see God is an adopting God, we miss a key part of His character. It is our adopting God who calls those who were not His people, "My people". It our adopting God who specifically calls the simple in order to shame the wise and the weak in order to shame the strong that in all things He might be known as the provider, the strengthener, the sustainer and the redeemer. God adopts weak, flawed, and sinful people like you and me that he might be glorified by His marvelous grace in us and to us.


In the core of my soul, I love adoption because I know that I am adopted, and that at a great cost to my Lord. 


We had a wonderful morning with Anna. She is responding to our love. Please pray that she will trust us when we tell her tomorrow afternoon that we will be coming back with her brothers to bring her home soon.

Never Alone, Play-Doh and the Stray

Our day began with a great reminder from our Lord. It came from the book Jesus Calling. On today's date was the message that there is "no place so desolate that you cannot find Me there." It continued in saying that "no set of circumstances could isolate you from My loving Presence."  After seeing how lonely orphan life is firsthand yesterday this reminder was what we needed. We know that the Lord has been and will continue to watch over our Anna and her orphan friends. We are never alone.

We met Anna on the playground this morning. She was wearing the little butterfly purse a friend had given us to give her. She was proud to show us that she had it around her neck. We were told that she had been asking since she got up if we were coming this morning. It's funny she has a routine she wants to go through with us. First she wants to check Tony's iPhone to make sure her picture is still on it and to look at pictures of our boys. Then we do Play-Doh. She really like Play-Doh. She really doesn't make anything with it right now - she just likes rolling it around in her hands. She did surprise us with the little plastic scissors that come in the box. We taught her how to cut the Play-Doh by holding her fingers just right on the scissors. On the second try she did it with ease! Then she wants to eat a snack. We have to watch her closely on this. She will eat everything we put in front of her. She inhales it. She will pack her cheeks with every piece if we put too much in front of her. But it's funny - she also wants to make sure she shares with us and the stray dog that has made the orphanage his home. Then she likes to swing. Today was great because she wanted to swing while sitting in my lap. We closed out the morning with some singing. She sits very still in our laps and smiles when we are singing to her. We think she likes this a lot. She has now officially heard of Jesus! We closed out with Jesus Loves Me.

Anna's Friend Roshco the Orphanage Dog

We returned this afternoon for more play, hugs and kisses with Anna. We spent some time with the other children on our way out - giving them a snack, letting them sit in our laps, hugging and playing some silly games. It was clear they just want to be loved by an adult. Again it was hard to say goodbye. We heard them crying as we walked to the car to leave. 

ANNA!

What a day. We are spent. We got to meet our Anna just after lunch today at the orphanage in Yambol. We were told months ago that we would need to wait until later in the week to tell her that we were her parents. With that in mind (and a few million other things) we have been looking forward to this day for a long time.  We even rehearsed several times how we thought it would play out - we would take it slow and not overwhelm her with any big announcements. But it turned out to be like nothing we had imagined -  a time more special, more wonderful and heavier than we counted on. When we arrived the orphanage officials told us that Anna was supposed to be taking a nap. They had told her before nap time that she was going to have guests when she woke up. They said that whenever one of their children hears this they always get excited with hope that it may finally be the day they meet their forever family. They said knowing this they doubted that she was napping. They checked on her and sure enough she was wide awake. We were meeting with the orphanage officials when we heard her little footsteps coming down the long hallway and her sweet voice chattering up a storm. She came right into the room and directly up to us - almost nose to nose. After looking us over thoroughly and exchanging big smiles she announced to everyone that we were her parents! Talk about an ice breaker. It was hard to contain ourselves. We then spent the next few minutes laughing with the orphanage officials about our "plan" to go slowly.

Peaches growing outside Yambol

Following our introduction we were able to spend over two hours with Anna. Before leaving the director's office we showed her pictures of our family. The first picture we showed her of our boys with us she told the group without any prompting, "They are my brothers!" She is way ahead of us on this adoption thing.

We sat with her while she ate her afternoon snack outside. We then got to play with her on the swing set equipment. She and our translator Eti found some tiny plums that were growing on the trees in the orphanage yard. She made sure that everyone had plenty to eat.

She later took us inside to meet the other children in her group. She let them know her new name is Anna and that we were her parents. She made sure we met her best friend - a little girl that will be going home soon with a family from Canada.

Sheep outside Yambol

While we were enjoying seeing Anna's excitement as she told her friends our hearts were hurting for the other children in the room. You could see in their faces that they too want a family. Looking at these children we saw how tough it is to be an orphan. All their days are spent within the walls and yard of this place. No one comes to see them. All they know is each other, their routine and their caretakers. They have activities and a few things to play with but that is it. If someone doesn't adopt them before they turn 4 they are moved to the next orphanage in the system and their chances to be adopted grow slimmer.
Before we left Anna she wanted to know for sure that we were coming back the next day. We assured her we would be back. When we were walking to our car we passed by the outside window to their classroom. Anna's face and the others were pressed against the glass calling to us. This was hard to take. Before adopting you see pictures and watch videos but it is not the same as being here. These children need the love of a family.

 * Please note that we cannot show pictures of Anna or the other children.

We Made It To Bulgaria!

Leaving Italy for Bulgaria!

We arrived in Sofia this afternoon and we were so glad to finally be here.  We were greeted at the airport by some friends that are missionaries in Bulgaria.  It was great to catch up with them and meet their beautiful children. We are staying in an apartment tonight. Tomorrow we leave for Yambol. It is a four hour drive. Yambol is the town where our Anna lives!!! We are looking forward to seeing the beautiful scenery on our drive to see her.  The weather here is great...low to mid 80's and no humidity.  We miss our boys but know that they are in good hands with our family back home.  Tonight we will try out a pizza place that is around the corner from where we are staying.  We can't wait to experience the food here in Bulgaria...have heard that it is wonderful!  It is hard to believe that in less than 24 hours we will be meeting our daughter! God is so good!

Flying into Sofia, Bulgaria

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality.  He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow.  Deuteronomy 10:17-18 

Our Missionary Friends (their daughter was adopted from Bulgaria 12 years ago)

On our way...

Today we are finally leaving to meet our daughter. We are so excited we can hardly stand it.