tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56290649197972067872024-03-13T12:13:30.072-04:00Wright Family USA - Are these kids all yours?We are just an everyday family who loves the Lord. We are simply trying to do our best to follow Him faithfully each and every day. We are glad to share our journey as a family through our blog and we pray God will use it to bless and encourage others!"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.comBlogger738125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-22572999713840475822023-05-08T12:03:00.001-04:002023-05-08T12:03:14.061-04:00When The Journey To Adoption is Hard<p><span style="font-family: arial;">When I got the first phone call from Hailen and Adam about adoption it was a pleasure to hear their excitement and passion. I didn't know then what was in store for their adoption journey, and all the really hard twists and turns they would have in the process. This was going to be a story that was made sweeter through some very hard circumstances. Thankful I had the privilege of seeing their dreams come true. Here is their story......</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG69I1FZ89Wk81OYxUcKF4OkFwM0t345yl4-DcQ58LMxiyi8Ml5rMYaacwPAKzN2DzeHi8w7MMluV5NUkjJ1LINpoeTLydyECCLdr0QT_gNZvg8sBE0SCuz2mcIBy-wxfWjqt4tgqghEHsMJKPxeAQuhZ3UH3hy7bTyBR2AV3orbozvZyFg2vSg18k/s4895/DSC_5333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3268" data-original-width="4895" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG69I1FZ89Wk81OYxUcKF4OkFwM0t345yl4-DcQ58LMxiyi8Ml5rMYaacwPAKzN2DzeHi8w7MMluV5NUkjJ1LINpoeTLydyECCLdr0QT_gNZvg8sBE0SCuz2mcIBy-wxfWjqt4tgqghEHsMJKPxeAQuhZ3UH3hy7bTyBR2AV3orbozvZyFg2vSg18k/s320/DSC_5333.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p>Adam and I have wanted to grow our family for years now. Over a year ago, we began our adoption journey. I always knew I wanted to adopt growing up, and we have discussed adopting since we first started dating, but were trying to decide on the route we would take and when. Once we started the process, we began with talking to as many people as we could that had adopted successfully and began reaching out to consultants, attorneys, and agencies. After all of our “research”, we signed on with <a href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwu-KiBhCsARIsAPztUF1HV4EV8kKk-DRgIJLRaIHWnTpHEgXZEgTLLzjsjJhQkQwWTqYQhYMaAojfEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants</a> and completed our first home study in October of 2021. </p></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the beginning, I was so eager to get started with the process and presenting to birth moms. <a href="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/" target="_blank">Dawn Wright</a> was amazing at answering all of our questions and explaining the different “options” we had with the multi-agency approach, and we began signing on with agencies, which started the beginning of our waiting.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5egGiqY71oCYhV86dQYD2XsmPYadH2sscH99y876ZrgDn6KLh1sYT_xblugn6oaaasGmUjaswIXOnzwrxI20HnNfIn2HupnnjuDdj1zREmow8lj-Oyy63CY3PWg87vM1cNiZ_Ku9rQMalWgjYA6Zdl_m5RvmIB1c-tDltLyjPGNAGGJ6jCHZQrQC/s4737/DSC_4917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4737" data-original-width="3376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5egGiqY71oCYhV86dQYD2XsmPYadH2sscH99y876ZrgDn6KLh1sYT_xblugn6oaaasGmUjaswIXOnzwrxI20HnNfIn2HupnnjuDdj1zREmow8lj-Oyy63CY3PWg87vM1cNiZ_Ku9rQMalWgjYA6Zdl_m5RvmIB1c-tDltLyjPGNAGGJ6jCHZQrQC/s320/DSC_4917.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>The next several months were filled with several “no’s” and “not yets.” No one can truly prepare you for the wait and the different stages of the wait. The wait to see a situation. The wait while you pray about and decide to present or not, and the wait to hear the birth parent’s answer. During the season and cycle of waiting, there would be times we were positive and knew God was shaping us through the process, and then there were times we felt like it would never be our turn. </span><p></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In July, we finally matched with a birth mama due the first week of August with a baby girl. We spent the month getting final touches ready and talking with the mama. We traveled to South Carolina on August 2nd to meet her for dinner. The next morning, her baby girl was born. After a few days in South Carolina, on August 5th, she changed her mind on her adoption plan and decided to parent. This trip was filled with more emotions than I knew possible to experience in such a short time, so we packed up, and headed home with our empty car seat to our empty nursery. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was a tough pill to swallow. You know that it is a possibility once you’re matched, but you hope it won’t ever be you. After lots of tears and phone calls with our consultant <a href="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/" target="_blank">Dawn</a> and the agency we matched with, we continued on. Because I am a teacher, it was a very tough start to the year meeting your students, telling them you will be out on maternity leave, and then coming back a week later and saying “nevermind.” I did not know how I would explain this to my middle schoolers to understand when I didn’t understand it fully myself. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, we had to begin renewing our home study because it expired at the beginning of October. This was a point I never thought I would be at, but here we were. We were continuing to present to situations and continuing to hear “no’s.” The last week of September we got the call that a birth mom wanted to talk to us and another family to make her decision. On September 30th, we got the call that she chose us and was being induced the next morning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkDHShh9izDMH2WnkEGJMBKDpC1ZcakFj5Qh0jPqv3p4i1vLIbocxuaPcgh3Q7OGVffvI9eujyZ_KaFTJGYH_qep0EGU8F5qYec2Wkxa_FrUUfhEWtw98x1HK5oQ4t5IrKq_asJkKMgxhKOgly0n6Mn0xMx4cSKNWcWso7YXUS-ZsCx3dEHFDOmiT/s4855/DSC_4778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3295" data-original-width="4855" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkDHShh9izDMH2WnkEGJMBKDpC1ZcakFj5Qh0jPqv3p4i1vLIbocxuaPcgh3Q7OGVffvI9eujyZ_KaFTJGYH_qep0EGU8F5qYec2Wkxa_FrUUfhEWtw98x1HK5oQ4t5IrKq_asJkKMgxhKOgly0n6Mn0xMx4cSKNWcWso7YXUS-ZsCx3dEHFDOmiT/s320/DSC_4778.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPTnwdXnvlyQfFaUEp2vKmag_WMYzR773kfKyKlwD3TB3ZS5fo2zzZjJS47Jca8MOONA8cH9PAp52PrwjkWpC4CEYET2bb_VbolbomJB1DrnUaniTB34NDW8kx4NG-y8egx0DMq7R5mLOcwxyuSC3Kb91bEXAojxroZn-xoSufub2agS7cK0davOm/s4868/DSC_4836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3287" data-original-width="4868" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPTnwdXnvlyQfFaUEp2vKmag_WMYzR773kfKyKlwD3TB3ZS5fo2zzZjJS47Jca8MOONA8cH9PAp52PrwjkWpC4CEYET2bb_VbolbomJB1DrnUaniTB34NDW8kx4NG-y8egx0DMq7R5mLOcwxyuSC3Kb91bEXAojxroZn-xoSufub2agS7cK0davOm/s320/DSC_4836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We frantically packed and booked flights to Dallas. On October 1st, at 1 pm, her baby girl was born. This trip and experience was much different than the first time, and we were so excited because everything began to fall into place so “perfectly.” It seemed that we could see God in each step with perfect timing. Signing with the birth mom was scheduled at 1 pm on October 2nd. Unfortunately, at about 12:30, we got the surprising call that she had changed her mind and decided to parent. The flood of emotions and hopelessness that we felt in that moment is unlike anything I had experienced. We packed up, canceled the reservations, booked flights, and carried our empty car seat back through the airport to go home. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the flight home, I prayed and cried the entire way. Throughout the adoption process, we lived by “Thy Will Be Done.” It was on our fundraising tshirts, and we collectively listened to that song more times than we could count, but at this point we were so confused and not understanding what His will would be for us. We were trying to make sense of “why” and determine what we should do from here. We decided that we would present to every situation that we saw and leave it in God’s hands. On a day that we received another devastating “no,” the agency called that they had the perfect birth mama for us. We immediately said yes and very shortly after found out she wanted to talk with us on the phone. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After this phone call, she chose us, and we found out she was due that week, but did not know the gender of the baby. That weekend, I was also in one of my best friend’s weddings, so I spent the week notifying work of the potential possibility (again) of needing maternity leave, packed our bags, and traveled to the wedding. The morning of the wedding (as I was getting ready), we got the call that Mama O was in labor and we needed to get there immediately. She had also chosen me as her support person to be in the delivery. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJZnHuGgL19UBZ8GTNu6eBqwrUnjKOVhg4B26soKq9kozEZuVoGMlSythEB7EB6XPLTiZ2J9VORR6m-h_snFtJn_JMWgcADOhBAdEAyzm4eYX35LSA0uFkuIEF_nUsBvrG35W1S5K0mtIq_kpIznjWeCWO_u4p_YjlazNTaipzBomlzPhgX5WuOHF/s814/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="614" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJZnHuGgL19UBZ8GTNu6eBqwrUnjKOVhg4B26soKq9kozEZuVoGMlSythEB7EB6XPLTiZ2J9VORR6m-h_snFtJn_JMWgcADOhBAdEAyzm4eYX35LSA0uFkuIEF_nUsBvrG35W1S5K0mtIq_kpIznjWeCWO_u4p_YjlazNTaipzBomlzPhgX5WuOHF/s320/1.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We managed to grab the last flight that night and headed to Delaware and arrived at 2 am. We headed to the hospital first thing. Throughout all of the traveling and rush, I tried to maintain my expectations and not get too excited. The time in the hospital with her went better than I could have dreamed. We got to talk and spend time together, and I got to be a part of the most beautiful experience of my life watching our baby GIRL come into the world. We had previously matched with two baby girls in the past, and did not know the gender of this baby. Adam says that it is because God clearly wanted us to be girl parents and had our perfect girl chosen for us. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right after she was born, we were rushed into another room for my husband to join us to watch her measurements and hold her for the first time. After that, we were unfortunately moved to the NICU because of this hospital's adoption policy. Adam and I had to take turns being with her because they only allowed one visitor at a time, but I will forever be grateful for her choosing us and allowing me to be a part of every little detail as our baby girl entered the world. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PJNkbEgmvZiTaExskNTU5UQ5GCgemYkgYnhkP0vuivOQRyBE-G8ooDoOj6R4Iu6PXig5pkOS0vB2tyM9LkEzmInR0ePMPlpjZS2fEaUbUdoyOO6-nGAuDbbwjR9nnFvU2_VU0Aav40B7E_f4KbwlffI3btUQGZonxehTHaPlogcnLc7woLlDt2tO/s828/IMG_7097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PJNkbEgmvZiTaExskNTU5UQ5GCgemYkgYnhkP0vuivOQRyBE-G8ooDoOj6R4Iu6PXig5pkOS0vB2tyM9LkEzmInR0ePMPlpjZS2fEaUbUdoyOO6-nGAuDbbwjR9nnFvU2_VU0Aav40B7E_f4KbwlffI3btUQGZonxehTHaPlogcnLc7woLlDt2tO/s320/IMG_7097.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>The signing was the next day at 1 pm. That 24 hours seemed like an eternity (especially the hours I was at the hotel when Adam was visiting with our girl). At 12:54, we got the text that the signing had been moved back. This was the worst thing I could have heard. My mind went to the worst case scenario, and I started fearing that we would go home empty handed again. <p></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thankfully at 2pm we met with Mama O, the agency, and a notary, and at 3:01 she officially became OURS forever! When we decided to adopt, I tried to educate myself on all the possibilities. My biggest fear was a failed adoption, and we had TWO. Looking back now, I would not change a single thing. Everyone always says in “God’s perfect timing,” which can be very difficult to hear at times, but I know now that his timing was so perfect. This is our perfect girl. Every detail was better than I could have dreamed (minus not being able to be together in the hospital due to policy). Every no, not yet, and heart breaking trip home lead us to her. Despite the crazy road to getting our girl, I can see God in all of the little details and would not change a thing. </span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_nUFlxDO55QBhpHMx_45LEMklysyyplRZFwKUoIpaCpZG8wosLdTedOFa8BWd7ZGpju2v-6zVSGacbChICMqn9brVgMo5L7yxXXOh_hApTqERgwHqKae7AwcUl6aOZYkkr4xBzpo9Hm_aB5L7_BpN1KD10yeQPkcmST13uJYo-nldQIsSOVF3v0Q/s828/IMG_2416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_nUFlxDO55QBhpHMx_45LEMklysyyplRZFwKUoIpaCpZG8wosLdTedOFa8BWd7ZGpju2v-6zVSGacbChICMqn9brVgMo5L7yxXXOh_hApTqERgwHqKae7AwcUl6aOZYkkr4xBzpo9Hm_aB5L7_BpN1KD10yeQPkcmST13uJYo-nldQIsSOVF3v0Q/s320/IMG_2416.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you have any questions about adoption:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">813-360-7368</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dawn@christianadoptionconsultants.com</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIHeYPa_XP5lGWireirO1sN0WBFxurLmd9a803dIPaHJRp2l5BeZ-XL1rWfN3H5km1oD6ygB54OrTvz-6T67p-i9UpiHr9L6gcx2vVZOGg-STk-1n0C1MBwPnpnFh-zZBk3TLShTvyBvSDLDvNAvfbG7Zxcy6cC-9o7ma8peaS_KFSOcSRUzvXb04/s828/IMG_2216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIHeYPa_XP5lGWireirO1sN0WBFxurLmd9a803dIPaHJRp2l5BeZ-XL1rWfN3H5km1oD6ygB54OrTvz-6T67p-i9UpiHr9L6gcx2vVZOGg-STk-1n0C1MBwPnpnFh-zZBk3TLShTvyBvSDLDvNAvfbG7Zxcy6cC-9o7ma8peaS_KFSOcSRUzvXb04/s320/IMG_2216.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you know we launched an all new <a href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/embryo-adoption-program/" target="_blank">Embryo Adoption Program</a> as well?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Feel free to contact me about this amazing new program!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-85854787518189640912021-07-31T12:46:00.000-04:002021-07-31T12:46:30.548-04:0040 Years Ago Today....<p>Today is my 48th Birthday!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vt6KxMlxR2Q/YQV6uANrVZI/AAAAAAAAUb4/mL_jrvTkBNogIBJmP0Bppb83qOIpmt06wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-31%2B11.03.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vt6KxMlxR2Q/YQV6uANrVZI/AAAAAAAAUb4/mL_jrvTkBNogIBJmP0Bppb83qOIpmt06wCLcBGAsYHQ/w222-h320/2021-07-31%2B11.03.09.jpg" width="222" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RfwXX9lbWMM/YQV9NJagVbI/AAAAAAAAUcg/sR_z4iUHGGUUjmR47xNb86AwrjrsBnmSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B10%2B47%2B41%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RfwXX9lbWMM/YQV9NJagVbI/AAAAAAAAUcg/sR_z4iUHGGUUjmR47xNb86AwrjrsBnmSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B10%2B47%2B41%2BAM.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p>40 years ago today I was with my family camping in Minnesota during my birthday week. We went mini golfing and laughed. Went to church and Sunday School. I had no idea what was about to happen no idea that my innocent fun filled life was about to change dramatically. </p><p>That next day I would feel the urgency to use the bathroom and it persisted. My parents took me to a nearby ER and they thought I had a urinary tract infection. When they tested they found no infection. So they did more tests and found out I had cancer. Cancer that they thought was benign, but discovered later was indeed malignant and had burst outside itself. Cancer that itself weighed 5lbs in my little girl body.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWJOLNmGjlE/YQV5VFDq6lI/AAAAAAAAUaM/OULu3yMJgZ0AWIg6iTBBhqCWQT-UX0nUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-31%2B11.49.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWJOLNmGjlE/YQV5VFDq6lI/AAAAAAAAUaM/OULu3yMJgZ0AWIg6iTBBhqCWQT-UX0nUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-07-31%2B11.49.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></p></blockquote><p>I had no idea the seriousness of it all. My dad had lost his only sibling - sister to cancer when she was only 21 and I was a baby. No idea that my parents knew the seriousness of the situation. No idea the recovery time from surgery ahead and the months and months of radiation treatments that would make me sick everyday. </p><p>No idea the hundreds of miles our 4 hour round trips to Iowa City for treatments would be coming. No idea the other children I would meet who I would also see pass away in the hospital. No idea the hundreds of hours I would spend waiting on doctors while my mom would help me with homework or be reading the Bible. No idea the hundreds of people who were all praying for me, family, friends, strangers.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x1L8YR3thS0/YQV6UV0UN-I/AAAAAAAAUbc/u1KDiDyYAJ4RF2JOn1SvUqzaYx5DoUqXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B11%2B50%2B14%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x1L8YR3thS0/YQV6UV0UN-I/AAAAAAAAUbc/u1KDiDyYAJ4RF2JOn1SvUqzaYx5DoUqXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B11%2B50%2B14%2BAM.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p>No idea what caused this kind of cancer that typically only affects women over 40. No idea that I would have a hysterectomy and all of my internal organs affected by the effort to get rid of ever cancer cell. No idea that I may not live. No idea......... </p><p>No idea that God caused the cancer to roll onto my bladder which caused us to go to the hospital- MIRACLE.</p><p>No idea that God had planted doctors to do this massive surgery that was, at best, a guess as to what to do- MIRACLE. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZcJdmDlgwU/YQV6c50KE3I/AAAAAAAAUbg/inz-x7ZMVngoGk1fx4XYQc-PqLsUHB5IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B11%2B50%2B43%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZcJdmDlgwU/YQV6c50KE3I/AAAAAAAAUbg/inz-x7ZMVngoGk1fx4XYQc-PqLsUHB5IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B11%2B50%2B43%2BAM.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ir9HIbZ0YPs/YQV6iBE4mFI/AAAAAAAAUbk/0RnGs8IHKTcVm_xZ080OS1au0ExrJ0nagCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B11%2B50%2B58%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ir9HIbZ0YPs/YQV6iBE4mFI/AAAAAAAAUbk/0RnGs8IHKTcVm_xZ080OS1au0ExrJ0nagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Photo%2BJul%2B31%252C%2B11%2B50%2B58%2BAM.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p>No idea that we would be able to run into so many people during the surgery and radiation treatments that we could witness to- MIRACLE.</p><p>No idea that God would allow my grandparents to take turns staying with my brothers so my dad could work and my mom could come with me all those weeks of radiation- MIRACLE.</p><p>No idea that God would use my testimony to touch so many in my life- MIRACLE.</p><p>No idea that God would bring me a husband and we would still have 9 beautiful children- MIRACLE. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx15RwcP7Xo/YQV9kYi9fVI/AAAAAAAAUco/35Ahwcdj2nILUVDsd_K0-3X8gZXi0s9ygCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-20%2B19.16.12-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx15RwcP7Xo/YQV9kYi9fVI/AAAAAAAAUco/35Ahwcdj2nILUVDsd_K0-3X8gZXi0s9ygCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-07-20%2B19.16.12-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>No idea that even today 40 years later I would be able to share my God story of how he used me, healed me, and restored me to who I am today- MIRACLE.</p><p></p><p>There really aren't words to describe the difference between 40 years ago today and one day later when I found out that I had cancer. I was already saved and knew the Lord as my personal savior. In those years of being healed miraculously by Jesus He gave me a gift most others do not have. He gave me the gift of perseverance, a deep faith that I can't describe, and a love for Jesus that goes far beyond and keeps growing. MIRACLE. </p><p>My grandma was right- I am a walking MIRACLE. </p><p>THANK YOU JESUS!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvcM-tcVZfM/YQV7BL_cpWI/AAAAAAAAUcI/FkozRo4zbv00TOSdi9e7u-zjofnvKT0twCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/2021-07-19%2B19.48.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvcM-tcVZfM/YQV7BL_cpWI/AAAAAAAAUcI/FkozRo4zbv00TOSdi9e7u-zjofnvKT0twCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-07-19%2B19.48.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-42510808673705683372021-06-04T14:47:00.002-04:002021-06-04T14:47:17.557-04:00You Are The Most Beautiful Sunflower<p><b> <span style="color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stephanie & Derek’s Adoption Story:</span></b></p><div class="yF0IC" data-hook="post-description" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 25px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><article class="blog-post-page-font" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="post-content__body" style="--ricos-action-color-fallback-tuple: 0, 0, 0; --ricos-action-color-fallback: #000000; --ricos-action-color-tuple: 180, 144, 116; --ricos-action-color: #b49074; --ricos-background-color-tuple: 255, 255, 255; --ricos-background-color: #ffffff; --ricos-custom-h1-color: rgba(105,101,84,1); --ricos-custom-h1-font-family: sacramento,cursive; --ricos-custom-h1-font-size: 38px; --ricos-custom-h1-line-height: 1.5; --ricos-custom-h2-color: rgba(105,101,84,1); --ricos-custom-h2-font-family: open sans,sans-serif; --ricos-custom-h2-font-size: 28px; --ricos-custom-h2-line-height: 1.5; --ricos-custom-h3-color: rgba(105,101,84,1); --ricos-custom-h3-font-family: open sans,sans-serif; --ricos-custom-h3-font-size: 22px; --ricos-custom-h3-line-height: 1.5; --ricos-custom-hashtag-color: rgba(180,144,116,1); --ricos-custom-hashtag-font-style: inherit; --ricos-custom-hashtag-font-weight: inherit; --ricos-custom-hashtag-line-height: 1.5; --ricos-custom-hashtag-text-decoration: inherit; --ricos-custom-link-color: rgba(180,144,116,1); --ricos-custom-link-font-style: inherit; --ricos-custom-link-font-weight: inherit; --ricos-custom-link-line-height: 1.5; --ricos-custom-link-text-decoration: inherit; --ricos-custom-p-color: rgba(105,101,84,1); --ricos-custom-p-font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd,serif; --ricos-custom-p-font-size: 18px; --ricos-custom-p-font-style: inherit; --ricos-custom-p-font-weight: inherit; --ricos-custom-p-line-height: 1.5; --ricos-custom-p-text-decoration: inherit; --ricos-custom-quote-border-color: rgb(180, 144, 116); --ricos-custom-quote-color: rgba(105,101,84,1); --ricos-custom-quote-font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif; --ricos-custom-quote-font-size: 24px; --ricos-custom-quote-line-height: 1.5; --ricos-fallback-color-tuple: 0, 0, 0; --ricos-fallback-color: #000000; --ricos-text-color-tuple: 105, 101, 84; --ricos-text-color: #696554; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_21Y0E" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_21Y0E" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="f-0hV _15aM- _1VVYC" data-rce-version="8.37.0" style="--rce-active-divider-color: rgba(105, 101, 84, 0.5); --rce-divider-color: rgba(105, 101, 84, 0.2); --rce-header-three-font-size: 22px; --rce-header-two-font-size: 28px; --rce-highlighted-color: rgb(180, 144, 116); --rce-link-hashtag-color: rgb(180, 144, 116); --rce-mobile-font-size: 16px; --rce-mobile-header-three-font-size: 20px; --rce-mobile-header-two-font-size: 24px; --rce-mobile-quotes-font-size: 20px; --rce-opaque-background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); --rce-text-color: rgb(105, 101, 84); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 auto; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="kcuBq Qbjx- _3-ucy uatYj" data-id="rich-content-viewer" dir="ltr" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--ricos-font-family,HelveticaNeue,Helvetica,Arial); font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 2444.73px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="kaqlz _3suv7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 2444.73px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap !important; width: 740px;"><div data-hook="rcv-block2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-41hg5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We first thought about <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">adoption</u></a> in 2010 when our first biological daughter was 2. While talking about growing our family, my husband said, “We could look into <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">adoption</u></a>.” I replied that was something I was open to. We ended up having our second daughter two years later.</span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-a4r2f" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div class="q2uC4 _1uEzk" id="viewer-4tpa" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 15px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="c-Mgr _2G0dv _2G0dv _7gPc2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_2o-_D" data-hook="imageViewer" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0"><div class="_3lvoN LPH2h" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img aria-hidden="true" class="_5JW6l _2ERz3" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_6274ac15cee24955bd411082454e8cc8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000%2Ch_741%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpeg" data-pin-url="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/post/you-are-the-most-beautiful-sunflower" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_6274ac15cee24955bd411082454e8cc8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_750,h_494,al_c,q_20/file.