Timing....

For the past few months, we have been applying for Adoption grants.  It is amazing to me how many people, groups and Churches focus so much on adoption and orphan care.  There are a lot of organizations that offer grants and no interest adoption loans.  Here the ones we have applied for...

-Southern Baptist Convention Adoption grant for Pastors
- Lifesong Orphan-care Matching grant
- Family Outreach Ministry grant
- OneLess Ministry grant
- Show Hope ministry grant
- JSC Foundation grant

It's almost been a month since the applications were all sent in.  I've been trying to stay focused on other things and pray for God's complete provision.  Most of the wait time on grants is 10 weeks. One of the things keeping my mind off hearing from the grants is working on our next step.

The Adoption photo album for the Birthmother.  I thought making a photo album of our family would be fun, relaxing and simple.  It has been fun. It has been somewhat relaxing. But by no means has it been simple.  To view a project like this through the eyes of a young women picking a family to parent  her unborn baby is complicated.  The Liberty Godparent Home and our agency, Family Life Services do an incredible job loving these girls, counseling them and showing grace in every step of the way. We are so grateful for their ministry!

We started with introducing Jay and I only.  When you are a parents of a 3.5 yr old, it is hard to define yourself apart from your child. It is stark reminder that the Lord really does call us to focus on our mate and children come second.  Then the task of finding pictures of all the things that make your family who you are.  I take pictures everyday. Literally. But when I sat down to make this album, it seemed like I needed to start all over taking picture of certain things. But it has all come together nicely.

As we continue to focus on God's provision for our Adoption, I'm reminded that His callings are not always immediate.  They take time. They take refinement.  Obedience.  Long suffering. And trust.  Even when we receive notice of an available child, we have to wait for the Lord's hand.  Be refined. Be obedient. Be patient and trust! Even when its hard!

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We set a date for our next fundraising Yard sale but we never felt a peace about it.  Today we found out why.  After a back and forth discussion about the date, I joyfully submitted to Jay's leadership and decision to change the date.  I knew he was right.

Without even thinking about this decision, I decided to do some follow up calls on our grant applications today just to see a timeline on the decision making.  I found out that the matching grant we are applying for requires approval for the grant and THEN acceptance of money that can be matched. This means that if we had the yard sale before the approval, the funds would not have been matched!   The approval (or denial) will come in mid April.  So praise God that we were listening to the Lord's timing on everything!

So tentative date is now April 13th and we will continue to accept donated items for the Yard sale.  Our other fundraisers will be a CAbi party on May 11th in Roanoke and our continuation of the Amazon link.  If you'd like to make a donation, we ask that you wait til we find out about the matching fund...that way, your donation can be doubled and you will recieve a tax deduction statement!

Thank you again for ALL you support.  Each one of you are a part of our Adoption story!

Depending on...

Today I must admit, I've been thinking about our Baby a lot. Will it be a boy or a girl?  What will he/she look like?  How old will he/she be when we first see him/her?  How will John Daniel react?  Will I feel like I 'missed" something since there were no pregnancy or labor?

So many thoughts....yet....we wait.  This week Beth Moore tweeted this picture/verse....

This is what I cling to when my thoughts are heavy and the hole where this child belongs feels large.  "Settle down in complete dependence on me"...wow, what does that even look like?  The vast concept of COMPLETE DEPENDENCE can only remind me of a infant's complete dependence on his parents.  Oh the full circle of thought....

The other part that stings is 'stop your silly efforts...'  Although this verse is talking about our salvation and how we can only receive it from Him, I can't help but think about how much He might be looking down and be thinking that the same of me with my eagerness to be a family of 5 (Zeke included).  Some days I KNOW He leads me to work for our adoption process and others He stops me in my tracks and says....your silly efforts....!

As I reflect on the heart of this post, I mainly see and hope for our COMPLETE DEPENDENCE on HIM for ALL THINGS....salvation, joy, peace and a family of 5!

It's beginning to feel a lot like....

Merry Christmas from the Doves!

December has a busy month for us...
 - A trip to TX to see my family.  We celebrated an early Christmas with my parents, grandmother, and aunts.  It was also a huge blessing to see so many friends this time.

- Our 3rd and final meeting for our Home Study!  We have graduated!!!
- Tomorrow we have IV's first Christmas program at Preschool.  We are so excited that he gets to be the dove!

During our time off, we hope to start collecting information for Adoption Grants. We are praying to raise about $4000 so that they rest of what we need will be covered by Grants.  If you are looking for a place to give during this Christmas/End of the year season and would like to be part of our Adoption story, please consider giving to our Adoption fund!

Another project on our TO DO list is working on our Family Photo album.  It contains a letter to the Birthmother, notes about Jay and I and pictures of our family.  The idea is to portray our family's personality through pictures!  Here are some doozies I found at my parent's house....(these probably wont make the cut...)

As soon as we are fully funded, we may put our Family Photo album into the "waiting pool".  Basically that means when a Birthmother is ready to choose a family for her child, our book will be available to look through.  And then we wait... and PRAY!

We pray that next Christmas we will be a family of 5 (including Zeke!) and be able to hang one more stocking by the fire!

Picture taken at my Parents house.