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; filter: blur(8px); font: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;" /><img class="_5JW6l _36UM9" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_6274ac15cee24955bd411082454e8cc8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000%2Ch_741%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpeg" data-pin-url="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/post/you-are-the-most-beautiful-sunflower" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_6274ac15cee24955bd411082454e8cc8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_740,h_487,al_c,q_90/531856_6274ac15cee24955bd411082454e8cc8~mv2.webp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; font: inherit; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div><div data-hook="rcv-block5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="image"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-eq3sj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block6" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5vohm" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For years we had that desire to adopt, but just never felt called to act on it. One night in 2017, I had a dream that I went to the hospital having pain that felt like labor but not looking pregnant. The doctor came in and said, “You are having a baby, congratulations, it’s a boy.” I yelled out, “I didn’t know I was pregnant!” He handed me a baby boy and I woke up. The pain felt so real, so did holding the baby. I remember looking around the room to see if there was a bassinet and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that dream started watering the seed of <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">adoption</u></a> that had been planted in my heart years ago when he first brought up adoption. I had that same recurring dream for the next 3 years.</span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-blfg5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5fqqj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In February 2020, I mentioned to my husband I was really feeling that calling. He agreed and we started researching adoption. I decided to start interviewing <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">consultants for domestic adoption</u></a>. I had my first phone call with an agency on the day of the pandemic shut-down. I had very little knowledge of <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">adoption</u></a>. I was really looking for someone to educate me and help me navigate what would be the best for our family.</span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fr7m4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block10" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dhvfs" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ll never forget the first time I spoke to <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dawn</u></a> at <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christian Adoption Consultants</u></a>. She asked me what led us to adoption. I told her the story about how a year earlier while on a cruise I felt like God was letting me know after years of having the desire, that it was time. She did something that confirmed to us that <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CAC</u></a> was the right choice for us: she almost immediately started educating me on ethical adoptions. I knew when I hung up that <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CAC</u></a> was exactly what I was looking for and that Dawn was going to be in my corner. Throughout the process I would reach out to Dawn if I had a question. She always gave me her honest answer. In some ways I felt like she was my teacher.</span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ckpuv" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block12" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-c6feb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another part of great education <a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="https://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christian Adoption Consultants</u></a> provides for their clients is adoption education by having them speak to a birth mother and an adoptee. I spoke to birth mom Lori. She taught me so much in our short phone call. I’ll never forget her teaching me about open adoption. At one point she said, “You and I could have the same flower from the same garden. Mine might die if I don’t take care of it or know how to care for it. Yours might be beautiful. A sunflower was not meant to be a rose. You cannot change it into another flower. Their DNA is there, it cannot be changed. This is nature. But nurture them and they will bloom into who they are meant to be.” That stuck with me because I understood it so deeply being a fellow plant lover.</span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block13" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-d0sgr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div class="q2uC4 _1uEzk" id="viewer-ctel1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 15px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="c-Mgr _2G0dv _2G0dv _7gPc2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_2o-_D" data-hook="imageViewer" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0"><div class="_3lvoN LPH2h" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img aria-hidden="true" class="_5JW6l _2ERz3" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_b236ecbd336d4f728fd2715505be1d71~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000%2Ch_751%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpeg" data-pin-url="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/post/you-are-the-most-beautiful-sunflower" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_b236ecbd336d4f728fd2715505be1d71~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_750,h_501,al_c,q_20/file.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; filter: blur(8px); font: inherit; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;" /><img class="_5JW6l _36UM9" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_b236ecbd336d4f728fd2715505be1d71~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000%2Ch_751%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpeg" data-pin-url="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/post/you-are-the-most-beautiful-sunflower" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_b236ecbd336d4f728fd2715505be1d71~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_740,h_494,al_c,q_90/531856_b236ecbd336d4f728fd2715505be1d71~mv2.webp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; font: inherit; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div><div data-hook="rcv-block15" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="image"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6d612" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block16" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-28jmo" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One morning at 6:58 am, 3 days before the historic ice storm that hit Texas, we got the call that our birth mother was in labor 6 weeks early. Due to Covid restrictions, it took two days for us to finally see him. After the most emotional “hello” of my life with his birth mother, it was time to finally see him. I’ll never forget scanning the NICU room for him and seeing him for the first time. When they placed him in my arms, it felt like God himself handed him to me. He looked at me eyes wide open. It was as if our hearts knew they belonged together. After a few minutes, I thought about what Lori said to me that day. I looked down at him and said, “You are the most beautiful sunflower I have ever seen.””</span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block17" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7o26c" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block18" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _1XrpH _1LT16 _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fcv7v" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center !important; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you want to know more: </span><a class="_2qJYG _2E8wo" href="mailto:dawn@christianadoptionconsultants.com" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">dawn@christianadoptionconsultants.com</u></span></a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 813-360-7368 </span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block19" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _1XrpH _1LT16 _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-48t85" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center !important; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I would love to share how Christian Adoption Consultants can help you on your journey! </span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block20" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9r1cq" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article></div>"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-6919752589045247822021-02-09T23:15:00.003-05:002021-02-09T23:15:35.491-05:00The Treasure Box<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: center;">So it started off with my precious treasure box that I got quit a while ago. I have filled it with the only treasure in this world that will not fade- scriptures. Scriptures that I wanted to study, memorize, read over and over to encourage me. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNGlTWCMa48/YCNaeiJTwWI/AAAAAAAAUSQ/lJd2tOoXiRMeCtvRNQ_gUQ8ap81uGXkDACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-02-09%2B22.44.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNGlTWCMa48/YCNaeiJTwWI/AAAAAAAAUSQ/lJd2tOoXiRMeCtvRNQ_gUQ8ap81uGXkDACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-02-09%2B22.44.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYXMIL35Z78/YCNaho22qVI/AAAAAAAAUSc/R1CgUcVZB0YVCkH-wb4CHMc0cJ9Ml5QfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-02-09%2B22.42.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYXMIL35Z78/YCNaho22qVI/AAAAAAAAUSc/R1CgUcVZB0YVCkH-wb4CHMc0cJ9Ml5QfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-02-09%2B22.42.09.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then it hit me- why not encourage our children with the same thing! So for Christmas this past year I decided to make a treasure box for each of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNGlTWCMa48/YCNaeiJTwWI/AAAAAAAAUSQ/lJd2tOoXiRMeCtvRNQ_gUQ8ap81uGXkDACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-02-09%2B22.44.39.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I created lists of past memories- some movies we have loved watching over the years, where we have gone on vacations, talents for each child that I see, truths from scripture about God and who they are, and scriptures with their names in them. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9OP7C19SgeY/YCNaf2-_d0I/AAAAAAAAUSU/J33wdiKyi0QORASwTo799GTsYBf0PXSCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-02-09%2B22.43.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9OP7C19SgeY/YCNaf2-_d0I/AAAAAAAAUSU/J33wdiKyi0QORASwTo799GTsYBf0PXSCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-02-09%2B22.43.59.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I would say this is one of my favorite ideas God has given me. I want to keep adding through the years on different holidays, birthdays, or random days. When it comes to encouraging our children it is the best feeling. To share with them the Good News! To point them back to God maybe on their worst days when they feel alone.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This world can be harsh, there are seasons that sometimes feel like they go on forever, but the truth is that God is working- even when we don't see it. So start today. Notecards and a pen are all you need to start. I pray you are encouraged! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-27583654483811677422021-02-01T18:20:00.004-05:002021-02-02T10:30:08.496-05:00"Anything Is A Blessing That Makes Us Pray" - Nick & Kama's Adoption Story Of Faith<div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3gduj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face="adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif" style="color: #696554; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">This post's title, "Anything is a blessing that makes us pray", is a quote from Charles H. Spurgeon, the influential English preacher from the 1800s. Nick and Kama have been touched and challenged by his words over the years. This particular quote reminded them that the heartaches of this life give us an opportunity to press in to God's presence. Their adoption journey prior to, and since working with me at </span><a class="_2qJYG blog-link-hashtag-color _2xVcV" href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #b49074; cursor: pointer; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christian Adoption Consultants</u></a><span face="adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif" style="color: #696554; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was hard, but as Kama says, "I must tell you; this was the most painful process that I have ever been through, even more painful than childbirth. But, wow, was it worth it!" The end result was the blessing of their precious baby girl, along with the blessing of knowing God's heart in such a deep way. </span></span></h1></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1tfdd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Adoption was on Kama’s heart since she was a child. When she and Nick dated, they both had a heart for adoption. After getting married and having two sons, they discovered that they were not able to have any more biological children. They continued praying about adoption. Plans for adopting were paused as they were meeting the needs of their boys but knew God would lead them to adoption in His time. Three years later they considered moving forward with adoption, but the prospect of expenses involved caused them to stop once again and wait while trusting for God’s financial provision. They continued to pray as a family – praying for their future daughter, sister, and her birth mother. Another three years later is where their adoption journey continues. Kama shares their story from this point:</span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-f5oo0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-imjq" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Three years later we couldn’t resist our call to adoption. Our hearts ached for this child. One night, our oldest son, looked at us at the dinner table and said, “Why aren’t we going through with the process of adoption? We all want this child and pray for them and we know God will provide so why don’t we just do it?” The faith of a child. He was right, we needed to just take the steps and trust the Lord. So, we decided to start with fostering. We signed up with fostering to adopt in November 2019 and got all our paperwork done in three weeks and we were approved in December 2019. After more and more praying, we decided to stay with fostering but to also try to adopt and see what the Lord did. In February 2020 we started our home study process for adoption, and we were home study approved and working with Dawn at <a class="_2qJYG blog-link-hashtag-color _2xVcV" href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #b49074; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christian Adoption Consultants</u></a> in March 2020. Well… as you know March was the month where everything was shut down due to COVID. </span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cf920" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5kc0r" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In May, we were finally matched with a birth mother who was due in six weeks with a baby girl. That situation ended with us driving to the hospital with us thinking we were going to meet our daughter only to have the birth mom stop communicating with the agency. We waited, we called all the hospitals in the area, the case worker called and even went to her house, yet no one knew what happened. Our hearts were shattered to say the least. We waited two long days in another state to see if she would show up or call, but nothing. We went home to try to heal… only to have her call three days later. She told us that the baby was sick and in the hospital. We told her that we didn’t care, we would love the child no matter what. When the case worker called the hospital, they found out the baby was discharged, was healthy, and in her care. The birth mom finally texted us just to let us know that was not going to follow through with the adoption plan. We were heartbroken all over again. We didn’t understand. Why God would you lead us down this road to only have us lose all this money and to break our hearts and get our hopes up? We cried out to the Lord. We knew that our Lord was Sovereign, and we knew that even this was part of His plan, but we didn’t understand. So, we cried, but we lifted our hands up to the Lord and sang as well. We started this journey to bring Him glory… and if it meant that we would suffer, even then we would praise His name. </span></p><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8t0ts" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-eaib2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After our failed adoption we decided to apply with a couple more agencies and keep applying to situations. We applied and applied and applied. We got a no after a no. After every no, I would overanalyze and think “what is wrong with us? Why aren’t we being chosen?” During this time, God brought me to a point of realization that even during this time of “wait”, he was working. Charles Spurgeon said, “Anything is a blessing that makes us pray.” So, I kept reminding myself and my children, that through this time of uncertainty and unknown, it was a blessing, because God was keeping us on our knees and trusting Him. After months of hearing no after no, God finally opened my eyes to make me realize that every no was a blessing, because that was not my child. God was working even when I could not see it. As a family we finally started praising God for this journey and tried our best to “enjoy” it even through the pain. </span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8klv7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1p8le" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On December 6, 2020, I was making dinner and checked my phone after setting the table. I saw a “Stork Drop” come across my email from an adoption agency. At first, I panicked because I thought we were too late to apply. I quickly looked the situation over, and I showed my husband the situation. He began to cry. The situation was for a little girl who was born on December 5, the same day his sister was born forty-two years ago. His sister was his best friend and passed away when she was 18 from epilepsy. He looked at the situation and said, “Apply, this is our little girl”. I quickly applied and then we sat down and just started crying over this precious child. We prayed together over her and for God to protect her. This little girl had a tough beginning and was in the NICU and our hearts cried out to the Lord for her protection. For the first time, we didn’t pray for the birth mom to “choose us”, but we prayed that the Lord would bring the right family for this child and would save this precious girl and let her grow up to know Him. About two hours later, I received a call from our adoption agency, and they told me that this was an ‘agency pick’ adoption and that we were chosen as her family. We got our little girl! </span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-32nch" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1fh82" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We got on a plane the next day and went and met our precious gift from God. She is a constant reminder that God is always working out all things for our good. A couple days later, when the agency met with the birth mom, they showed her our profile book. A couple months before the birth, the birth mom was going to choose a family and she told the case worker she decided upon three families from the website and not only were we one of the three families she considered, but we were the #1 family she wanted for her daughter. Oh, how great is our God that he worked out all things. </span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7d1m4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-e76ar" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We spent the next ten days loving our daughter in the NICU and watching her grow stronger every day. Our Lord is the Lord of miracles. Through all the “nos”, through our failed adoption, through all the waiting… God was always faithful, always good, and in control of all things. What a great God we serve. We give Him all the glory and praise His name. So, if I can offer any advice…. Have faith in our great God.</span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5cak5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ipnn" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I began the adoption process, I believed I was strong in my faith and walk in God, but this process brought me to a place of crying out to the Lord and trusting in His sovereignty more than I ever thought possible. I was reminded daily how the Lord has the whole world in His hand and has ordained all things. During our journey, I was reminded of the quote by Charles Spurgeon, “You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: he who counts the stars, and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting his own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature he ever made, or the only saint he ever loved.”"</span><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">As with Nick and Kama, one of the biggest honors for me as an adoption consultant is being able to provide support to families during the journey, with all the struggles they face - praying with them on the phone, or sending encouraging texts. It would be my privilege to talk with you today about your own adoption journey. Feel free to reach me anytime at:</span></span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-76b63" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1XrpH _1-QUK ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-c8161" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0656b7; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(813) 360-7368</span></span></p><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1XrpH _1-QUK ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-575sd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_2qJYG blog-link-hashtag-color _2xVcV" href="mailto:dawn@christianadoptionconsultants.com" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #b49074; cursor: pointer; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-family); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="sDZYg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">dawn@christianadoptionconsultants.com</u></a> </span></p><div class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7982q" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-142v0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Blessings,</span></p><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9knvv" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; direction: ltr; font-family: adobe-caslon-w01-smbd, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dawn</em></span></p><div class="yF0IC" data-hook="post-description" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #696554; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 25px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><article class="blog-post-page-font" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="post-content__body" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="f-0hV _1LHlu _1ltva" data-rce-version="8.17.5" style="--rce-active-divider-color: rgba(105, 101, 84, 0.5); --rce-divider-color: rgba(105, 101, 84, 0.2); --rce-header-three-font-size: 22px; --rce-header-two-font-size: 28px; --rce-highlighted-color: rgb(180, 144, 116); --rce-link-hashtag-color: rgb(180, 144, 116); --rce-mobile-font-size: 16px; --rce-mobile-header-three-font-size: 20px; --rce-mobile-header-two-font-size: 24px; --rce-mobile-quotes-font-size: 20px; --rce-opaque-background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); --rce-text-color: rgb(105, 101, 84); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 auto; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="kcuBq _1PkHV blog-post-page-font _3f8WX uatYj" dir="ltr" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: inherit; height: 3487.45px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="kaqlz _1FQ9t blog-post-page-font zJfAe" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: inherit; height: 3487.45px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 740px;"><p class="XzvDs _208Ie ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color _2QAo- _1iXso wj-V5 ljrnk public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-1tfdd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr PDkkw" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><h1 class="_1gHzn _2M4wi blog-post-title-font blog-post-title-color blog-text-color post-title blog-hover-container-element-color _1EQZr blog-post-page-title-font" data-hook="post-title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: sacramento, cursive; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-break: break-word;"><br /></h1></div></div></div></div></article></div>"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-57493668685203715132019-11-26T15:19:00.002-05:002019-11-26T15:25:30.884-05:00Can We Be Thankful In All Circumstances?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AJztMMqQI1A/Xd2CQNVGqwI/AAAAAAAAUJc/GNVjkk7PWNogVvGSJBzJzaz8m7sf2-WngCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/thnakful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="846" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AJztMMqQI1A/Xd2CQNVGqwI/AAAAAAAAUJc/GNVjkk7PWNogVvGSJBzJzaz8m7sf2-WngCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/thnakful.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All Americans are thinking about Thanksgiving in some way, shape or form right now. As I type many are already traveling or preparing to travel. Turkeys are defrosting in fridges about to hit the oven, and people have already been going to purposely buy jelly beans this week ready to much them with popcorn during their annual tradition of watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" with the fam.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We're all "Thanksgiving saturated right now", but how many of us truly, myself included were actually going to spend some honest time <i><b>being</b></i> thankful, and on top of that taking time to thank God himself for all His blessings? If it's "just about the turkey" we're surely missing it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maybe we <i><b>can</b></i> be thankful this week, after all we're having some yummy dishes and hanging with family, but what about the other times in our lives when the Bible says, "Give thanks in all circumstances..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>"<i><span style="color: #990000;">Give thanks</span></i> in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">-1 Thessalonians 5:18</span></b></div>
<b></b><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've honestly struggled with that, because there's been too many times to count that I have not felt very thrilled about life and my circumstances. I haven't honestly felt very thankful. If I'm honest I've lived plenty like I'm cursed, not blessed!</div>
<br />
I think of these verses too:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, <i><span style="color: #990000;">with thanksgiving</span></i>, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">-Philippians 4: 6-7</span></b></div>
<b></b><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, that is easier said than done! We were introduced through our church to the little book, "<a href="https://shop.lifemodelworks.org/collections/top-sellers/products/joyful-journey-listening-to-immanuel" target="_blank">Joyful Journey</a>". This book said, "When we give thanks, gratitude becomes the vehicle through which we become aware of the presence of Immanuel, the God who is always with us. Gratitude in the middle of difficulties allows us to have [the recognition that God is present, is truly good and perseveres in doing good for us].</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://shop.lifemodelworks.org/collections/top-sellers/products/joyful-journey-listening-to-immanuel" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="232" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ROBapDObd0/Xd2FFx307TI/AAAAAAAAUJo/jUK-MZCDUxU4rpGu525WT-PRpt2BoG38wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/jj.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I pretty much understand it like this: when I come to God with thankfulness I take the focal point off me for a change, and regardless of what is going on around me I see and hear Him. I am reminded that <i><b>He </b></i>is with <b><i>me</i></b> in every second of my life. God's character can only be good. His love is pure and unfailing. Immanuel is with me in all circumstances. I can be thankful for His presence. Therefore, I can be thankful in <b><i>all</i></b> circumstances because He is with me, and the God who is with me is persevering in doing good for me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When pain or struggles occur, the enemy speaks lies to us, wanting us to take our eyes off of Jesus towards our situation, and we lose sight of "God with us" [Immanuel]. Even in those tough moments we have the ability through Holy Spirit to turn our eyes back towards Jesus, and thank him in it because he has never, and never will leave us or forsake us.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; <span style="color: #990000;">he will never leave you nor forsake you</span>."</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">-Deuteronomy 31:6</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Happy Thanks Giving!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Blessings,</div>
Jason"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-9588144217212133162019-03-18T20:35:00.000-04:002019-03-18T20:35:01.040-04:00Lemons From Lemonade - Brandon & Kathryn's Adoption Story<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has been an honor of ours to be adoption consultants for Brandon and Kathryn, and to see their family grow by the blessing of adoption. I (Dawn) had the privilege of also being able to present for the adoption finalization hearing here in Florida! What a blessing and honor to be invited - this is the 'icing on the cake' in my job. Kathryn shares their adoption story so beautifully, along with equally beautiful photographs that capture such beauty and love.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rk-oS9oLgeU/XJA1WIdK_yI/AAAAAAAAUFY/uInz3sNwICAkiGMto8d4DElekOEpj3nRwCLcBGAs/s1600/pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1600" height="275" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rk-oS9oLgeU/XJA1WIdK_yI/AAAAAAAAUFY/uInz3sNwICAkiGMto8d4DElekOEpj3nRwCLcBGAs/s400/pic1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Emma, two weeks old. Photo by Marci Worlton Photograp</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">hy</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Someone once explained to me that when life gives you lemonade you should make lemons. How odd I thought. How backwards. How impossible. But you see...making lemons from lemonade means taking all the broken pieces and making them whole again. Something only God himself can do. We believe that God has brought lemons from lemonade in our adoption story – he has taken broken hearts and made them whole.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />The “before” in our story is hard to write about...six miscarriages, fourteen foster placements that ended too soon in heartbreaking good-byes, failed adoptions through a broken foster system...we kept trusting God to grow our family but it was so hard to see hope dashed over and over.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfZI97fZEEw/XJA1t2JNowI/AAAAAAAAUFg/333-DXPGZUUSbGkDf4g4ZA0QoYqGBVQcgCLcBGAs/s1600/pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfZI97fZEEw/XJA1t2JNowI/AAAAAAAAUFg/333-DXPGZUUSbGkDf4g4ZA0QoYqGBVQcgCLcBGAs/s400/pic2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo by Deanndra Xaynhachack of DMX Photography.</span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />Last April (it sounds so funny to say that because it hasn’t even been a year yet!) we decided to step away from foster care and the devastation it brought our family, which was especially hard for our young son who was suffering deeply from the constant good-byes of foster siblings, and start on the path for private adoption.<br /><br />By May we had our home study completed. And three short weeks later we received the life-changing call that a birthmother in Florida had chosen our family. Even more amazing, our baby girl was due in just three months’ time!<br /><br />During our short wait to be matched we applied for more than a dozen situations. Each time, instead of praying “God let this expectant mother pick us!” my prayer was “God please don’t let us get picked if this match could fail. Please spare our family from more heartache and only let us be picked if it’s really going to happen!”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SLKmqoqJCY/XJA2Clj_6JI/AAAAAAAAUFo/uRwETj2QTQ07ws3_AufUCNQM2Lf_RPJ8gCLcBGAs/s1600/pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SLKmqoqJCY/XJA2Clj_6JI/AAAAAAAAUFo/uRwETj2QTQ07ws3_AufUCNQM2Lf_RPJ8gCLcBGAs/s400/pic3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Adoption announcement. Photo by Kelly Petersen Photography.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />In July I flew down to Florida to meet “N” – the birth mother carrying our daughter Emma. We enjoyed a girls’ spa day to relax and get to know one another. It was amazing how at ease we were and how quickly we connected. The spa staff didn’t believe us when we told them we had met that day; they assumed we were best friends with years of history given how freely we talked and laughed throughout our time with them. I had read that open adoption was ideal, but I think it took actually meeting Emma’s birth mother, and realizing what an incredible woman she is, to understand that she was truly going to be a part of our family as well. To this day we still message constantly. She’s a dear friend now and our daughter’s number one fan!<br /><br />The highlight of that trip was getting to see my daughter on an ultrasound and hear her heartbeat for the first time. Her birth mother was so generous to allow me that. It felt so perfect. So real.<br /><br />Summer flew by and at last it was time to head to Florida for the birth. I flew down the week before Emma was due. It was a good thing I got there a little early because less than 48 hours after my plane landed I was at the hospital with “N” preparing to welcome our daughter into the world!<br /><br />While Emma’s birth story belongs more to her and “N” then it does to me, my little piece of it was waiting in a room all alone in the middle of the night after complications arose and an emergency C-section became necessary. I was so scared. Worried for Emma and her birthmother’s safety. Worried that going through such trauma would change “N”’s mind about being able to place her baby with us. Worried I wouldn’t get to see her right away because to the medical staff I wasn’t a relative so I had no rights....<br /><br />But everything changed when a nurse came to get me. “Your daughter is here. Would you like to give her a bath and a bottle?” Her kindness was a gift from Heaven. She shared that she had a personal connection to adoption and promised me I could have these first moments with my little girl.<br /><br />I know I am biased, but Emma was the most perfect baby I had ever seen. She was only a few hours old when I took this picture, so very in love with her already and excitedly texting my husband and son who flew in when labor started and arrived just a few hours after birth.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MwxyrWfADdA/XJA2U2XvVEI/AAAAAAAAUFw/J1tTPsPMLdoHiHu2sZm2C_-5-TMxmgEwgCLcBGAs/s1600/pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MwxyrWfADdA/XJA2U2XvVEI/AAAAAAAAUFw/J1tTPsPMLdoHiHu2sZm2C_-5-TMxmgEwgCLcBGAs/s400/pic4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Emma at just a few hours old. Cell phone picture taken by Kathryn (mother).</span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We were smitten! We spent two days at the hospital, sharing a room with “N” and bonding as a new family. The boys visited during the day, and in the evenings “N” and I enjoyed the quiet to marvel over the perfect daughter we both get to love.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6fjE4Cyz6A/XJA2l48gT5I/AAAAAAAAUF4/PeIAvg6zqF8WbVk-aeOYU8mmhnbIGrvGgCLcBGAs/s1600/pic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6fjE4Cyz6A/XJA2l48gT5I/AAAAAAAAUF4/PeIAvg6zqF8WbVk-aeOYU8mmhnbIGrvGgCLcBGAs/s400/pic5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Fresh 48 Hospital Session. Photo by Kelly Haymes of Momma Got Soul Photography.</span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M5gIbBk2ojg/XJA2xOd5NEI/AAAAAAAAUF8/muBhDypwsVArA1kUFFtMQiSlj-kntrDaQCLcBGAs/s1600/pic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M5gIbBk2ojg/XJA2xOd5NEI/AAAAAAAAUF8/muBhDypwsVArA1kUFFtMQiSlj-kntrDaQCLcBGAs/s400/pic6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Fresh 48 Hospital Session. Photo by Kelly Haymes of Momma Got Soul Photography.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thankfully our time in Florida moved so quickly. Within two days our healthy little girl was discharged from the hospital and we were able to stay with my husband’s grandmother until we got our ICPC paperwork back – which only took one week! Over and over God provided for us and paved the way.<br /><br />Emma came home to Iowa right before my birthday. It was the most precious, amazing birthday gift possible. Our family felt complete at last!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AOTbB3lHZRw/XJA3Mlog3jI/AAAAAAAAUGI/maB0NZgGDoce5rY9bx9zNaBq625WK9kvQCLcBGAs/s1600/pic7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AOTbB3lHZRw/XJA3Mlog3jI/AAAAAAAAUGI/maB0NZgGDoce5rY9bx9zNaBq625WK9kvQCLcBGAs/s400/pic7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Emma, two weeks old. Photo by Marci Worlton Photography.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The last hurdle was waiting for finalization. There were some big hiccups along the way – including a man who registered himself as Emma’s birth father, even though he lived on the other side of the country and had never met Emma’s birth mother! - but over and over God provided and cleared the path for us to be her forever family.<br /><br />At last the day came. We flew back to Florida with our four-month-old daughter so that we could go to court in person and share the big day with her birth mother. Our lawyer told us that in thirty years he had never seen a birthmother invited to a finalization hearing. But she is so much a part of our family now, I couldn’t imagine her not sharing the moment with us.<br /><br />We all wore matching shirts. I made cheesy signs. We were joined by family members and Dawn, our amazing <a href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/">Christian Adoption Consultant</a> who had guided us each step of our adoption journey.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZeQ2LY8gXs/XJA3kHo_dAI/AAAAAAAAUGQ/sACjPbu_Dh0k5NvU9nsVZfrcMg5smNG-QCLcBGAs/s1600/pic8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZeQ2LY8gXs/XJA3kHo_dAI/AAAAAAAAUGQ/sACjPbu_Dh0k5NvU9nsVZfrcMg5smNG-QCLcBGAs/s400/pic8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><b><i>Our Gotcha Day! Photo by Kelly Haymes of Momma Got Soul Photography.</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nBFPEpZ31SQ/XJA3tmyX5qI/AAAAAAAAUGU/xYKxD9_4ICg71i6YIPKHwJ6IZo_I_nyBwCLcBGAs/s1600/pic9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nBFPEpZ31SQ/XJA3tmyX5qI/AAAAAAAAUGU/xYKxD9_4ICg71i6YIPKHwJ6IZo_I_nyBwCLcBGAs/s400/pic9.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our Gotcha Day! Photo by Kelly Haymes of Momma Got Soul Photography.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a perfect day. The most special part, for me, was presenting our birth mother with a painting of a pregnant woman clutching a heart. To me, it symbolized how when she carried our daughter she carried our hearts, our love, our hopes...and when she gave us her baby girl she gave us a piece of her own heart as well. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VKunYL-H7A/XJA3_8KwXaI/AAAAAAAAUGg/BdBVqYYOPTIwIe9Fs33uRF50Ne4XOFoFACLcBGAs/s1600/pic10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="640" height="310" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VKunYL-H7A/XJA3_8KwXaI/AAAAAAAAUGg/BdBVqYYOPTIwIe9Fs33uRF50Ne4XOFoFACLcBGAs/s400/pic10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Painting by Katie M. Berggren. Photo by Kelly Haymes of Momma Got Soul Photography.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A second highlight was getting to meet Dawn, our <a href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/">CAC</a> consultant! She drove out to be a part of our ceremony. After months of near daily correspondence, countless hours of prayer and encouragement, seeing her bright smile as she walked into the courthouse was like meeting a long-lost friend.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32KsOm15jSY/XJA4Q4eTuaI/AAAAAAAAUGo/UxyQ1kuz4zgvbfYv2rl3a2JSpU09S_dagCLcBGAs/s1600/pic11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1431" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32KsOm15jSY/XJA4Q4eTuaI/AAAAAAAAUGo/UxyQ1kuz4zgvbfYv2rl3a2JSpU09S_dagCLcBGAs/s400/pic11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dawn heading towards the courtroom. Photo by Kelly Haymes of Momma Got Soul Photography.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I’ll close with going back to the lemons. Emma’s birth mother craved lemonade throughout her pregnancy. We’ve made it a point to cherish that connection and send her lemon themed pictures of Emma frequently.<br /><br />I’m thankful that Emma won’t grow up with her biological past a mystery. I’m thankful for the connection we have with her birth mother. I’m thankful my daughter is doubly blessed with two families that will love her and cherish her as she grows.<br /><br />Most of all, I’m thankful God made lemons from our lemonade..."<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNnf1dOvXBM/XJA4rh8hEwI/AAAAAAAAUGw/nyWBS_e_jhQKl6u6-SkjWXVMH_Q79wI2QCLcBGAs/s1600/pic12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNnf1dOvXBM/XJA4rh8hEwI/AAAAAAAAUGw/nyWBS_e_jhQKl6u6-SkjWXVMH_Q79wI2QCLcBGAs/s400/pic12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Emma, three months old. Photo by Marci Worlton Photography.</span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VKNdpR4QxJI/XJA4zKI7G6I/AAAAAAAAUG0/aFNQTDu5ssEZNFQHyqRHxCV9K9y6V6fawCLcBGAs/s1600/pic13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="686" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VKNdpR4QxJI/XJA4zKI7G6I/AAAAAAAAUG0/aFNQTDu5ssEZNFQHyqRHxCV9K9y6V6fawCLcBGAs/s400/pic13.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Emma napping. Cell phone picture taken by Kathryn (mother).</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I know that Kathryn's story has touched your heart, and I would love the privilege of talking with you about adoption and how I may also walk with you in your own adoption journey! Please feel free to reach out to me anytime.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />Blessings,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dawn</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cb2026;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(813) 360-7368</span></span></div>
<div class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-content="wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com" data-type="mail" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_self"><span style="font-weight: bold;">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</span></a></span></div>
</div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-52022189896451619232018-06-15T16:37:00.000-04:002019-03-18T20:41:17.035-04:00Those Three Words- A Book Review<div class="s_heNoSkinPhoto" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="642.7826086956522" id="innercomp_txtMedia18zy" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: 0px 0px; border-image: none; border: 0px; clear: both; color: black; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 644px; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px auto; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; width: 416px; word-spacing: 0px;" title="">
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotolink" id="innercomp_txtMedia18zylink" style="background: 0px 0px; border-image: none; border: 0px; display: block; height: 644px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 416px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjEtv1ZbywE/WyQhwkaEGxI/AAAAAAAAUD8/xsnkZha0JjY0ZrvDb6-tu_whukcTYVNzACLcBGAs/s1600/Final%2BCover%2BBauer_cvr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="414" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjEtv1ZbywE/WyQhwkaEGxI/AAAAAAAAUD8/xsnkZha0JjY0ZrvDb6-tu_whukcTYVNzACLcBGAs/s640/Final%2BCover%2BBauer_cvr.jpeg" width="412" /></a></div>
<div class="s_heNoSkinPhotoimg" data-style="" id="innercomp_txtMedia18zyimg" style="background: 0px 0px; border-image: none; border: 0px; height: 644px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 416px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />This book is what I haven't been able to put down for the past week- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Those-Three-Words-Mothers-Motherhood/dp/1634891198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529094244&sr=8-1&keywords=those+three+words">Those Three Words</a> written by Christine Bauer. As an adoptive mom I work hard to read, listen, and absorb any wisdom I can from birth families, relationships, feelings, the joy and the pain of the process of adoption. I want to widen my world and include the beautifully brave birth families, the children they place, and the adoptive families. <br /><br />People ask me all the time how it feels for me and I am happy to share my experiences and how it feels to be an adoptive mom. So if I am able to learn more about one person's journey to placing her child for adoption I jumped at the chance to read this book! <br /><br />It was completely honest and raw at times. It is definitely a book I recommend to anyone who wants a glimpse into the journey of a birth family. If you are a birth family, an adoptive family, or an adoptive child I believe this story can offer you a perspective, but more than that it can offer healing. It doesn't have to be the exact same story as ours because we are all so very different, but when you read someone's story there is a part of you involved and you can release and feel all the feelings through a different lens. <br /><br />As a Christian Adoption Consultant it is always important to me to share resources with families that I think will help educate families and give them different perspectives on the adoption process. I am excited to share this with them and all of you as well.</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: 0px 0px; border-image: none; border: 0px; color: #696554; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: 0px 0px; border-image: none; border: 0px; color: #696554; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geuYWwkVp90/WyQhxm-wHNI/AAAAAAAAUEE/ocRIs0wyta0UCUur1EIArq_4wQiPqnYWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/CB%2BPhoto%2BLean%2BIn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geuYWwkVp90/WyQhxm-wHNI/AAAAAAAAUEE/ocRIs0wyta0UCUur1EIArq_4wQiPqnYWQCEwYBhgL/s400/CB%2BPhoto%2BLean%2BIn.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="background: 0px 0px; border-image: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><br />
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px rgb(105, 101, 84); color: #696554; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">More about Those Three Words: <br /><br />Wise Ink Publishing announced today the upcoming publication of a new memoir. 'Those Three Words: A birthmother's story of choice, chance, and motherhood' by Christine Bauer will be released in May 2018 – for Mother’s Day. <br /><br />There are three words that, when uttered together, make dreams come true for millions of women. For millions more, those same words can shatter their dreams. "You are pregnant." <br /><br />Almost half of all pregnancies in the United States — some 3.1 million each year —are unintended. Among unmarried women in their 20s, seven out of 10 pregnancies are unplanned. <br /><br />Author Christine Bauer’s memoir Those Three Words: A birthmother’s story of choice, chance and motherhood takes a deep dive into the emotions of facing an unplanned pregnancy at the tender age of 18. <br /><br />Those Three Words takes readers along on the journey of weighing options, agonizing over a decision, and ultimately deciding to let another family adopt and raise her baby. This story also looks at how placing a child for adoption affected the rest of her life, especially when she became the mother of two boys. Those Three Words touches on the controversial topics of abortion and adoption, birth control, and women’s rights. <br /><br />This story will resonate with millions of readers because women know and understand the joy and pain of pregnancy and motherhood, love and loss, and the power of family and parental love. <br /><br />What Readers Are Saying: <br /><br />"Bauer deftly addresses one of the most wrenching and emotional decisions one might confront: how to respond to an unexpected pregnancy. With candor and grace she leads readers on a thought-provoking journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down." - Caryn M. Sullivan, Author of “Bitter or Better: Grappling With Life on the Op-Ed Page,” winner of the 2015 Midwest Book Award for Inspiration. <br /><br />"As a young girl, I was proud to be adopted. I was chosen. Then, after giving birth to my first child, I paused and was overcome with grief. How could any loving woman give up a baby? Chrisy's book helped me understand the love, agony, and courage needed to be a birth mother, to do what's right for yourself, and for the helpless human you've brought into the world." - Lory Sutton, Chief Marketing Officer, Minnesota Historical Society <br /><br />"On its surface, Christine Bauer's Those Three Words is an engrossing memoir detailing a young birthmother's hard path toward fulfillment and happiness. But even stronger currents race deeper down, about the difficulty of acceptance, the power of family, and the nature of love. Reading it is a moving and unforgettable experience." - Jack El-Hai, Author and past President of the American Society of Journalists and Authors <br /><br />About the Author: <br /><br />Christine (Chris) Bauer was born and raised in the big small town of Mitchell, South Dakota. She feels blessed to have grown up in a place and time when childhood was carefree, when kids left the house in morning and returned in the evening, and in between rode bikes, built forts, and played baseball and Barbies. While she loved her hometown, Chris was eager to move on to new adventures after graduating high school. <br /><br />Chris attended Mankato State University in Minnesota, majoring in Mass Communications. Her dream was to one day be part of a Woodward and Bernstein-type team who saved the world through ground-breaking journalism. Soul searching and need for employment led her to a gratifying career in corporate communications, public relations and marketing. Chris has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. <br /><br />Her greatest achievement and most profound joy is being the mother of three kind-hearted children and one beautiful and spirited grandchild. In addition to being a mom and grandma of humans, Chris is also the proud mom to one very spoiled dog and two equally spoiled granddogs. She admits there were moments in the motherhood journey where she preferred the canines. <br /><br />She resides in the Minneapolis area. While her nest is nearly empty now, she loves that the flock returns regularly for food and shelter. Those Three Words is her first book. It is currently available for pre-sale. To learn more, go to https://www.authorcbauer.com/ <br /><br />Readers can connect with Christine on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.</span></div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-43658177967928133112018-04-13T11:29:00.001-04:002019-03-18T20:45:58.315-04:00Fasting- Part of my journey.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbaPnNKuB4w/WtDExBoceVI/AAAAAAAAUCs/dK4du9ERB3IyV9spB6fNKUK_NUbobebkACLcBGAs/s1600/2018-03-08%2B18.25.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbaPnNKuB4w/WtDExBoceVI/AAAAAAAAUCs/dK4du9ERB3IyV9spB6fNKUK_NUbobebkACLcBGAs/s320/2018-03-08%2B18.25.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