And one last thought....while we were in Houston, we visited Bayou City Fellowship Church. The Pastor, Curtis Jones, spoke about Mary and Joseph being "terrified" at what the Lord had planned for them.  Mary was pregnant and riding in a donkey.  Ladies....can you imagine?  And then there is no place for her to deliver...what she is being told will be the most important person in the World.  Don't you think we would be like...'hello, I'm about to deliver the Savior!  I need the best doctors, the best bed, the best food, etc"  Kinda like what the Princess of Wales is expecting!  

Well....What amazes me about the whole thing, is that even in her fear, she said “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38.  Could you imagine if she had said, 'No way, No how! I'm outta here! I'm too scared!"  The story would be completely different.

I can't say that I'm 'terrified' or 'scared' about the journey of Adoption, but I know the Lord wants us to be open to His journey for us.  May our attitude of His calling to Adopt be that of Mary's ..I am your servant!  May your Word be fulfilled in me! 

Jumping for JOY!

We are thankful for all of you who are a part of this Adoption process. Every prayer and penny brings us one step closer to meeting our child.  Thank you and please know that we are praying for you and appreciate everything!

1. Pray.  More than anything else, we ask for your prayers.

• For God's timing.
• For wisdom in the Home study process.
• For the birthmother.
• For our fundraising efforts.
• For God to prepare us for this Child.

2. You can support our Adoption a few ways.  We are still in need of $8,000.

Ways to help right now....November/December 2012

- Donate using debit/credit cards with PayPal by clicking here.
- Send checks made out to "Dove Adoption Fund" to 546 Dillard Rd, Roanoke, VA 24014
- SHOP on "our" Amazon.com and we receive 5% of your sale.  Click this link  and save as a bookmark!
- All income from my Tastefully Simple business will go towards our Adoption Fund.
www.tastefullysimple.com/web/jdove1


3. Spread the word.  Share our story and our blog. www.nestofdoves.blogspot.com

From the mouth of babes....

As I was brainstorming on our Christmas card this year, I was given the idea to 'interview' John Daniel about our Adoption.  We have spoken to him about it in generics...nothing specific or in detail since we don't know when our family will grow.

When John Daniel speaks about "the baby", he is so sweet.  Lately when a friend has had/gotten a baby, I have made sure to introduce John Daniel to him/her.  I want to at least be familiar with babies, how small they are, etc.  I've also been working on his "Birth" photo album (FINALLY!) and this week I showed him pictures and videos we took his first days. He loves them!

This is on the way home from the hospital and my favorite 2 wk old picture. Still so precious!

So, I took the advise of a friend and asked John Daniel some questions.

- We've talked about having a new baby come to our house.  Where will the baby come from?
"The Baby store"
- We've been asking God to provide all that we need to be able to get our baby.  How much do you think we need God to provide?
"A lot!  Probably like $20!" 
- Oh precious boy, its much more than that!  What kind of things will be need to get for the baby?
"Diapers, little socks for her little feet, ummm, some toys, a pillow and some shirts."
- That's right, we will need all those things.  What would you like her name to be if its a girl?
"Laura"
-What if God gives us a boy?
"He won't, it will be a girl named Laura."

Later that day, we were talking about something else after Church and he said, "Mommy, if God gives us a boy, his name will be Justin."
-Oh i like that name.  What if she is a girl?
"Her name can be Justin too."
-What will the baby like to eat?
"I don't know but he won't like peanut butter!!!"

So, I guess, like any 3 yr old, ideas can change quickly.  But the conversation was just so sweet and thoughtful.  His heart has been so soft towards all the babies we've met lately.  I'm anxious for the day that we will call one our own!

Ps...I've updated our "wanna help?" page with ways to donate and shop Amazon.com (we get a % back from Amazon from your order).  Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

NEW Amazon link

Please use this Link to purchase on Amazon.  Sorry about all the confusion! This is the right link. You shop and Amazon donates a % of your sale to our Adoption fund!  Shop away....

http://www.amazon.com/?tag=doveadop-20

They're coming....

Well 4 days and counting until our wonderful Case worker visits our home.  It seems like Home studies can range from state to state.  Ours is a 3 meeting home study.  2 meetings are all interview questions about facts about us, our faith, growing up, parenting, income, education plans and so much more.  And then 1 meeting is in our Home.  This is where they check and see if our home fits all the state requirements.

One state requirement is to have ALL your medications locked up.  Sound easy?  Well here is our medication box...

As I started, I clearly didn't have a good idea of how much medication we have in our house.  Why are vitamin bottles SO big?  Oh and I did I mention this is my 2nd box...the first one mounted to the wall...a true medication lock box...not the decor I'm going for.  So, then I was off to find a 3rd box that would hold all of our medications!

And sure enough, as soon I snapped that lock, John Daniel got sick for the first time this season! Before this box, he didn't know where the meds were (secure on a very tall shelf) and now this HUGE box has brought his attention to whole new world of things.

Then off to the next project.  Locking up all cleaning supplies.  This was a little easier...just a simple 'baby proof' lock on the kitchen cabinet.  After we count all the smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and make an emergency escape plan from our house, we will be focusing on cleaning and all the 'heavy' paperwork.

Here we go....ready or not, 'they're' coming!