When I first heard about fasting in our church last year like the above picture I thought: Are you kidding me? I mean actually give up food- why? What does it really do and why would I do it? So many questions and I just didn't think it was something that not only I would do, but something I needed so much more than I thought possible. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w2WkK3G2Sag/WtDE1ab9uDI/AAAAAAAAUCw/mBOcPpLVHhMMrtNAeqtkhBgEeZkDh370wCLcBGAs/s1600/2018-03-06%2B16.38.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w2WkK3G2Sag/WtDE1ab9uDI/AAAAAAAAUCw/mBOcPpLVHhMMrtNAeqtkhBgEeZkDh370wCLcBGAs/s320/2018-03-06%2B16.38.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
See we often think that idols are huge like this massive B-53 Bomber that is now resting at Orlando Airport. It is something that is in your life that is obvious. How could I miss something so obvious in my life? Then I remembered the scripture about the speck in your neighbor's eye and the plank in your own. <br />
<br />
Matthew 7:3-5 <span class="text Matt-7-3" id="en-NIV-23320" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-7-4" id="en-NIV-23321" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </sup>How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-7-5" id="en-NIV-23322" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-7-5" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text Matt-7-5" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Remembering that God knows we are so good at seeing what is wrong with other people, and obviously so bad at knowing what is wrong in our own life. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6tVwNr77n0/WtDE8cEM1XI/AAAAAAAAUC0/uJVV-I9LYvETmDei1UouWIxX2AK7_t9LQCLcBGAs/s1600/2018-03-08%2B20.40.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6tVwNr77n0/WtDE8cEM1XI/AAAAAAAAUC0/uJVV-I9LYvETmDei1UouWIxX2AK7_t9LQCLcBGAs/s320/2018-03-08%2B20.40.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Fasting is about taking our dreams and putting them into the perspective of God. It is fine to go to Disney, but if we are so selfish in our hearts that we can not tithe or give then that is an idol that has to be removed. It is ok to have dreams of what you want for yourself or others, but what about what God wants. <br />
<br />
We have faced a trial in the last couple of years that has thrown our family in such a place that I became desperate. Desperate to know God in a way like I have never known before. Desperate to see Him through the muck and nasty of our situation. Desperate to see how in the world could God still be working in and through us. Desperate to touch the hem of God's clothes to receive healing. Desperate.....for something different- God's focus for me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEh2WAQGpbs/WtDFCh7QaPI/AAAAAAAAUC4/Rk-ZGOyGUWA083aRZiVwqeZDa-IPpDzEgCLcBGAs/s1600/2018-03-09%2B10.27.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEh2WAQGpbs/WtDFCh7QaPI/AAAAAAAAUC4/Rk-ZGOyGUWA083aRZiVwqeZDa-IPpDzEgCLcBGAs/s320/2018-03-09%2B10.27.47.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
So take off your masks of it will be too hard for you to do. Of course it is hard, but what if it is worth it? If you have never tried fasting this is my encouragement. There is a great book by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fasting-Opening-intimate-powerful-relationship/dp/1599792583/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523632414&sr=8-1&keywords=jentzen+franklin+fasting" target="_blank">Jentzen Franklin called Fasting.</a> It is amazing at explaining why, how, and when. What I can tell you personally is that when we hand over our lives to Christ we receive Salvation, but when we fast we receive His direct hand on our lives. It is so different that what I imagined. <br />
<br />
Fasting is hard, and there will be times you will want to throw your hands up and throw in the towel. You will say to yourself what is the point it isn't working. One thing I learned as someone with a huge list of "needs" and a heart that was so very uncertain of how God would ever be able to do anything ever again in our lives that even resembled hope. I can say and testify that God is able, and that isn't something that is just in scripture it is a real truth. <br />
<br />
A song I found this last time my husband and I fasted (yes I have now fasted different times, different ways, and for different lengths of time over the past 6 months) from FB if you would believe it- is perfect for why we need to fast.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzwIsFtn8bs" target="_blank">Clear The Stage by Jimmy Needham</a><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Jerk the pews & all the decorations, too Until the congregations few, then have</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
revival</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Tell your friends that this is where the party ends</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Until you're broken for your sins, you can't be social</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Then seek the Lord & wait for what He has in store</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And know that great is your reward so just be hopeful</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
'Cause you can sing all you want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Yes, you can sing all you want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
You can sing all you want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And still get it wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Oh, worship is more than a song</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Take a break from all the plans that you have made</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And pray for real upon your knees until they blister</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Shine the light on every corner of your life</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Then read the Word and put to test the things you've heard</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
'Cause you can sing all you want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Yes, you can sing all you want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
You can sing all you want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And still get it wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Oh, worship is more than a song</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
We must not worship something that's not even worth it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Clear the stage, make some space for the One who deserves it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Anything I put before my God is an idol</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And anything that I give all my love is an idol</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
'Cause I can sing all I want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Yes, I can sing all I want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And we can sing all we want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
We can sing all we want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
We can sing all we want to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
And still get it wrong</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Worship is more than a song</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-48271594916097011212018-04-10T18:11:00.000-04:002018-04-10T18:15:47.491-04:00"Desired" - Jeremy and Kari's Adoption Story<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NcFfdfNflHs/Ws01US-BIiI/AAAAAAAAUCA/VBXh003CDkgd45C3PA3b8J-EOx6bWYL2gCLcBGAs/s1600/pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="486" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NcFfdfNflHs/Ws01US-BIiI/AAAAAAAAUCA/VBXh003CDkgd45C3PA3b8J-EOx6bWYL2gCLcBGAs/s400/pic1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Towards the end of 2017 Jeremy and Kari got connected and
officially started with us at Christian Adoption Consultants. In less than 12
months they would be holding their precious daughter in their arms! The journey
in between was filled with unexpected insights that God wanted for them to
experience. Listen to Kari as she shares their story:</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;">“Our
family has had adoption on our hearts for years. It all began when God started
opening our eyes to beautiful adopted children living in our community. As we
sought to foster relationships with these wonderful families our eyes were
opened to the need. We became passionate about coming alongside families who</span>
have adopted and form relationships with them. We then got involved hosting children
who were in crisis through an organization called Safe Families. Through their
mini-homestudy process we knew God was opening an incredible door.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After helping families in crisis and hosting
children we decided to take the next step and become foster parents, and we
hoped to adopt if necessary. Once our license was complete we had many phone
calls for placements and we hurriedly got ready to care for these kids, but unfortunately
each placement fell through and we didn’t quite understand why. We were
beginning to feel the call from the Lord that a move across the country was a
door he was opening, we realized this may be why we hadn’t had a placement yet.
We knew this was God’s plan, but boy was it hard knowing we would have to start
our licensing all over again. Our licensor gave us a copy of our foster care
homestudy. We didn’t realize at the time what a huge gift that was. It ended up
making our adoption paperwork so much easier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVhMTrS_Duw/Ws01cFy0PfI/AAAAAAAAUCE/-J5wvifVK3cXYfsdR3QPeJJFYRQwESPwgCLcBGAs/s1600/pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="630" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVhMTrS_Duw/Ws01cFy0PfI/AAAAAAAAUCE/-J5wvifVK3cXYfsdR3QPeJJFYRQwESPwgCLcBGAs/s400/pic2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">After we moved we felt God refining us and strengthening our faith even
more. We were finally ready to take the financial leap towards domestic
adoption. We were always so afraid of the cost before, but seeing God provide
during our move we were ready and knew this was our next step in this new
location he brought us to. We’d had domestic adoption on our hearts all along. We
quickly began our homestudy, got connected with Dawn and signed on with
<a href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants</a>. We had been researching adoption for years and
they were well recommended. We jumped in and we were SO excited. We began
mountains of paper work and the emotional process of creating a profile book.
When that was done we began lots of fundraising and I started a business that
has not only helped us fundraise but is also helping people around the world out
of poverty, funding others’ adoptions, empowering women and so much more. I
never knew this process would lead me to a dream job!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">During the fundraising there were months of waiting. The waiting was
HARD! We don’t feel like we waited very long, but from an emotional perspective
if felt like years. We questioned if this was the right path, we prayed, we
longed, but through it all we clung to HOPE. We knew the hope God had given us
would get us through this trying process. His hope kept us. His hope gave us
strength. His hope guided and got us through the most difficult parts. Hearing
“no” from a prospective birth mom was never easy, and it never got easier. Each
time we just prayed for these incredible birth mothers making such a hard
choice that they would have courage and know clearly which family would be best
for raising their child. We trusted God’s sovereignty and clung to it
daily.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then one day we got the call that we had been chosen! We celebrated and
were beyond excited! I was helping a friend deliver a baby when she heard the
news, it sure was incredible. But then a week later we heard the hard news that
this courageous birth mom decided to parent. We were so sad, yet so proud of
her for choosing life and deciding to parent and we wished her all the best. A
situation came up pretty quickly after that, we wouldn’t have had the courage
to present to this birth mom if we had not had such a wonderful lesson through
this long waiting process of how good God truly is and how much we can place our
trust completely in his hands. We felt hopeful to present and a part of me felt
like this baby may be the one! On November 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> during a fundraising
event I got the call that our amazing birth mom had chosen us! We were floored
and excited and felt beyond honored! Our baby would be arriving in less than
six weeks and we were SO excited, hopeful, and ready!!! We knew this was a God
given “yes” and we knew we could fully be excited and hopeful, yes things could
change, but we were going to focus on the excitement of the “yes!” After all
there was no inclination that things would change and we were not going to live
in fear.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nEMw9vuhB4/Ws01ioh_pUI/AAAAAAAAUCI/b0_8I5BfzGoLhMhfajZi2MbxaXuONA6UQCEwYBhgL/s1600/pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="486" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nEMw9vuhB4/Ws01ioh_pUI/AAAAAAAAUCI/b0_8I5BfzGoLhMhfajZi2MbxaXuONA6UQCEwYBhgL/s400/pic3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">God writes each of our stories beautifully. He knows the path we will
be on. He guides us gently, lovingly and is always there during the hard times.
God wrote our baby’s birth story beautifully. We arrived in Utah the night
before her due date. We met the most incredible, courageous, beautiful woman,
our baby’s birth mom. She was going to be “our” birth mom. It was surreal. We
were so nervous to meet her. Yet so excited! The moment she met us we both knew
the gravity of this meeting and we both began to cry. We had a wonderful meal
together sharing life and future hopes for this child that would be arriving
the next day. Sweet Javeyah Hope arrived right before Christmas. We had the
beautiful gift of being at the birth supporting our birth mom through labor and
all through the hospital stay. We became a family over those few days. I will
never fully be able to express what our birth mom truly <span style="margin: 0px;">means to me. She was such a beautiful
person who loved her daughter so much and wanted the best possible future for
her. She made the hardest, most courageous decision and we will forever love
her for that. Javeyah means “desired” and boy was she desired and longed for.
We had her birth mom pick the spelling of her name since she fell in love with the
name we had thought of when we shared it with her. Her name has a Hispanic
heritage as does our daughter, and her birth mom loved that.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWmhznzf7Oc/Ws01sG4syfI/AAAAAAAAUCM/kWt9fuiuTqMHEdYrytpf0FDZH43fmbTlACLcBGAs/s1600/pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="486" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWmhznzf7Oc/Ws01sG4syfI/AAAAAAAAUCM/kWt9fuiuTqMHEdYrytpf0FDZH43fmbTlACLcBGAs/s400/pic4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For
a few days we were transported to another time it seemed, a time of hopeful anticipation,
unselfishness, deep care, respect, deep bonding, and love. It was the most
incredible experience of our lives and we are so grateful to have had the
privilege to adopt. Thank you for reading our story.”</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKZdZUSw8Ho/Ws01yqSByVI/AAAAAAAAUCQ/eTkBa9dObGoy00bbbg7hgOpMqdLMUAGSQCLcBGAs/s1600/pic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="498" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKZdZUSw8Ho/Ws01yqSByVI/AAAAAAAAUCQ/eTkBa9dObGoy00bbbg7hgOpMqdLMUAGSQCLcBGAs/s400/pic5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Maybe you have been
waiting, longing, and been uncertain of your own adoption journey. I'd love to
talk with you more and share some encouragement. Feel free to reach out to me anytime:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Dawn: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>(813) 360-7368</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="mailto:wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com" target="_blank">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-18193871753371006422018-03-27T14:56:00.001-04:002018-03-27T14:59:42.954-04:00The deep sorrow that led us to you and so much more.....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bESdyyL8xU8/WrqSdUsg6yI/AAAAAAAAUBY/pZWDxHrusE0VO0kd-GCW3iwJA5Uar1oIQCEwYBhgL/s1600/2018-03-18%2B11.53.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkQR14dbTSE/WrqSdn3zO6I/AAAAAAAAUBc/zuPJd4907mQmItAtf9ffRBlE15CvyN5-gCEwYBhgL/s1600/2018-03-23%2B13.33.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkQR14dbTSE/WrqSdn3zO6I/AAAAAAAAUBc/zuPJd4907mQmItAtf9ffRBlE15CvyN5-gCEwYBhgL/s320/2018-03-23%2B13.33.10.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bESdyyL8xU8/WrqSdUsg6yI/AAAAAAAAUBY/pZWDxHrusE0VO0kd-GCW3iwJA5Uar1oIQCEwYBhgL/s1600/2018-03-18%2B11.53.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bESdyyL8xU8/WrqSdUsg6yI/AAAAAAAAUBY/pZWDxHrusE0VO0kd-GCW3iwJA5Uar1oIQCEwYBhgL/s320/2018-03-18%2B11.53.05.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joanna
turned 8 last week, and I love who she has become, and remember vividly
all the things that led to our adoption journey of our 8th child. It
was one of the hardest things we have faced in our life..... a failed
international adoption. The "how's and why's" of that failed adoption are
hard to explain, but we were matched and waiting for a court hearing to
happen in Ethiopia at the time. We eventually found out that the court
hearing didn't happen and they had set another date. In the meantime
USCIS started questioning our application. As we had pictures of our
future daughter hanging in the house for us all to pray over and to
remind us of our 'soon to be trip' to bring our daughter home, we received
news that she would never come home with us. We took steps to fight
it. Steps to somehow reach out and try our best to bring her home.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were
devastated and heartbroken. We even "ran away" and took a trip to be
with some extended family for a little bit. People say the strangest
things when an adoption fails. They say things like: "Maybe God isn't
leading you to adopt/adopt again", "Maybe you heard God wrong", or "It is
in God's Hands". Actually the last statement is the only true statement
to me, but it doesn't make it easier to understand. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After
taking time to grieve our loss we starting thinking about domestic
adoption, but really it was more of a fleeting hope. Who would choose a
family that already had 7 children to adopt their child? That seems
like a crazy idea to most people, but we knew we had more love to give
and we didn't doubt that God was calling us to another adoption. So we
persisted calling agencies all around the US and doing research on
domestic adoption, but there is so much to know and we just didn't
really know where to turn. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1bgKp1Jy38/WrqSaJH3vRI/AAAAAAAAUBU/SBifm7PjTCsnigKTNHUtp2Aw6gKel08igCLcBGAs/s1600/100_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So in March of
2010 I read a blog of a family that had used <a href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants</a>. They had 9 children and adopted their 10th using CAC! Well of course you know what I did next.....I
emailed her <b><i>immediately</i></b> and said "How in the world did you do this?" I
was given a consultant's name and phone number. I called her and chatted
for a while. I knew this was a great option right away, but we were
Christian Camp Directors at the time and had a retreat group coming in
for the weekend. So, Monday rolls around and we got a follow up phone
call from our consultant. As I told her we were about to sit down while
all the kids were napping or having quiet time to go over the paperwork
and decide what we would do. Later that day we applied with CAC.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our adoption of Joanna happened within a week of us signing on with Christian Adoption Consultants! I tell our clients <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">this is a very rare
story, and definitely not normal, but it is how God orchestrated our
adoption. We of course fell madly in love with Joanna and her sweet
birth mother, and cherish them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JDS7cfEWBwA/WrqSaO31_LI/AAAAAAAAUBQ/ZlnYFI9I7DMKG4I5r1kdkIYKXOgtu74eACLcBGAs/s1600/100_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JDS7cfEWBwA/WrqSaO31_LI/AAAAAAAAUBQ/ZlnYFI9I7DMKG4I5r1kdkIYKXOgtu74eACLcBGAs/s320/100_0993.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzJEBpSfA7I/WrqSep_VGCI/AAAAAAAAUBg/VIe2k3Lk30k7E4_cQJpkIB11v_oXEImLwCLcBGAs/s1600/032910_1330%2Bcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzJEBpSfA7I/WrqSep_VGCI/AAAAAAAAUBg/VIe2k3Lk30k7E4_cQJpkIB11v_oXEImLwCLcBGAs/s320/032910_1330%2Bcrop.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is
another side to our story.... one of grief and deep loss. Sometimes
when I think about it I try to make sense of it, but I really can't. In
God's time and through deep despair God blessed us with our amazing
daughter!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1bgKp1Jy38/WrqSaJH3vRI/AAAAAAAAUBU/SBifm7PjTCsnigKTNHUtp2Aw6gKel08igCLcBGAs/s1600/100_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1bgKp1Jy38/WrqSaJH3vRI/AAAAAAAAUBU/SBifm7PjTCsnigKTNHUtp2Aw6gKel08igCLcBGAs/s1600/100_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1bgKp1Jy38/WrqSaJH3vRI/AAAAAAAAUBU/SBifm7PjTCsnigKTNHUtp2Aw6gKel08igCLcBGAs/s320/100_0996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Eventually because of our ties with
Christian Adoption Consultants we also got the opportunity to become adoption consultants ourselves, and have thoroughly
enjoyed getting to live out our passion for adoption. We are thankful to have continued to serve families now for over 5 years and see the hard stories and
the beauty only God can bring through adoption.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4nq1izgIkg/WrqSWduA0tI/AAAAAAAAUBM/HqhFzyu-x3oaWcDeo2U66eeIKH7DwuhigCLcBGAs/s1600/100_1080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4nq1izgIkg/WrqSWduA0tI/AAAAAAAAUBM/HqhFzyu-x3oaWcDeo2U66eeIKH7DwuhigCLcBGAs/s1600/100_1080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4nq1izgIkg/WrqSWduA0tI/AAAAAAAAUBM/HqhFzyu-x3oaWcDeo2U66eeIKH7DwuhigCLcBGAs/s400/100_1080.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Dawn </div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-86898337569783230122018-02-05T14:47:00.000-05:002018-02-05T14:55:01.656-05:00"Wow, He's Home With Us!" - Jon & Sarah's Adoption Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFWC0dEsHA8/Wnizj86Y-JI/AAAAAAAAT_A/5kZwq_cgd64mFFAVrEDxPnOz_XYPnsYrACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20171231_151503367.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFWC0dEsHA8/Wnizj86Y-JI/AAAAAAAAT_A/5kZwq_cgd64mFFAVrEDxPnOz_XYPnsYrACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20171231_151503367.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jon and Sarah inquired and then got started with us at <a href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/">Christian Adoption Consultants</a> in March of 2017. In just 7 months their little boy was home – a precious 18-month-old! In adoption this is a short period (which is right in the middle of CAC’s average 6-9-month time frame our families wait from inquiry to match), but in the midst of waiting, presenting to situations, and praying for direction, it can seem to take forever, especially when you have heard “No” several times. Take heart, because that is exactly how Jon and Sarah felt. Listen to a mom’s heart as Sarah shares their story:<br /><br />“We entered our adoption journey during perhaps an "unadvisable" period in our life. Our three young children were ages 9 months, 2 ½ years, and 4 years old and Jon was deployed to a combat zone. Yet the pull to adopt was strong. Living near Washington DC, we heard regular updates of happenings at Capitol Hill, protests, demonstrations, large scale events designed to get the attention of Congress, the Senate, and the world. In January of 2017, The Women's March, promoting abortion, among other things, grieved us deeply. On the day of the March, I (Sarah) posted on our Facebook page, "Are you faced with an unexpected pregnancy? Unsure of your ability to raise a baby? Uncertain if you could provide a safe home? Please don't let these questions be answered by Planned Parenthood. Our home is always open to a baby in need. Message me if you are considering ending a pregnancy. Your baby can have a safe place to grow and be loved. We can help!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fast forward six weeks -- Jon and I had been speaking regularly about adding to our family through adoption. The AdoptUSKids website opened our eyes to the reality that children are not placed in foster care due to any crime of their own, but they are often the most vulnerable victims of the crimes of others. Jon and I discussed pursuing domestic infant adoption, as well as adopting through foster care. I researched the likelihood of being chosen by a birth mom if we already had several young children. In doing so Jason and Dawn Wright's blog came up and instantly I felt a connection. The following day Dawn and I spoke at length on the phone as I shared our burden of opening our home for a child in need of a family. Dawn was so encouraging -- both spiritually and realistically! Seeing the testimony of God's grace in the Wright family and reviewing the testimonies of others who have worked with Christian Adoption Consultants greatly encouraged us to step out in faith.<br /><br />In early March 2017 we began to move forward officially towards welcoming a child into our home through adoption. We initiated our home study with a local agency and signed on with Christian Adoption Consultants the same week. We kept our plans a secret from absolutely everybody except for those needed to fill out reference forms and provide other specific information. We didn't want to be viewed as "foolish" or feel the need to constantly explain ourselves to others. We just knew this was where God was leading us, even though we didn't know how He would work things out.<br /><br />Jon returned home from overseas in May 2017 after being delayed several extra weeks. Once he stepped foot on American soil, we pressed hard to complete our home study. Life in the military provides awesome opportunities to see the world, but it also provided a great headache in completing our necessary background checks (11 states for the two of us). We also scheduled a family photoshoot, so our profile could be completed with up-to-date pictures. By early July both our home study and family profile book were completed, and we began presenting our family to expectant mothers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
During our wait we presented our family for many situations. We also continued scouring AdoptUSKids and local Heart Galleries, searching for "our child." We applied to work with six agencies through Christian Adoption Consultants and found two others on our own that were more than willing to share our profiles with expectant moms. Hearing the word that the expectant mother had chosen another family or that we weren't a good match for the children listed in the Heart Galleries was hard every single time. We presented our family for over two dozen babies and children ranging in age from unborn to 17 years old, only to hear back that we were not selected.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By September I was growing nervous. What were we doing, investing all this time, energy, and money into adoption when we may never be selected? It was many nights of crying out to God for strength to go on, for Him to clearly lead us to our child. Military life means one must be ready for constant movement. Would we move before we were placed with a child? Would our home study be worthless at the whim of Uncle Sam?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first week of October I cried every day, rising early and meeting alone with God, begging Him to show Himself real to our family and place a child in our home. So many tears were shed! Even though we had only been presenting our family for three months, I was feeling the pressure of an adoption needing to take place soon. I called Dawn and spoke at length with her about my sense of urgency. She promised that she and Jason were lifting us in prayer and that God had not forgotten about our family.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />On October 2nd we heard of a young boy who needed a family. Immediately we presented our family and were very encouraged that "Maybe this is the one!!" There were a lot of promising factors in this situation, but a week later we learned that the mother had not stopped by the agency to pick up family profiles for review. We were released to present our family to other situations in the meantime. Oh, how the tears flowed. What next?<br /><br />Later that afternoon I found a situation of a young toddler who needed a forever home. After discussing the situation with Jon, I emailed the attorney representing the family. The following day our profile was presented to this mother and she immediately selected our family! We had a phone conference the same day and the following week we met to pick up our new son! The turn-around from "What are You teaching us, God?" to "Wow! He's home with us!" was astounding. Again, Dawn was so faithful to walk along side of us, encouraging us as we hit a few bumps in the road, making sure we were following protocol, and reassuring us that our emotions and wobbly knees were perfectly normal!<br /><br />Our son has now been home with us for 3 months. Every day we grow more in love with him, and our biological children adore him. Settling in has not been without its challenges but seeing God's faithfulness to lead us together and watching our son flourish, has been worth every tear that has fallen throughout our journey. Our beautiful birth mother raised our son for 18 months on her own before deciding to place him with a family. When contemplating his future, she knew beyond a doubt that she wanted him raised in a two-parent home with young children. Yes. She specifically chose our home because we had very young children -- the exact reason we were afraid we would not be selected.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HUbge1qkYA/Wnizmfg02RI/AAAAAAAAT_U/NAV32JBlaA8bET6xggyn-EMprkfHRenxQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_20171130_085257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="921" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HUbge1qkYA/Wnizmfg02RI/AAAAAAAAT_U/NAV32JBlaA8bET6xggyn-EMprkfHRenxQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_20171130_085257.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our adoption is a very open, loving adoption. We adopted our son from a nearby state, so we will be able to visit as desired by both families...until the military moves us away. We communicate via instant messaging several times each week -- which has been very healing for the birth mom who has stated over and over that she knows our son is meant to be in our family. The openness of our adoption has also eased the transition period in so many ways. Completing missing sections of his medical history, reminding us of bedtime routines and more have been possible because of ongoing communication.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrWl21FpZys/WnizmRBlbXI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/kXH233NKBL4wzqLiBmMZ1NMoVfDvZCYAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_20171224_161307921.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1045" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrWl21FpZys/WnizmRBlbXI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/kXH233NKBL4wzqLiBmMZ1NMoVfDvZCYAQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_20171224_161307921.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Through it all may Jesus Christ be glorified. Adopting a son into our family has made the sacrificial love of God so much more evident. He chose to do hard things for us so that we could live with Him forever! The way that He welcomes us into His family is the perfect model for us to welcome our son into our home: freely, unreservedly, just as if he had always been here.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_wDCkwmtYM/WnizmPDFK7I/AAAAAAAAT_Q/etKR3k-I1KsyaLas87JJNt_06V9Qw1tWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_20171126_122239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1164" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_wDCkwmtYM/WnizmPDFK7I/AAAAAAAAT_Q/etKR3k-I1KsyaLas87JJNt_06V9Qw1tWgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_20171126_122239.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are grateful that we could be an encouragement to Jon and Sarah in their journey. It is our honor and privilege to so! We would love to walk with you too on your own adoption journey. Please call to chat with us today or shoot us a message – no question is too insignificant.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Dawn: (813) 360-7368</span></b><br /><a href="mailto:wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-16707784050400635382017-11-28T14:12:00.000-05:002017-11-28T14:21:20.419-05:00120 Children Home: Celebrating 5 years as adoption consultants - Part 3<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JyVoXYTYFD0/Wh2t-6SLFCI/AAAAAAAAT-E/DXyfh73JJQQu4tEHL8c0Oyp3HDAcXxfPACLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-012.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JyVoXYTYFD0/Wh2t-6SLFCI/AAAAAAAAT-E/DXyfh73JJQQu4tEHL8c0Oyp3HDAcXxfPACLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-012.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As a husband-and-wife professional team we get to spend lots of time sharing in our vocational passion of adoption consulting. We both bring different gifts to the table, and we work in different capacities, but we love talking about "our" families together. We get to celebrate the milestones, the good news, the heartbreaks, together. We believe we bring something unique and special to the <a href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/">Christian Adoption Consultants</a> team - a group of equally special, gifted and talented adoption professionals who collectively have served hundreds of families over the years.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_dvOTOqVx8/Wh2uGBWh0LI/AAAAAAAAT-I/9vyv628BY-0ItTDE7j4UCm1Pu7KXtEyJQCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-013.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_dvOTOqVx8/Wh2uGBWh0LI/AAAAAAAAT-I/9vyv628BY-0ItTDE7j4UCm1Pu7KXtEyJQCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-013.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
We shared in <a href="http://arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com/2017/11/120-children-home-celebrating-5-years_7.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com/2017/11/120-children-home-celebrating-5-years_20.html">Part 2</a> of our post about our journey to become adoption consultants, and the Top 10 reasons we love our job. We'd like to conclude our 3 part post sharing some facts and stats of our 5 years as adoption consultants with CAC. So here we go:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>the total numbers</b><br />
43 boys + 77 girls = 120 children home!<br />
<u><br /></u><b>special needs program – physical needs or older child/sibling adoptions</b><br />
21 children<br />
<br />
<b>our first family match</b><br />
A special needs baby boy<br />
<br />
<b>returning CAC families</b><br />
we’ve had 1 family match and bring home 3 girls within 4 years. Also, 21 families have adopted a second time, including sibling adoptions<br />
<b><br />big families adopting</b><br />
1 family currently with 15 children, as well as a family with 13.<br />
<br />
<b>total families we’ve consulted for</b><br />
131 families<br />
<br />
<b>wait times for our families</b><br />
5 ½ months average – some families this included homestudy completion time!<br />
<br />
<b>local and across the country</b><br />
We have consulted for families from 25 states, including several local families in Florida where we live. We have met 20 of our families in person!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>adoption in the family</b><br />
one of our families adopting made it the 3rd generation of their family to adopt!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j02n4zo7ftI/Wh2vOluVDbI/AAAAAAAAT-U/OvtFhLANt6AgV0SPysqOsbBZZthhS0ljQCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-014.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j02n4zo7ftI/Wh2vOluVDbI/AAAAAAAAT-U/OvtFhLANt6AgV0SPysqOsbBZZthhS0ljQCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-014.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The numbers are cool to see – a neat way to look back over the past 5 years and recall the families we’ve served, but our reward is truly received when we know how we’ve impacted families so deeply. So, we wanted to share a few closing remarks in the way of some quotes from our families about how they’ve been encouraged and touched by us and how we do what we do:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">“If someone were to ask me how to begin the adoption process, I would tell them without hesitation to call or email Jason and Dawn. I understand that the financial part of adopting can seem intimidating and that one may think the cost of a consultant is not necessary, but I would encourage anyone to start with CAC because the help and encouragement and wisdom that comes from experience is worth every penny. Starting with Jason and Dawn means you have an advocate to guide you through each step, and there is a huge comfort in having them a quick phone call or email away when questions or urgent situations come up. Their respect and love for everyone involved in the adoption process is reflected in how they serve others and guide adoptive parents on their journey.”</span><br /><i>-Brian & Julie, Georgia</i><br /><br /><span style="color: #351c75;">“Life changing experience for us. We always refer others to CAC first because Dawn & Jason prayed for us and with us during the entire process.”</span><br /><i>-Ryan & Mendy, Iowa</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NoBLQxXUlWk/Wh2zoHv0PgI/AAAAAAAAT-g/tEhZAcuFVN8x37xK7e-SBLeH8WPEdnbrgCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NoBLQxXUlWk/Wh2zoHv0PgI/AAAAAAAAT-g/tEhZAcuFVN8x37xK7e-SBLeH8WPEdnbrgCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-015.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">“You are amazing - we Thank God for you every day.”</span><br /><i>-Paul & Suzi, Florida</i><br /><br /><span style="color: #351c75;">"Our adoption journey was one we could have never anticipated. Six and a half years waiting (five of those in international adoption) and several failed adoptions. The road was long with many twists and turns. But ultimately this very road led us to our beautiful daughter. We are so thankful for all the love, prayers, and encouragement that Dawn gave to us during our time working with CAC. She is truly amazing and was always just a text away! She always encouraged us that God was in control and He knew exactly who our baby was. Thank you, Dawn for your part in our journey to our daughter! The wait was so very worth it!!!!"</span><br /><i>-Justis & Bobbi, North Carolina</i><br /><br /><span style="color: #351c75;">“Working with Dawn and Jason with CAC gave us the confidence to accept a situation with an excellent small agency across the country. We are so grateful that we could quickly check the agency out though CAC's network. This led to our two littlest members of our crew.”</span><br /><i>- Dan & Summer, Illinois</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIfcwQXTaUI/Wh2z1fTLJAI/AAAAAAAAT-k/O2o4X3hsrXUdEOTQNL3fnLg_dutmeGwPACEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIfcwQXTaUI/Wh2z1fTLJAI/AAAAAAAAT-k/O2o4X3hsrXUdEOTQNL3fnLg_dutmeGwPACEwYBhgL/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-016.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><i></i></b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IIfcwQXTaUI/Wh2z1fTLJAI/AAAAAAAAT-k/qmTV5tkApC4hHywGnuwgq4vxx2YntpxfgCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IIfcwQXTaUI/Wh2z1fTLJAI/AAAAAAAAT-k/qmTV5tkApC4hHywGnuwgq4vxx2YntpxfgCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IIfcwQXTaUI/Wh2z1fTLJAI/AAAAAAAAT-k/qmTV5tkApC4hHywGnuwgq4vxx2YntpxfgCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">“This is MY Mommy” are the words my oldest son used this morning when introducing me to his friends at preschool. The magnitude of those words still hits me at my core. Our road to start a family was not easy and was full of hills and valleys. We signed on with Dawn at CAC in April 2014 and were holding our son in our arms in July of that same year. Dawn is not only a wealth of adoption knowledge, but she is a prayer warrior. Her faith and strength are contagious, and I look back now and it all makes sense. The hills, the valleys, the tears, it is because I was always meant to be HIS Mommy. Dawn and CAC are part of our story and I cannot imagine our adoption path without them. Their words of trust, strength and faith are what I love most about them.”</span></b></div>
<b><i>- Allison & Bryan, Iowa</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lf_0eTkaxjQ/Wh20Nltj9uI/AAAAAAAAT-s/xvbprPixKNssNs2Av58oxysN3EFQesnaACLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lf_0eTkaxjQ/Wh20Nltj9uI/AAAAAAAAT-s/xvbprPixKNssNs2Av58oxysN3EFQesnaACLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">“Thank you so much for all of your love and support thus far on our adoption journey. It's a very long road. At times it's discouraging. At times we wonder, "Is God in this?" And then we think of all of you. We remember all of the love, generosity, prayers, and encouragement we've received from you. We think back on all the ways that God has shown us his faithfulness and kindness through you. So thank you. We love you all and are so thankful to have you walking with us on this journey.”</span><br /><i>-David & Sarah, Pennsylvania</i><br /><br /><span style="color: #351c75;">“We are so thankful for you and all that you’ve done, and continue to do, to help us along our adoption journey. You’re such a blessing to us!”</span><br /><i>-Todd & Jen, Maryland</i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>To chat with us about adoption, contact us anytime:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Dawn: <span style="color: #990000;">(813) 360-7368</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="mailto:wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</a></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ay_N5hZLr38/Wh20Vf7afkI/AAAAAAAAT-w/hPANpang1NwliWXUL-2S_Ly2YGVjYBYdACLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ay_N5hZLr38/Wh20Vf7afkI/AAAAAAAAT-w/hPANpang1NwliWXUL-2S_Ly2YGVjYBYdACLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-33404101183430951802017-11-20T14:54:00.000-05:002017-11-28T14:19:47.320-05:00120 Children Home: Celebrating 5 years as adoption consultants - Part 2<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vl3kC8K5VSk/WhMraVcaxOI/AAAAAAAAT9M/TE1dS_rhNvMuMAzrGiLJ6pItOle1gwd2QCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vl3kC8K5VSk/WhMraVcaxOI/AAAAAAAAT9M/TE1dS_rhNvMuMAzrGiLJ6pItOle1gwd2QCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In
<a href="https://www.adoptionshapedheart.com/single-post/2017/11/18/120-Children-Home-Celebrating-5-years-as-adoption-consultants---Part-1" target="_blank">Part 1</a> of our post we shared the story of how we came to work for Christian
Adoption Consultants five years ago. As adoptive parents of 9 children, and
working professionally as adoption consultants, our lives revolve around
adoption – it is something we live and breathe all the time. It is truly our
joy and privilege to serve families going on their adoption journey. We wanted
to share our:</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WHY WE LOVE WORKING FOR </b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CHRISTIAN ADO<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">PTION </span>CONSULTANTS</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>TOP 10</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/5Begp5U8HSACt5Dk7kaIBjoQXQkzMPdpgCLcBGAs/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/5Begp5U8HSACt5Dk7kaIBjoQXQkzMPdpgCLcBGAs/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WE LOVE TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">FROM A PLACE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;">Having adopted 9 children ourselves, we
understand how our families feel as they pace the floor, kneel beside the bed
to pray over the next steps, and bring their children home.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WE ADORE SEEING ALL THOSE GORGEOUS FACES</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">IN OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM FEEDS</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">While most people must see so many negative Facebook
posts these days, we are dreaming with our present and past families looking at
their beautiful children grow up.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cH12Tyswkrc/WhMs4YHSuHI/AAAAAAAAT9g/adCfLfswBUcrEaXD2cgzFNFUTrpp_2XyQCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cH12Tyswkrc/WhMs4YHSuHI/AAAAAAAAT9g/adCfLfswBUcrEaXD2cgzFNFUTrpp_2XyQCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">PRAYING FOR OUR FAMILIES DAILY</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We get to pray for expectant mothers and watch
as they bravely choose and work with adoptive families. The losses in adoption
are as real as the beauty, and through prayer we become a part of how God is
working in all their lives.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WE ARE PART OF AN AMAZING TEAM</span></b></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">OF ADOPTION PROFESSIONALS</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">The two of us enjoy working with the other
consultants at CAC, who are equally amazing adoption professionals who love the
Lord and work so hard together for our families.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwoXEq4S8zc/WhMs4eh0mYI/AAAAAAAAT9s/yBBJk9-1B7sRnHXbkJTNYQpahswBmkh9QCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwoXEq4S8zc/WhMs4eh0mYI/AAAAAAAAT9s/yBBJk9-1B7sRnHXbkJTNYQpahswBmkh9QCEwYBhgL/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">OUR CHILDREN JOIN WITH US</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">IN CELEBRATING THE JOYS AND BLESSINGS</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">All
our 9 kids are adopted, and we openly talk about adoption at home. When a
family matches or brings a baby home our kids get to join in on the joy, and
they cheer for our families.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WE ENJOY MAKING BEAUTIFUL PROFILE BOOKS</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">FOR OUR FAMILIES</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">It is rewarding to bring a family’s story to
life for expectant families to read. We take pride in creating top quality
profiles that make all the difference.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hWMCQfCsaI/WhMs4REk7NI/AAAAAAAAT9s/sgd73PguUbQPXhkdgCBKkTKS_U-gnIldACEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hWMCQfCsaI/WhMs4REk7NI/AAAAAAAAT9s/sgd73PguUbQPXhkdgCBKkTKS_U-gnIldACEwYBhgL/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WE LOVE SHARING THE STORIES</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN ADOPTION</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Our
own story and the stories of our families are shared often to encourage those
who may be thinking about adoption. They are a testament to God’s provision and
faithfulness.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR WORK IS DIFFERENT FOR US</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Each day we create profile, spend time with families on the phone, communicate with adoption agencies, and every conversation is always fresh and new.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AmT0MWq6wz8/WhMs5JNeagI/AAAAAAAAT9s/YIcD8CpfJAoYQH1PtNymPWVGW0wf2vl8gCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AmT0MWq6wz8/WhMs5JNeagI/AAAAAAAAT9s/YIcD8CpfJAoYQH1PtNymPWVGW0wf2vl8gCEwYBhgL/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WE LOVE TO WORK TOGETHER</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">AS A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We have been married for 20 years, and we truly enjoy
working together as a couple: brainstorming, planning, visioning and dreaming, and
praying together with our families. We both bring unique gifts and abilities to
serve our families.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SEEING 120 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ADOPTIVE, AND BIRTH FAMILIES UNITE</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="margin: 0px;">What a privilege and honor it is to be part of
something so wonderful, amazing, and so much bigger than ourselves. It has, and
continues to be our great pleasure to serve our families! Thank you for
allowing us to walk alongside you!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WF9Qm2pzHk/WhMs5hj2IMI/AAAAAAAAT9s/hi0y4w6_NCY3vPUgjsFBgff2jnPfBvjPQCEwYBhgL/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WF9Qm2pzHk/WhMs5hj2IMI/AAAAAAAAT9s/hi0y4w6_NCY3vPUgjsFBgff2jnPfBvjPQCEwYBhgL/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s1600/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1600" height="26" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMiVna3aDi0/WhMt7zf7_UI/AAAAAAAAT90/IEkbWEZZ_q0CmGNtkUyZ2PHziBLv-N3FQCEwYBhgL/s320/row%2Bof%2Bdots.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span>
</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">As always, we’d love to talk with you about
adoption. Call or email anytime:</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b>Dawn: <span style="color: #990000;">(813) 360-7368</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="mailto:wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com" target="_blank">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Check out Part 3 of our post <a href="http://arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com/2017/11/120-children-home-celebrating-5-years.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-68308909912881344652017-11-18T10:25:00.000-05:002017-11-28T14:17:39.438-05:00120 Children Home: Celebrating 5 years as adoption consultants - Part 1<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOSyysmhpLo/WhBOhFNW2oI/AAAAAAAAT8k/FWqXt85qrokVo67z0K5iniKwD2AoxLGLwCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOSyysmhpLo/WhBOhFNW2oI/AAAAAAAAT8k/FWqXt85qrokVo67z0K5iniKwD2AoxLGLwCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">What
an amazing and blessed journey this has been for us as a couple over these past
five years! Words cannot describe the awesome joy and privilege that it is to
encourage and walk alongside so many families in their adoption journey. We get
to wake up each morning in the knowledge that we will see God’s hand at work in
bringing children into their forever family. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>“Adoption is
something I often dreamed about but never thought it would happen. Using
CAC made the process a lot less overwhelming and scary. Dawn & Jason
"held" our hands the whole time. They were great and extremely
patient. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for them and our son's
birth mother. With their help, my husband and I found what we were missing,
and our family is now complete.” </b></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><b><i>- Mike & Crystal, Georgia</i></b></span></span></span><b></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BDGiuLY1p5M/WhBOvnC4K-I/AAAAAAAAT8o/9Pf5yH29cXM9O9CS9u7iE0kKBzKs-hFZgCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BDGiuLY1p5M/WhBOvnC4K-I/AAAAAAAAT8o/9Pf5yH29cXM9O9CS9u7iE0kKBzKs-hFZgCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It
all began for us with a failed international adoption. We had already fostered
and adopted six children and brought home our son through international
adoption from Ethiopia. When the failed adoption happened, we were so very sad
and didn’t know where to turn. After praying and seeking what else the Lord may
have for us we found a blog about another large family who adopted their 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
child through domestic infant adoption!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>When we read they had used <a href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants</a> we instantly
called and spoke to our consultant.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She
talked to us all about the process and how Christian Adoption Consultants
works. We were excited, and within a few days we signed on with CAC. Within a
week we had flown to Pennsylvania and our daughter was in our arms and legally
ours! Such a miraculous blessing to us. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa57trfSeNQ/WhBPC5X6E9I/AAAAAAAAT8w/o39F5cZkXa0cBCMYnykfJ9PYsvsnve3uQCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa57trfSeNQ/WhBPC5X6E9I/AAAAAAAAT8w/o39F5cZkXa0cBCMYnykfJ9PYsvsnve3uQCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-002.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Within
a couple of years when Christian Adoption Consultants opened a brand-new
<a href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/special-needs/" target="_blank">program for Special Needs Children</a> we called our consultant again and said yes
to another child. Within a few months our youngest son came home. Experiencing
first-hand God orchestrating our son joining our family was truly amazing. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">During
the process of our two domestic adoptions we shared about CAC with literally
hundreds of people, which led to dozens of clients signing on with Christian
Adoption Consultants. Those families knew that we’d had an excellent experience
with CAC, and we wanted everyone to know who they were and what they could do
to help families adopt. Finally, less than a year after bringing our youngest
son home we started working for Christian Adoption Consultants as a husband and
wife team. We were so excited that we were able to fulfill a passion of
adoption in our job that we both share. Every time we have a new family sign on
with us we get butterflies as we dream with them about God’s plan for their
family. We pray with and for them and watch as God unfolds their story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5RGs3NJy0MY/WhBPOmlKbUI/AAAAAAAAT80/ZQV5eqkR7k4jrZADHELOOp2cv1yXBaxewCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5RGs3NJy0MY/WhBPOmlKbUI/AAAAAAAAT80/ZQV5eqkR7k4jrZADHELOOp2cv1yXBaxewCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-003.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It
is a privilege for us to be able to serve our families together and we couldn’t
ask for a better job!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thank you so much
<a href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/staff/" target="_blank">Malcolm & Amy Young</a>, CAC’s founders and directors, for allowing us to
follow God’s calling on our lives.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stay
tuned for our follow up post: “120 Children Home: Celebrating 5 years as
adoption consultants - <a href="http://arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com/2017/11/120-children-home-celebrating-5-years_20.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> and <a href="http://arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com/2017/11/120-children-home-celebrating-5-years.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>, where we will share our Top 10 joys of working
as adoption consultants, as well as some cool facts and stats about our work
and our amazing families! </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--88VFDoW864/WhBPYsJ0SvI/AAAAAAAAT84/B_rKtF08NCgqogn2AXzdK5FfRQ9_vOy9wCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BAlbum%2B2-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--88VFDoW864/WhBPYsJ0SvI/AAAAAAAAT84/B_rKtF08NCgqogn2AXzdK5FfRQ9_vOy9wCLcBGAs/s400/My%2BAlbum%2B2-004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>“This
wonderful couple helped direct us to the babies God knew needed us as much as
we needed them! There is so much loss on all sides in adoption, but God can
redeem it! Dawn and Jason prayed with us, longed with us, and reminded us God
had already written our story. All we had to do was wait on His timing! If you
have questions about whether adoption is right for your family call them! They
can pray with you over the phone and wait with you until you know!”</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">-<span style="margin: 0px;"> Will & Holly, Illinois</span></span></i></b></span></div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As always, we’d love to talk with you about
adoption. Call or email anytime:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dawn: </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "calibri";"><b>(813) 360-7368</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="mailto:wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com" target="_blank">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</a></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-74350164707061141402017-10-30T19:20:00.001-04:002017-10-30T19:21:56.865-04:00Our Family Begins - Justin and Andrea's Adoption Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCEXIwsKC6M/WfeyLyIXN5I/AAAAAAAAT7Y/9iLTvfL8q6YShGHW4p_3zmVVMQdxXJZvwCLcBGAs/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="471" height="296" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCEXIwsKC6M/WfeyLyIXN5I/AAAAAAAAT7Y/9iLTvfL8q6YShGHW4p_3zmVVMQdxXJZvwCLcBGAs/s400/111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
We love to do what we do as adoption consultants - we really do have a dream job! What could be more fulfilling than to walk alongside a couple from an inquiry about where to start with an adoption all the way to that amazing day when they stand in front of the judge who declares they are now a forever family! There are always ups and downs to the roller coaster ride of adoption (Remember - on roller coasters they make sure you are safely buckled in for the ride), and Justin and Andrea's journey is no exception - starting with the heartbreak of infertility and the deep loss of miscarriage. Isn't it great that God is in the healing and redemption business? We love to see God's fingerprints on families we are consultants for - and we get to have a front row seat when "Joy comes in the morning". From signing on with us to holding their sweet and precious son was just 5 months. Andrea shares their story:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"We always knew we wanted to have children. We always said we would have children whether we were able to conceive them ourselves, through a fertility specialist or through adoption. We tried for nearly 3 years to conceive. During those 3 years, we suffered 2 ectopic pregnancies that resulted in having surgery to remove the fallopian tubes. This ended our chances at conceiving children ourselves. This led us down the path of in vitro fertilization (IVF). During the process of appointments, we found out my ovaries were aging faster than my chronological age. We did one round of IVF which had low results, but we did retrieve 3 eggs, of which 2 were mature. However, only 1 egg fertilized and the transfer resulted in another miscarriage. We were always open to all the options of starting a family, although we never thought we would experience this and the time it took. We felt frustrated and sad. We struggled with the loses and the direction God led us. So, after we struggled with infertility and miscarriages, we realized adoption must be the path we needed to pursue.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We had no idea where to start with adoption. Just considering it felt overwhelming. We had some friends who had adopted, and we connected with them to look for guidance. Low and behold, they introduced us to Dawn Wright at Christian Adoption Consultants. We knew from our first e-mail with Dawn we were heading in the right direction. She answered every question and always made sure we knew she was there to help support us. Suddenly, this overwhelming, unknown direction we were heading in, seemed a little bit less stressful. We decided to also have Jason complete our profile book rather than try to create it ourselves. We could not have been happier with the way it was finished. He captured us perfectly which again made us feel better about presenting ourselves to potential birth moms. With our Home study and Profile book complete we felt ready to start presenting our book.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On Super Bowl Sunday, we were presented our first situation with a due date in the beginning of March. Originally, we were not going to present our book. However, a follow up e-mail from Dawn, her giving us the resources we needed, discussing and praying about it led us to present. About 2 nerve racking weeks later we received a call back stating that the Birth Mother liked us. We had about another week or so of missed connections with the Birth mom, but on the due date we were signing the paperwork and we were officially matched. 6 days later we received the call that Birth Mom had gone in to labor. We rushed to get airplane tickets, we flew out the next morning and by early afternoon we were walking into the hospital room. We were quite nervous to meet with Birth Mom. However, we again contacted Dawn who gave us great advice for when we met with her. We walked into the room where we were greeted with a hug from her, as well as, we could lay eyes on our new son.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FKFZetGjPk/Wfeyj35q4XI/AAAAAAAAT7g/taPRqkl2Pds9ql9rMrlhwRHcHddJqtIEgCLcBGAs/s1600/222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="468" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FKFZetGjPk/Wfeyj35q4XI/AAAAAAAAT7g/taPRqkl2Pds9ql9rMrlhwRHcHddJqtIEgCLcBGAs/s400/222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
We were fortunate to have a few days to spend with his Birth mom and get to know her and her history. After a couple of weeks, we brought our new bundle of joy home.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUfJEeqNbsw/Wfey0QFrEEI/AAAAAAAAT7k/qtZ-IlRRCM0rb4GgfODkRv07-8oClimXQCLcBGAs/s1600/333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUfJEeqNbsw/Wfey0QFrEEI/AAAAAAAAT7k/qtZ-IlRRCM0rb4GgfODkRv07-8oClimXQCLcBGAs/s400/333.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>
<div>
During our time of struggle, we knew God was making our marriage stronger and we needed to be patient because our son August was to be in our lives forever. With the help of Dawn, Jason and CAC, we have begun the family we always wanted."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nw8JhO60_a8/WfezZpV__LI/AAAAAAAAT7s/INbFC4WbL1QD53sqn6IXT8EVLvHUoaePACLcBGAs/s1600/444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="471" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nw8JhO60_a8/WfezZpV__LI/AAAAAAAAT7s/INbFC4WbL1QD53sqn6IXT8EVLvHUoaePACLcBGAs/s400/444.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
Thank you so much Andrea for sharing your story - we know many will be encouraged to keep going and trusting God for the dreams and desires of their hearts for a family. We'd love to talk with you about your adoption journey and answer any questions you may have. It's what we do!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd love to chat with you about adoption - call me at: (813) 360-7368 or email: wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-21266068813267110242017-07-21T10:27:00.001-04:002017-07-21T10:27:45.874-04:00Our 20th Anniversary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axmpBmQ7DAc/WXH_DZYrDzI/AAAAAAAAT6c/gJ4RQ-o0ZXA2EZVMzOzQFqzBXO9pDHccgCLcBGAs/s1600/713051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axmpBmQ7DAc/WXH_DZYrDzI/AAAAAAAAT6c/gJ4RQ-o0ZXA2EZVMzOzQFqzBXO9pDHccgCLcBGAs/s320/713051.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On Wednesday July 19th we officially celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary! YEAH! A huge accomplishment by any standard and we are thrilled. It has been a beautiful, messed up, crazy ride with extreme highs and lows around every corner. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If I said I thought we would make it every day of our marriage I would be lying! There were many times with crazy thoughts and tears rolling down my cheeks that I thought our world together would end. Because we are humans with sin involved. We love each other deeply, but the enemy is waiting and prowling trying to convince us that we are enemies. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In fact at a conference we have gone to more than once called <a href="http://www.familylife.com/weekend-to-remember" target="_blank">The Weekend To Remember</a>, and they specifically start off saying that your husband or wife is not the enemy. Which on some days we have really questioned! I mean what about when he makes a comment that cuts deep or you give him that glare that says back off? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMczI1hsIwM/WXH_F6KY9_I/AAAAAAAAT6g/l4RGMgA7CpkQjTUtAa1dhh82VNnqfk6rQCLcBGAs/s1600/713086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMczI1hsIwM/WXH_F6KY9_I/AAAAAAAAT6g/l4RGMgA7CpkQjTUtAa1dhh82VNnqfk6rQCLcBGAs/s320/713086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We have so much to learn about each other and it is hard to learn about each other when life hits you from all directions. When you are told your child is really sick and you will have to be in the hospital for extended stays worried if they will live. When you are so busy running back and forth with kids and work you can't even remember what the other person looks like. When you can't even complete a sentence because- kids! When something happens and you can't talk about it right then the wounds can fester and make a huge mess. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKrmf3sAw88/WXH_LmJMJeI/AAAAAAAAT6k/K0J84awECGgjo3wQ_3jR1DGPbINH2WynACLcBGAs/s1600/713087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKrmf3sAw88/WXH_LmJMJeI/AAAAAAAAT6k/K0J84awECGgjo3wQ_3jR1DGPbINH2WynACLcBGAs/s320/713087.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That is when the fight comes and you have to stay focused on what and who you are fighting. The what and who is sin and the enemy Satan! Oh he is serious about tearing you apart inch by inch. All that God has joined together and the enemy wants to put up every road block imaginable: extra work commitments, porn, thoughts of my life would be better if he/she would just....., kids whom you love so deeply just seem to relentlessly drain you, place doubts in your head he's late again or she always is with her friends, the internet/phone, the inability to say no to things outside of your marriage, and the list is long and the enemy is strong. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rbR_YrgISjA/WXH_O7Ta3RI/AAAAAAAAT6o/lToqgEA-EBE91cqX8VWjJEjU5hmbqIVOwCLcBGAs/s1600/713145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rbR_YrgISjA/WXH_O7Ta3RI/AAAAAAAAT6o/lToqgEA-EBE91cqX8VWjJEjU5hmbqIVOwCLcBGAs/s320/713145.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is so much hope though that a lot of times we overlook too. These are the things we have to focus on! Do me a favor if you are struggling right now in your marriage make a list of 10 things (or more would be even better) that you appreciate or love about your spouse. Come on do it- it will only take a little while. Now maybe you are really angry right now, and the enemy is whispering there is nothing good about my spouse. Then pray and ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of something, some times you have shared that have been good. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now I challenge you to be brave and give that list to your husband or wife! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAwlpshauHI/WXH_R4M_DEI/AAAAAAAAT6s/-SKISUofKoEHjAqcGEKbhYKXcltn26ezgCLcBGAs/s1600/713191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAwlpshauHI/WXH_R4M_DEI/AAAAAAAAT6s/-SKISUofKoEHjAqcGEKbhYKXcltn26ezgCLcBGAs/s320/713191.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No this isn't a magic pill, but rather something to help you today to draw closer to your spouse. The other thing we have done when things have been so rough is to really focus on God! When I remember that God loves my husband as much as He loves me I am more likely to see the good in him. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a3zbHmCeNog/WXH_TMjVCcI/AAAAAAAAT6w/jgiI1UX75_wrFDsUudcDSegBeZegczpjQCLcBGAs/s1600/713192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a3zbHmCeNog/WXH_TMjVCcI/AAAAAAAAT6w/jgiI1UX75_wrFDsUudcDSegBeZegczpjQCLcBGAs/s320/713192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The past 20 years have been filled with many things and the times we have taken to remember why we love each other are the best investments into our marriage. I wouldn't dream of not filling up our car with gas when needed, doing oil changes, or taking it in to be fixed when lights come on. It is definitely the same with marriage. Take time daily to connect, take time weekly to have longer conversations, take time yearly to go to a marriage conference or have a getaway. These times are free from the phone, computer, and work! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGm0Nf955uo/WXH_VpcwG7I/AAAAAAAAT60/LEWJmRhA7usPnznrTDrsqBghk4g56o12gCLcBGAs/s1600/713230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGm0Nf955uo/WXH_VpcwG7I/AAAAAAAAT60/LEWJmRhA7usPnznrTDrsqBghk4g56o12gCLcBGAs/s320/713230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We may have flown and flopped in our 20 years, but they have been amazing together because we are able to hang on to each other when other things go crazy. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love Jason Wright more than words can say. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thankful that he puts God first.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love the fact that he loves me and has stuck with me through so much. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am glad he continues to chose me as his wife. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thankful for all the hard work he does for our family (on average in our family we have things break daily and I wish I was kidding). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thankful that he is a great daddy and he cares so much about our kids that he adjusts to their needs. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thankful that he loves being a dad and playing with our children. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thankful that he coupons for our family, and saves us tons of money by looking for great deals. I am thankful that he believes in me as I homeschool the kids. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thankful that he knows it is important for us to set aside time for each other.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thankful that Jason shares my passions of ministry, our children, adoption, and helping other adopt. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Looking forward to many more years together Jason! I pray that we can honor God and each other through this crazy life together! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(PS the pictures are from our recent trip to Sandals resort in Antigua that we did earlier in the month. More to come on that later.)</div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-67416991941226388152017-06-07T10:54:00.002-04:002017-10-30T19:25:44.794-04:00Adoption Dreams Brought Together- Cameron and Sarah's Story<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.0" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Sometimes our dreams start out well before God fulfills them. This is one of those stories where before they met God planted the thoughts of adoption in their hearts. This is Sarah's story....</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.1" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
"Adoption for us is something we always wanted to do. God placed the desire in our hearts separately before we even were married. We knew that we would grow our family through adoption at some point. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Ek6kRnLGw/WTgNCdWflZI/AAAAAAAAT6Q/qhc9kJQp-N0JbH663haFZQWgL66d5YmHgCEw/s1600/Number%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Ek6kRnLGw/WTgNCdWflZI/AAAAAAAAT6Q/qhc9kJQp-N0JbH663haFZQWgL66d5YmHgCEw/s640/Number%2B1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Ek6kRnLGw/WTgNCdWflZI/AAAAAAAAT6Q/qhc9kJQp-N0JbH663haFZQWgL66d5YmHgCEw/s1600/Number%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
That point came after many prayers and we officially started our process in January of 2016. We were home study ready in March of 2016. We initially signed on with an agency and after months of waiting and hearing absolutely nothing, we decided that we needed to research other agencies and options.</div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4rzq_ZwNm4/WTgNDtliEXI/AAAAAAAAT6I/z1ynJoiAJdQFD3kK9sl3vtnd4gjEBtUKwCLcB/s1600/Number%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4rzq_ZwNm4/WTgNDtliEXI/AAAAAAAAT6I/z1ynJoiAJdQFD3kK9sl3vtnd4gjEBtUKwCLcB/s400/Number%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.0">Someone told us about </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.1" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-content="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.1.0" data-type="external" href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants </a></span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.2">and specifically Dawn and Jason Wright. I contacted Dawn in July of 2016, and after talking with Dawn I knew at once that using </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.3" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-content="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.3.0" data-type="external" href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants </a></span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.4">was the way to continue our adoption journey. We were matched in August of 2016, not even a month after starting to work with </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.5" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-content="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.5.0" data-type="external" href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">CAC</a></span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6">. Our baby girl was born in November 2016.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6"><br /></span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6"><br /></span></div>
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FEk4ZPVyjM/WTgNFCiwX9I/AAAAAAAAT6M/vrt89fYuhWA34uoJCt3c1lmXkhpDLPVdgCLcB/s1600/NUmber%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FEk4ZPVyjM/WTgNFCiwX9I/AAAAAAAAT6M/vrt89fYuhWA34uoJCt3c1lmXkhpDLPVdgCLcB/s640/NUmber%2B3.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6">
</span>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c.0" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9.6">
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c.0" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-content="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c.0.0" data-type="external" href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants</a></span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c.1"> were helpful from answering questions, getting us connected with agencies, encouraging us, and praying for us throughout our process. I am grateful for Dawn & Jason and how they have been a part of our adoption journey.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.d">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.e">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Ek6kRnLGw/WTgNCdWflZI/AAAAAAAAT6E/X0n4e7l9cq0a-1TnOy7HIIlfy3v7JHJCgCLcB/s1600/Number%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>If you have the dream to adopt and want to know more please call or email anytime with your questions. </div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.e">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.e" style="text-align: center;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.g.0" style="font-weight: bold;">We’d love to talk about your own adoption dreams:</span></div>
<div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.e" style="text-align: center;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.g.0"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.h.0" style="font-weight: bold;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.h.0.0">Call Dawn at (813) 360-7368 or email to: </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.h.0.1" style="text-decoration: underline;"><a data-content="wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.h.0.1.0" data-type="mail" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_self">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</a></span></span></span></div>
</span><div class="font_8" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.h" style="line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="flex_display flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$2.$2" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_dateAndAuthorAligner" style="-moz-box-align: flex-start; -ms-flex-align: start; -ms-flex-direction: column; -webkit-align-items: flex-start; -webkit-box-align: flex-start; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; box-align: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: column; padding: 0; position: relative;">
<div class="flex_display" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$2.$2.$0" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_dateAndAuthor" style="-ms-flex-direction: row; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; -webkit-flex-direction: row; box-sizing: border-box; flex-direction: row; max-width: 100%; position: relative;">
<noscript data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$2.$2.$0.$1"></noscript><br /></div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_display" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$3" id="SinglePostMediaInner_MediaPost__0_0" style="-ms-flex: 1 1 auto; -webkit-flex: 1 1 auto; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 auto; margin-top: 14px; min-width: 0;">
<style data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$3.$stylesheet" type="text/css"></style><br />
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c_DESKTOP.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$3.$child" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaInner_MediaPost__0_0_1_def_0" style="-ms-flex-direction: column; -ms-flex: 1 1 auto; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-flex-direction: column; -webkit-flex: 1 1 auto; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 auto; min-width: 0; position: relative;">
<br /></div>
</div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-51080040426899570082017-02-17T13:51:00.000-05:002017-02-17T22:00:10.125-05:00When it gets hard to hear "No"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
As a <a href="http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultant</a> we have the privilege of praying and encouraging families during the process of adoption. I pray this will help encourage someone today. <br />
<br />
In the adoption process when you are finished with the home study, the paperwork for the agencies, and the profile you then come to a really exciting time in the process because you are ready to be "matched". You finally get to say, "Yes I would like to be present my profile to an expectant family." <br />
<br />
It is time for celebration in the journey and a relief that you are done with so much paperwork! So you see some situations of an expectant family and as you pray and read through them you know you want to say yes to presenting your profile to an expectant family. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMGpF8z7UBo/WKcSoYWX5cI/AAAAAAAAT5E/kptV-8L5IVozZPGpWV4bkDIYZO7YlvP_QCLcB/s1600/2015-12-15%2B10.46.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMGpF8z7UBo/WKcSoYWX5cI/AAAAAAAAT5E/kptV-8L5IVozZPGpWV4bkDIYZO7YlvP_QCLcB/s320/2015-12-15%2B10.46.08.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
Somewhere between the paperwork and the busyness of the process it hits you that you may hear a "no" from the expectant family. They may choose another family. Then your mind races with thoughts of, "Why would they chose them and not us?", "Why is our family not good enough?", or "Was it because of that picture we put in the profile?"<br />
<br />
You may begin to think and feel a small voice saying, "See you aren't good enough.", "You don't have what it takes to adopt", or "You will never be chosen." <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUCUnHYUzp0/WKcTLAJ_4cI/AAAAAAAAT5I/L-0_35Z07fU29HTM_qg3D-e82VGI6fvSQCLcB/s1600/2015-12-21%2B07.41.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUCUnHYUzp0/WKcTLAJ_4cI/AAAAAAAAT5I/L-0_35Z07fU29HTM_qg3D-e82VGI6fvSQCLcB/s320/2015-12-21%2B07.41.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My heart in sharing these thoughts is because they are normal thoughts, and anyone going through the process of adoption have them. That isn't to down play how it feels because adoption is a roller coaster of emotions. It is to say you are not alone in feeling this way.<br />
<br />
My second reason is because sometimes we don't see the other side of adoption or maybe we don't picture it well. So I want to make a clearer picture for families who are all waiting. The expectant families you read about are making one of the toughest decisions of their entire life. It is not taken lightly and there are literally a million reasons why they have made this decision to place a child and a million reasons why they are going to choose a specific family.<br />
<br />
In other words it isn't a mathematical equation. One expectant family chooses an adoptive family simply because of the smile that draws her eyes to your picture, because you are the biggest sports fans, because you love horses, or because the children in your home look so very loved they can just picture their child with your children.<br />
<br />
If there was anything I can say to help you in your time of doubt. It would be that God always has a plan that can be trusted. There are many times of doubt and fear, but God tells us in Philippians 4:7 "<sup class="versenum"> </sup>And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."<br />
<br />
It's ok to have doubt, but take heart because God can give you peace even when you feel the heartbreak of not being chosen. He knows your heart in wanting to adopt and shares in that spirit of love and caring. He has a plan for the expectant family as well as yours to be joined forever by two beautiful hands and feet of a child. "Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-46765439920232084382017-01-30T13:29:00.000-05:002017-01-30T13:31:28.534-05:00The Miracle of Michael<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyH5-VWHNzo/WI-CxJX5GBI/AAAAAAAAT4U/XUNXj7o70IUCCRSEW3HitQboomGiKc3HwCLcB/s1600/101_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyH5-VWHNzo/WI-CxJX5GBI/AAAAAAAAT4U/XUNXj7o70IUCCRSEW3HitQboomGiKc3HwCLcB/s320/101_0905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The first moment I met Michael my heart melted.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The difference between him and my other children is that I knew that he would not “be like our other children”.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Plain and simple fact, but what happened after adopting Michael is the real miracle.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We said “yes” to Michael after being told that most of his brain isn’t functioning.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">That he has barely learned to crawl, can sit up (very slouched), he may never be able to eat normal food, he may never learn to walk, he may never know how to communicate, and this is a very short list of the "he may nevers".</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMM5eM3Jv7s/WI-C0wKLA-I/AAAAAAAAT4Y/zMIEp4Fi-0YwC2kHZ-BZcxiZpakWsF8ugCLcB/s1600/101_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMM5eM3Jv7s/WI-C0wKLA-I/AAAAAAAAT4Y/zMIEp4Fi-0YwC2kHZ-BZcxiZpakWsF8ugCLcB/s320/101_0973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">That can be more than intimidating.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">That can be enough to make you run for the hills.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I mean what will he be able to do?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is where the miracle happened.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It didn’t matter!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It didn’t matter what he couldn’t do at all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The miracle is in how our hearts changed, believed in him, and in what we cheered him on to do.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was a huge shift in thinking.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I mean we talked and prepared a lot for Michael to come home.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We talked about expectations with our other children and our families.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We shared the “he may nevers” with them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We shared our thoughts and feelings about it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zT6_7A_bR_A/WI-DAW1rYKI/AAAAAAAAT4c/rbSl5dhib0EC1m6iAJf7qKQYivc8cKTIQCLcB/s1600/101_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zT6_7A_bR_A/WI-DAW1rYKI/AAAAAAAAT4c/rbSl5dhib0EC1m6iAJf7qKQYivc8cKTIQCLcB/s320/101_0985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When Michael came home none of that seemed to matter.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">At first when the kids snuggled and loved Michael I was fully expecting that this would last for a while, but would they love him as he got older?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Would I love him as much as he gets older and isn’t a baby anymore?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Would our feelings change?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Again, the miracle of Michael took over and changed our hearts to what can we encourage him to do now?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How can we help him to do his best?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then we watched as he has grown and learned!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We watched in our own hearts how we didn’t shy away from a child that can’t do what other children his age can.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We watched at how our hearts still come back to a place of deep love and care for this young boy who loves in such a huge way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQm3axVPGN0/WI-DGQGpAjI/AAAAAAAAT4g/zCdN8iiJ88E4UYYrcRmsp1Cp9LwHZppxACLcB/s1600/2014-11-26%2B14.44.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQm3axVPGN0/WI-DGQGpAjI/AAAAAAAAT4g/zCdN8iiJ88E4UYYrcRmsp1Cp9LwHZppxACLcB/s320/2014-11-26%2B14.44.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He doesn’t care that he can’t run, but he is lightning fast crawling.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">He doesn’t care that he can’t reply with full sentences, but he can tell you in an instant if he wants more, or if he is happy, or if he is upset which are all things he has learned.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">He doesn’t care that he may not be able to understand everything you say, but you can bet he understands a lot more than you know.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Proven true by his ability to follow commands and sentences spoken when we didn’t think “he knew”.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zNvx2ddnqI/WI-DHq3ikSI/AAAAAAAAT4k/TUGugD7mXlsL83A0MrgDuTMENmiBo_COgCLcB/s1600/2016-05-01%2B15.08.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zNvx2ddnqI/WI-DHq3ikSI/AAAAAAAAT4k/TUGugD7mXlsL83A0MrgDuTMENmiBo_COgCLcB/s320/2016-05-01%2B15.08.33.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The number of times he has blessed us is immeasurable.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The number of times we have cheered him on thinking we were encouraging him, and yet our hearts were the ones encouraged!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The number of times we have felt down about what we are going through that Michael simply doesn’t seem to care about.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In his mind you are amazing every single day.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">When you feel at your lowest Michael seems to remind you of who you really are in Christ.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">That is the true miracle of Michael.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-41065806673976860432017-01-20T11:46:00.002-05:002017-01-20T11:47:01.244-05:00I Don't Need Easy..... I Just Need Possible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82CdHFQFm6c/WIIv7_iUy_I/AAAAAAAATvw/3H0qqKP_WmQsJch7un7OpBxRq22FwrogACLcB/s1600/2017-01-10%2B16.38.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82CdHFQFm6c/WIIv7_iUy_I/AAAAAAAATvw/3H0qqKP_WmQsJch7un7OpBxRq22FwrogACLcB/s320/2017-01-10%2B16.38.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When Jason and I meet almost 20 years ago now we had no idea what our lives would look like. We were young and in love. That is the way it is meant to be. There have been some hard things we have faced in our life together. Huge disappointments, moving, different jobs, different churches, different homes, change of cars, change of philosophies, getting to know ourselves and each other in deeper more meaningful ways. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMePdaI0Fts/WIIxIBLomDI/AAAAAAAATv4/crWTYdGO4A8jD1WVmvmhoTFhlyEoxNq_ACLcB/s1600/2017-01-08%2B19.55.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMePdaI0Fts/WIIxIBLomDI/AAAAAAAATv4/crWTYdGO4A8jD1WVmvmhoTFhlyEoxNq_ACLcB/s320/2017-01-08%2B19.55.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Easy has never really been a part of our vocabulary for many years. After doing ministry together, moving, and 9 adoptions I don't think easy was in what God planned for us. Don't get me wrong there have been plenty of "easier times" than others. When you are going through a difficult time in your marriage or job there may be easier days than others. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qW95OntbIVA/WIIyOxX-FhI/AAAAAAAATwA/x5nNx8XocKU2GZhlSGIhLR3FWLga1uSjwCLcB/s1600/2017-01-07%2B21.34.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qW95OntbIVA/WIIyOxX-FhI/AAAAAAAATwA/x5nNx8XocKU2GZhlSGIhLR3FWLga1uSjwCLcB/s320/2017-01-07%2B21.34.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
In the movie Soul Surfer (The Story of Bethany Hamilton) after she loses her arm to a shark attack she has to relearn how to surf. It wasn't that she didn't think she could do it, but more a matter of how long will it take me to relearn everything I know about surfing. Bethany Hamilton went on to win many championships in surfing. She knew her strength came from God and even in the confusion that kept her going. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4Cl8GAtaWk/WIIy8towUcI/AAAAAAAATwI/mzPoJyPcBwEVCQNiRTtP0peE0SNVPtxWwCLcB/s1600/2017-01-10%2B15.21.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4Cl8GAtaWk/WIIy8towUcI/AAAAAAAATwI/mzPoJyPcBwEVCQNiRTtP0peE0SNVPtxWwCLcB/s320/2017-01-10%2B15.21.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
That is us in our family. We are relearning everything. From time to time all families have to do this in different ways. Maybe you find out a child has a learning disability and you have to figure out how can we help them in the best way you can. Maybe grandma dies and your family now has to learn to live without an important part of your family. Some people lose a job and when they start the new one there is so much that changes from income, hours worked, and commute times. <br />
<br />
This is where we have to determine in our minds even if we don't believe it every day or week or even month. We have to determine that we don't need easy.... we just need possible. That statement changes everything. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0fOigIViuo/WIIzvc_SYkI/AAAAAAAATwQ/cVy96QE8uH4gUqWezu04BzgjUhUTVQIpACLcB/s1600/2017-01-09%2B16.32.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0fOigIViuo/WIIzvc_SYkI/AAAAAAAATwQ/cVy96QE8uH4gUqWezu04BzgjUhUTVQIpACLcB/s320/2017-01-09%2B16.32.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Believing that it is possible with God for your marriage to turn around. It is possible with God to parent a child that is really struggling or even several that are struggling. It is possible to chase the dreams those God sized dreams He has planted in your heart and so much more! <br />
<br />
I was reminded by a good friend that I was setting my goals too low because with God ALL things are possible. I was thinking I want to rebuild our lives to "our normal". She reminded me that God doesn't want "our normal" He wants --- something BETTER! I have underlined and bolded some words- be strong, For I am with you, do not fear..... The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, and in this place I will grant peace. <br />
<br />
<h1 class="passage-display">
<span class="passage-display-bcv">Haggai 2:1-9</span><span class="passage-display-version">New International Version (NIV)</span></h1>
<span class="text Hag-2-1" id="en-NIV-22857"><span class="chapternum mid-paragraph">2 </span><sup class="versenum mid-paragraph">1 </sup>on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> came through the prophet Haggai:</span> <span class="text Hag-2-2" id="en-NIV-22858"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-22858a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-22858a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Haggai+2%3A1-9&version=NIV#fen-NIV-22858a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,</span> <span class="text Hag-2-3" id="en-NIV-22859"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?</span> <span class="text Hag-2-4" id="en-NIV-22860"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>But now <b>be strong</b>, Zerubbabel,’ declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>. ‘<b>Be strong</b>, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. <b>Be strong</b>, all you people of the land,’ declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, ‘and work. <u>For I am with you</u>,’ declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty.</span> <span class="text Hag-2-5" id="en-NIV-22861"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. <u>Do not fear</u>.’</span><br />
<span class="text Hag-2-6" id="en-NIV-22862"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>“This is what the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.</span> <span class="text Hag-2-7" id="en-NIV-22863"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty.</span> <span class="text Hag-2-8" id="en-NIV-22864"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty.</span> <span class="text Hag-2-9" id="en-NIV-22865"><sup class="versenum">9<b><u> </u></b></sup><b><u>‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty.”</u></b></span>"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-57328962991417467972017-01-13T13:03:00.000-05:002017-01-13T13:03:19.386-05:00Happy 14th Adoption Day Andrew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3uB8kacuTLM/WHkTD9wI6EI/AAAAAAAATvE/NoX1YTl-83wdbJyH5AHJyyFy-p8Y68bbACLcB/s1600/2017-01-06%2B06.57.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3uB8kacuTLM/WHkTD9wI6EI/AAAAAAAATvE/NoX1YTl-83wdbJyH5AHJyyFy-p8Y68bbACLcB/s320/2017-01-06%2B06.57.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
January 6th is this handsome man's Adoption Day...... 14 years ago we stood in court and said yes to being his family forever.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkatXJrhX2g/WHkTPXBFBlI/AAAAAAAATvI/KK4dYqDpAiQrtbHYLRn2HTjOleIAXt_tgCLcB/s1600/2017-01-06%2B06.59.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkatXJrhX2g/WHkTPXBFBlI/AAAAAAAATvI/KK4dYqDpAiQrtbHYLRn2HTjOleIAXt_tgCLcB/s320/2017-01-06%2B06.59.07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Ha- yes the weights were wrapped in a towel, because paper would have torn from me trying to pick them up to put them on the table! He also got a watch, clothes, and of course books to read because he goes through books like I go through a meal. ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3X8fFr2eTWY/WHkTmyOmCdI/AAAAAAAATvM/XF8uvw0gerEzzW5ISKcWU5Nullo8tCwhgCLcB/s1600/2017-01-06%2B09.28.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3X8fFr2eTWY/WHkTmyOmCdI/AAAAAAAATvM/XF8uvw0gerEzzW5ISKcWU5Nullo8tCwhgCLcB/s320/2017-01-06%2B09.28.41.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Andrew is fun, crazy, very smart, LOVES history, very persistent, wants to be a police officer, is incredibly smart with his money, and likes to organize games or activities. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4J2rg1Hfoc/WHkTvu3RGwI/AAAAAAAATvU/d13IQ_RqtOolY8PsdWNv39Wfu2T8zg4pQCLcB/s1600/2017-01-06%2B10.57.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4J2rg1Hfoc/WHkTvu3RGwI/AAAAAAAATvU/d13IQ_RqtOolY8PsdWNv39Wfu2T8zg4pQCLcB/s320/2017-01-06%2B10.57.57.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
We went to Universal and had a fun day out!!! In our family Adoption Day is the same as a Birthday. We want to bless our children and have some fun together as a family. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJf-XET7dGU/WHkUDWuI6MI/AAAAAAAATvY/K6zCA_rLacEHaxcf-j6YJs-3NHLGFQwMwCLcB/s1600/2017-01-06%2B18.07.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJf-XET7dGU/WHkUDWuI6MI/AAAAAAAATvY/K6zCA_rLacEHaxcf-j6YJs-3NHLGFQwMwCLcB/s320/2017-01-06%2B18.07.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
We love you Andrew James Wright! We pray daily that God continues to work in your life to make you who He wants you to be. That God gives you strength to continue to grow in Him and share Him with others. That you trust Him completely and that you seek Him! "Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-23518081290677376852017-01-04T01:33:00.000-05:002017-01-04T09:26:59.524-05:00Hanging Onto Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This past year has been the most difficult our family has ever faced. Yet when last year started I had an overwhelming sense of peace that healing was going to happen in our family. The thing is that in order to experience the deepest sense of healing there is usually a crisis of some kind or a series of crisis.<br />
<br />
We desperately pray asking God to reveal more of Himself to us, but in the same breath we ask God to make it easy for us. This is not what He desires because in all reality we have to be so completely dependent on Him that we would never be able to get through the day without Him....or even a minute. If we had it all figured out chances are we would thank God with a quick prayer and move about our business as usual, but we wouldn't be in complete awe of Him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWesEw38Q_w/WGyRzssOiXI/AAAAAAAATuU/we7WfOfjifM5a2NyapHxVrqcMOL55njOQCEw/s1600/ring%2Bpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWesEw38Q_w/WGyRzssOiXI/AAAAAAAATuU/we7WfOfjifM5a2NyapHxVrqcMOL55njOQCEw/s320/ring%2Bpicture.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This is my engagement and wedding ring. Nothing terribly special in the amount of money that was spent on them. It is only amazing because of who gave it to me! It is only amazing because of the almost 20 years of marriage they have withstood! It is only amazing because it holds the story of how we saved money and flew back and forth several times over the ocean just to be with each other the year before we were married! It is only amazing because of the millions of memories Jason and I have shared since he placed that engagement ring on my hand!<br />
<br />
So several months back my engagement ring broke. The original estimate for the repair was about twice what the ring was worth. Yep, that gives you an idea of the money spent on it now doesn't it? So I tucked it away thinking one day when we have tons of extra money we can repair it.<br />
<br />
I missed the ring, but my love for my husband is definitely not caught up in a ring. Months passed.... some of the most hard experiences any marriage and family could go through happened... and we breathed in and out and kept marching on sometimes barely, but still moving forward. We knew there had to be hope even when it didn't seem like there was at the moment.<br />
<br />
On New Year's Eve we celebrated as best we could. Lit up fireworks, had a dance party, watched the last episode of Little House On The Prairie (where they blow up the town), laughed, made a tinfoil doll dress, ate pizza and drank plenty of soda, and chased kids around in a Hulk mask. After we saw in the New Year and tucked the kids up in bed Jason and I sat on the front porch - on my Christmas gift of log rocking chairs.<br />
<br />
He pulled out a card and read it to me.... and then handed me my ring! You see he thought of everything in our lives that was broken and needed healing. He knows as well as I do that we can't fix it all. We can't possible find healing on our own. We can only hang onto hope. Hang onto a God that doesn't ever leave us nor forsake us!<br />
<br />
Last year I knew healing was coming as God whispered it into my ear. I just didn't know what we needed healing for. Oh, I guessed what it was for but I will be the first to say I was really clueless. Now I see what we need healing for, and all I can say is our family is Hanging Onto Hope! Praise God for HOPE! It is the only real tangible thing in this world we can have that can not be stolen from us no matter what the world says because our Hope is based on God! "Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-34467289186017559232017-01-02T15:11:00.001-05:002017-10-30T19:29:37.764-04:00Surprise! I am getting back to something that makes me happy! Blogging! After stepping away for far too long I realized that I blogged because it made me happy. I enjoy writing about our family and sharing. It was a sense of creating that I have missed for far too long. <br />
<br />
Shout out to Jason because my computer is having technical difficulties so he stepped in to help give me some solutions. For those of you who think I have all the computer things figured out- nope. Jason is who I call if I have problems and beg him to help! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrnIlG3nBmE/WGqsrdBo-rI/AAAAAAAATrs/_V7UbxEmCaE5irG7FvTZZWNQlqSkbcnTwCEw/s1600/2016-10-01%2B09.04.42.mov" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrnIlG3nBmE/WGqsrdBo-rI/AAAAAAAATrs/_V7UbxEmCaE5irG7FvTZZWNQlqSkbcnTwCEw/s320/2016-10-01%2B09.04.42.mov" width="180" /></a></div>
So let's see this year we did a lot that I didn't blog about, but maybe that is the point of a New Year's Blog post. To say I missed out, but it's ok to pick it back up and start again. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WblmmdV8j6g/WGqspndfD8I/AAAAAAAATro/i6VFAIcTCHYi5HDWLKkvbT6bv4nbLStOQCLcB/s1600/2016-10-24%2B17.44.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WblmmdV8j6g/WGqspndfD8I/AAAAAAAATro/i6VFAIcTCHYi5HDWLKkvbT6bv4nbLStOQCLcB/s320/2016-10-24%2B17.44.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I got to hold some babies which is a great perk to the job of helping families through the adoption process. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xkaqRio9Eo/WGqstIO4xgI/AAAAAAAATr0/eR-5aNHDSP4I1fS_2QQLB10v6NXyrN3igCLcB/s1600/2016-10-25%2B18.23.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xkaqRio9Eo/WGqstIO4xgI/AAAAAAAATr0/eR-5aNHDSP4I1fS_2QQLB10v6NXyrN3igCLcB/s320/2016-10-25%2B18.23.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Jason's parents were able to come visit! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hcg_cDOVfZw/WGqtAegrKiI/AAAAAAAATsA/g0TFFI4f5AEE1tflY9q-WbkUgcLwCvt1QCLcB/s1600/2016-11-01%2B16.28.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hcg_cDOVfZw/WGqtAegrKiI/AAAAAAAATsA/g0TFFI4f5AEE1tflY9q-WbkUgcLwCvt1QCLcB/s320/2016-11-01%2B16.28.47.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
We went to the beach!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDPp-Az3ip0/WGqtDY_xsgI/AAAAAAAATsE/u9eE7ZYRjcQilpGIesThk3aU5HEM3yobQCLcB/s1600/2016-10-27%2B09.27.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDPp-Az3ip0/WGqtDY_xsgI/AAAAAAAATsE/u9eE7ZYRjcQilpGIesThk3aU5HEM3yobQCLcB/s320/2016-10-27%2B09.27.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We had lots of crazy fun times together as a family. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QGrr_2o89q8/WGqtHDowmxI/AAAAAAAATsM/f2E1pbw-uMMkGOHA6iPRpfzlPOXQU9xwwCLcB/s1600/2016-10-22%2B12.25.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QGrr_2o89q8/WGqtHDowmxI/AAAAAAAATsM/f2E1pbw-uMMkGOHA6iPRpfzlPOXQU9xwwCLcB/s320/2016-10-22%2B12.25.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Don't ask me what this is......because you know...... boys! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1_pvBPC-fw/WGqtMFR7ygI/AAAAAAAATsQ/ZKHhRrwhd1otaWnUJa_2qSz_JYN07M3fwCLcB/s1600/2016-11-08%2B06.59.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1_pvBPC-fw/WGqtMFR7ygI/AAAAAAAATsQ/ZKHhRrwhd1otaWnUJa_2qSz_JYN07M3fwCLcB/s320/2016-11-08%2B06.59.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
We snuggled a lot because Michael is pretty irresistible! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_H2SHJJICrI/WGqtPdlShzI/AAAAAAAATsU/zpTbIAQjiNkFAkfygOVnEMo1vPcYH2c9gCLcB/s1600/2016-10-25%2B19.24.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_H2SHJJICrI/WGqtPdlShzI/AAAAAAAATsU/zpTbIAQjiNkFAkfygOVnEMo1vPcYH2c9gCLcB/s320/2016-10-25%2B19.24.50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
We loved well!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12E8jYpf-B4/WGqtdd5e7YI/AAAAAAAATsc/ImKX2Iwo-ocARdja7IrtEgLAvAaBi_BZwCLcB/s1600/2016-12-23%2B14.23.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12E8jYpf-B4/WGqtdd5e7YI/AAAAAAAATsc/ImKX2Iwo-ocARdja7IrtEgLAvAaBi_BZwCLcB/s320/2016-12-23%2B14.23.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh- look at my Christmas present! Rocking chairs for our front porch so I can enjoy our beautiful 3 acres. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXfvxGlxQPo/WGqtt6J7phI/AAAAAAAATsg/7_HZ-WBzsggAAvLKXttHZViOwdoE0BlIgCLcB/s1600/2016-12-02%2B20.12.18-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXfvxGlxQPo/WGqtt6J7phI/AAAAAAAATsg/7_HZ-WBzsggAAvLKXttHZViOwdoE0BlIgCLcB/s320/2016-12-02%2B20.12.18-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Date nights with this special man who after almost 20 years has put up with me. It must be love! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahb_0MB8SAc/WGqt-g0SHqI/AAAAAAAATsk/sBdcIFJXnnYXsxGB2QUcegfZz-Y4urKTwCLcB/s1600/2016-12-09%2B13.03.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahb_0MB8SAc/WGqt-g0SHqI/AAAAAAAATsk/sBdcIFJXnnYXsxGB2QUcegfZz-Y4urKTwCLcB/s320/2016-12-09%2B13.03.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Fun times out! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VN3FUvkddxw/WGquHEDsi-I/AAAAAAAATso/6CeQZopKz9U-uCxlSvauwnDVZnfXoWUpgCLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.25.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VN3FUvkddxw/WGquHEDsi-I/AAAAAAAATso/6CeQZopKz9U-uCxlSvauwnDVZnfXoWUpgCLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.25.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh and this magical fun from Christmas time. Jason and I snuck out one evening and made multiple trips to the store for........<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-txXA_rbvN5E/WGquKbtBmUI/AAAAAAAATss/lV-4dyYJ7Rsu4YYGE_X-ayDp85bYWKwwwCLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.26.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-txXA_rbvN5E/WGquKbtBmUI/AAAAAAAATss/lV-4dyYJ7Rsu4YYGE_X-ayDp85bYWKwwwCLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.26.08.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
BIKES! Ummm.....let's just say getting that many bikes into the Suburban took a few trips. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAB0rloidNg/WGquNx0ftVI/AAAAAAAATsw/RA-KhNae8hIWzem9TCA_X0ZEWszI9EehACLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.26.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAB0rloidNg/WGquNx0ftVI/AAAAAAAATsw/RA-KhNae8hIWzem9TCA_X0ZEWszI9EehACLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.26.55.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
It was worth it as our kiddos have spent time every day on their bikes since then! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ufTj2dLG60/WGquP_K78yI/AAAAAAAATs0/SHmmnGWBXvY2hirxnVNbXdhCAcyAaCL0ACLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.27.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ufTj2dLG60/WGquP_K78yI/AAAAAAAATs0/SHmmnGWBXvY2hirxnVNbXdhCAcyAaCL0ACLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.27.00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SIoLdCCQjPc/WGquRQR_FZI/AAAAAAAATs4/930nf-aRAJ8aLTbg63w7XC3tpCLAyKTHQCLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.27.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SIoLdCCQjPc/WGquRQR_FZI/AAAAAAAATs4/930nf-aRAJ8aLTbg63w7XC3tpCLAyKTHQCLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.27.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
OK say it with me- Joshua has gotten extremely tall! (He is about 6'2")<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nEXHS6kWo8/WGquVo2dJrI/AAAAAAAATs8/q-I0llx5B40JRJmS8h1rHaunTMngd7FzACLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.27.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nEXHS6kWo8/WGquVo2dJrI/AAAAAAAATs8/q-I0llx5B40JRJmS8h1rHaunTMngd7FzACLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.27.36.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1-c1QWPXQI/WGquZnubUoI/AAAAAAAATtA/bvekxmFF110WjulXJSlH_iA_vMMsgIfcgCLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.27.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1-c1QWPXQI/WGquZnubUoI/AAAAAAAATtA/bvekxmFF110WjulXJSlH_iA_vMMsgIfcgCLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.27.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F3eCfrbGGVw/WGqukWQfgYI/AAAAAAAATtI/q5yc2l611CMZnsziN8ueOjagRIMUfStnACLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.47.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F3eCfrbGGVw/WGqukWQfgYI/AAAAAAAATtI/q5yc2l611CMZnsziN8ueOjagRIMUfStnACLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.47.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Michael got a bike too it just doesn't have pedals. It is to help him learn how to walk (balance bike). I just ordered a bike trailer for him as well so we can all go out on family bike rides as well. Daddy put it together this afternoon. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DxLfnhX4CT4/WGquolFPM9I/AAAAAAAATtM/PHWpd3m1oQEIO22vMtxc0ct9OyTADVusgCLcB/s1600/2016-12-13%2B07.08.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DxLfnhX4CT4/WGquolFPM9I/AAAAAAAATtM/PHWpd3m1oQEIO22vMtxc0ct9OyTADVusgCLcB/s320/2016-12-13%2B07.08.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqK1sxQj8Xw/WGquuwcMBVI/AAAAAAAATtU/wNDKSHDsnggxbAGPUGDAkEcxoApJk8WhgCLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.57.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqK1sxQj8Xw/WGquuwcMBVI/AAAAAAAATtU/wNDKSHDsnggxbAGPUGDAkEcxoApJk8WhgCLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.57.50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Joanna and Jonathan learned how to ride a bike for the first time and it didn't take long for either one. Now they are zipping all around our yard and neighborhood. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHoXhAFE-Zc/WGqu4wnIAKI/AAAAAAAATtY/RO-xSz4xwKAYUhUMM0yzlafcwyg-g0Q1QCLcB/s1600/2016-12-12%2B16.34.19%2BHDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHoXhAFE-Zc/WGqu4wnIAKI/AAAAAAAATtY/RO-xSz4xwKAYUhUMM0yzlafcwyg-g0Q1QCLcB/s320/2016-12-12%2B16.34.19%2BHDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7sWbDI1pjRs/WGqu9R37Y0I/AAAAAAAATtc/lrXSkPhyu_0USdQrMTPmVd3_mTVza_NJQCLcB/s1600/2016-12-13%2B14.46.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7sWbDI1pjRs/WGqu9R37Y0I/AAAAAAAATtc/lrXSkPhyu_0USdQrMTPmVd3_mTVza_NJQCLcB/s320/2016-12-13%2B14.46.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
We have had many trips to Universal this year and have enjoyed all the rides there. Joanna was so excited to be tall enough to ride The Mummy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lzzjCqWaLRc/WGqvCo--ibI/AAAAAAAATtg/akHf3i9td6UHXLSQWkPYYySweJ0lMWX4ACLcB/s1600/2016-12-13%2B13.08.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lzzjCqWaLRc/WGqvCo--ibI/AAAAAAAATtg/akHf3i9td6UHXLSQWkPYYySweJ0lMWX4ACLcB/s320/2016-12-13%2B13.08.30.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So after not blogging for a long time, I am back and starting again. So if you want to follow along on our crazy Wright Family Adventures feel free to come check us out. I will still be blogging about adoption, our adoptive family's adoption stories, about our family, and about our faith. Praying your 2016 was great and that your 2017 will be even greater!"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629064919797206787.post-40651976090725674132016-10-11T21:10:00.004-04:002016-10-11T21:11:31.571-04:00An Adoption Dream Come True: Heather & Matt's Story<div class="flex_display flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$2" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_def_6" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; align-items: flex-start; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="s45" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$2.$0" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_title" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal;">
<div class="s45_richTextContainer s45richTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$2.$0.0" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_titlerichTextContainer" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 90px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_5" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #4c7a9c; font-family: cookie, cursive; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An Adoption Dream Come True: Heather & Matt's story.</i></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="flex_display flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$4" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_dateAndAuthorAligner" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; align-items: flex-start; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="flex_display" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$4.$0" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_dateAndAuthor" style="-webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s45" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$4.$0.$0" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_date" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal;">
<div class="s45_richTextContainer s45richTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$4.$0.$0.0" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_daterichTextContainer" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 93.1094px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="font_9" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
October 11, 2016</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=" flex_vbox" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$7" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0__type_MediaPost" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: block; flex-direction: column; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0.01em 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; width: 630px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="s45" data-proxy-name="MediaLabel" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$7.$0" data-width="630" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaText" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal;">
<div class="s45_richTextContainer s45richTextContainer" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$c2c.1.$i1wk4dee_2.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$7.$0.0" id="i1wk4dee_2_SinglePostMediaTop_MediaPost__0_0_mediaTextrichTextContainer" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 2119px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div id="innerContainer_txtMedia1k34" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s72" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="419.895" data-react-checksum="-627418161" data-reactid=".3" id="innercomp_txtMedia1k34" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; height: 420px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;" title="">
<div class="s72link" data-reactid=".3.0" id="innercomp_txtMedia1k34link" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: 420px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;">
<div class="s72img" data-reactid=".3.0.0" id="innercomp_txtMedia1k34img" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 420px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;">
<img alt="" data-reactid=".3.0.0.$image" id="innercomp_txtMedia1k34imgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_55a7b31537804b72a17666ec06408719~mv2_d_2000_1333_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_630,h_420,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/531856_55a7b31537804b72a17666ec06408719~mv2_d_2000_1333_s_2.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 420px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We have been blessed working as adoption consultants over the past four years, witnessing more than 60 children coming into their forever families through the amazing miracle we call "Adoption". We'd like to share the story of one family who recently brought home their baby girl. Matt and Heather had signed on with local agencies before hearing about<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-content="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com" data-type="external" href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants</a></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and had waited 10 months with only being presented to expectant moms twice.They heard about CAC through several social media posts.They signed on with us and in 6 weeks were matched with their baby, and 6 weeks later was born and in their arms! This is a great example of CAC's "multi agency approach", where our families have a broader range of options for a potential match.</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You will love this story as Heather shares in her own words their adoption journey. Heather's story telling is fun, and sprinkled with humorous and real moments that you will totally get if you are on the adoption road:</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />
"Once upon a time, a dream was born in my "mama heart". I wanted my daughter "C" to have a sister. After successfully adopting a boy, girl and another little boy, my heart was set. I was even so obsessed that I made "Girl Only" profile books and full out said in our letter that "C" wanted a sister to play dress up and wear makeup with. And having adopted three kids already, I was hearing a lot of negative vibes from agencies that it was going to take a long time for a fourth. Ugh. We were 37 and had already been on this journey for nine years. It had almost sucked the entire life out of me but we were determined to move forward!</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We had waited 10 months with two local agencies and our profile book had been shown twice. TWICE. This is not good. Enter social media. All these posts about Christian Adoption Consultants kept popping up on my Instagram and we knew friends that had used them…whatever, I thought, I’ll just call them and see how much it is. Well after about 15 minutes on the phone with Dawn, I was in. Check written, done. We were IN. We signed on with about six of CAC's recommended agencies and I worked like a crazy woman to get all the I’s dotted and T’s crossed. Because mama doesn’t play around! </div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Okay, I was positive that no one, repeat NO ONE, was going to want us. I mean, who wants to choose a family with three other kids? Dawn kept telling me that she works with larger families all the time and I made her tell me the stats. I wanted all the information. Spill your beans woman. How many kids? How many placements? How many this year? I am sure she thought I was totally clinical. </div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We had presented to three or four situations within four weeks (which by the way should encourage anyone who is out there waiting thinking they will get shown once a year…heck. no.) and kept hearing "No". Ugh. This is when you are clearly going to lose your mind. I mean, adoption is so HARD. The wait. The black hole of nothingness. The staring at the phone convinced it isn’t working. It just isn’t working, call Apple immediately and set up appointment to get it fixed! Well low and behold, we decided to present to one totally crazy situation in Florida (crazy because we live in Ohio, it had a hundred moving parts, I had to whip up a gender neutral book, it involved foster care and another child, and several potential birth fathers, and oh my gosh this is messy no way would it ever work out…) and BAM, It happened!</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We got the call that we had been selected (of course it was a gender unknown and why in the world did we present because, duh, we wanted a girl so what is going on here?…) and I almost died. No, I did die. I fell over and started yelling my face off into the phone. That poor woman. Probably just put the phone down and let me hoot and holler. That was a Thursday, just six weeks after I had written our check and spoken to Dawn!</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Fast forward to Monday. The expectant mom wants to talk to us. Oh my word I am dying. She knew the gender at this point and wanted to tell us herself. Just get out the boy clothes because of course it’s a boy and it will be fine and I love boys and I already have a girl so it’s totally cool. I swear to goodness, Monday was my birthday and I received the greatest gift EVER. She was having a little girl. And she was due in 6 weeks. I think I screamed for my daughter to get down here immediately because she was going to have a sister. No idea. I may have said nothing, I am not sure. I think I blacked out. </div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We flew down to meet our precious birth mom two weeks later and made plans for baby girl’s arrival. Then came July. I will never forget the call I got when our expectant mom was in labor. I booked a plane trip leaving in four hours and Matt packed the van and our three children and got on the interstate within two hours. I made it about an hour after "A" was born and walked into the hospital room in a total daze. It was 1:00am and I was wide eyed, nervous, sweaty, and in shock. Our birth mom told her mom to "Hand Heather her baby” and I just sobbed. SOBBED. I sobbed because I was in awe. I sobbed because our birth mom was so amazing. I sobbed because she was here. I sobbed because the nine year journey to build our family was over. We made it. Thank you Jesus!</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div id="innerContainer_txtMediaz1y" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="s72" data-content-padding-horizontal="0" data-content-padding-vertical="0" data-exact-height="453.71342835708924" data-react-checksum="1044799836" data-reactid=".4" id="innercomp_txtMediaz1y" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; height: 454px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: 303px;" title="">
<div class="s72link" data-reactid=".4.0" id="innercomp_txtMediaz1ylink" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: 454px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 303px;">
<div class="s72img" data-reactid=".4.0.0" id="innercomp_txtMediaz1yimg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 454px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 303px;">
<img alt="" data-reactid=".4.0.0.$image" id="innercomp_txtMediaz1yimgimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/531856_7f9eb78047a04820ab1d596ffb3d1d3a~mv2_d_1333_2000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_303,h_454,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/531856_7f9eb78047a04820ab1d596ffb3d1d3a~mv2_d_1333_2000_s_2.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: 454px; margin: 0px; object-fit: contain; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 303px;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Without Dawn at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-content="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com" data-type="external" href="http://christianadoptionconsultants.com/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Christian Adoption Consultants</a></span>, without our agency in Florida, without all the prayers and all the hope and all the waiting…it never would have happened. But it did. And "A" is here. She is ours…and my Sweet "C" finally has her baby sister!"</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />
Heather's story raises some valid questions: Are you a "Big Family"? Have you been waiting with an agency for too long without being presented? Do you wonder if adoption will ever happen? We would love to talk with you today about Christian Adoption Consultants' services and the many stories, like Matt & Heather's where children have come home in a matter of months, not years. And services where we are on YOUR team, helping, guiding and supporting you through your entire adoption journey.</div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #696554; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please call or email anytime:<br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #cb2026; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dawn: (813) 360-7368</span></span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-content="wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com" data-type="mail" href="mailto:wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com?subject=Request%20for%20information" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self">wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com</a></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
"Are These Kids All Yours?"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17946903135252874458noreply@blogger.com3