Isn’t it about Time for Another Series? Why, YES!
This is the introduction for a series on Adoption entitled Everything I Want You to Know About Adoption. To see the links to each individual post in this series, click the word “adoption” on the naviagation bar at the top of the blog. Or you can click here.
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If you are reading this sentence, consider yourself prayed-for. To find out why, You must read through to the end. And no, that’s not a ploy to get you to read the whole post.
Okay. I just lied. Yes it is. It is a ploy. But it’s a SINCERE ploy. (???) In all sincerity, if I ever wanted you to read a post to the end, it’s this one.
I’m begging.
I’m begging.
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Adoption.
I love adoption and everything about it. Don’t believe me? I have two adopted children to show for it.
Elijah just turned 10.
And Elliana, she is 4.
I get emotional every time I talk about adoption. It doesn’t even have to be about my adopted children. I get emotional about your adopted children. I get emotional every time I hear about any child who needs a home. Shoot, I’m emotional right now, just telling you that I’m emotional.
I started blogging at God Speaks Today just two months after I adopted Elliana. I was all sleep-deprived and she…well, she was a 23-pound baby, attached to me day and night by way of the handy-dandy Ergo baby carrier. I would insert a picture of us here, but it turns out I was too sleep-deprived to take one. So here is a picture of a pretty lady-model carrying a little baby-model in the Ergo Carrier. Clearly, SHE is not sleep deprived.
And here is Elliana right after we brought her home. Now just picture her in the carrier.
See how easy this is?
In those early months of this blog, God was speaking to me in such unusual and surprising ways, I needed an outlet to share everything I was learning about hearing God’s voice. And so, a blog was born.
And though I have mentioned my adopted children many times in the last three and a half years of writing here, I have never actually written something of substance on the subject of adoption. I’ve been planning to. Ever since day-one, it’s been on my writing agenda. I just knew that when I did finally present you the official adoption series, I wanted to serve it up right. I was waiting for a good time when I knew I could give it my full attention and include everything I thought you should know about adoption.
The time is now.
Over the next several weeks, I am going to give you the God Speaks Today One-Stop Shop for All-Things Adoption. That’s not the real title (I don’t have one yet), but it does describe what I hope to create.
Not sure if you want to stick around for this series? Please don’t leave yet.
As you can see, I ain’t too proud to beg. (Sweet darling)
This series is for you if
~You do not feel called to adopt, but feel a tug in your heart to help those who do
~You have considered adoption but the thought of starting the process seems overwhelming
~You have considered adoption, but you aren’t sure if it is right for you
~You are curious about how a person decides to adopt or how it changes the family dynamics
~You are interested in learning how God speaks through adoption (hint: it’s probably not the ways you think!)
~You already have adopted children and hope to find or to give encouragement
~You will help me pray for children and parents to find each other
~You have questions about adoption—any questions at all
Still not sure you want to stick around?
Here is a sneak peek into the up-coming posts of this series:
1. How we knew God called us to adopt (It was different for each child) (See Part One and Part Two)
2. In the sea of millions of orphans world-wide, how we knew which children were ours (See Part Two)
3. God’s bizarre and uncomfortable way of providing financially for Elijah’s adoption (See Part Nine)
4. Things that surprised me (and continue to surprise me) most about the adoption experience
And a whole bunch of FAQ’s!
I’m thinking about adopting. Where do I start?
(See Part Four)
(See Part Four)
Adoption is so expensive. How could I possibly afford it?
(See Part Nine)
(See Part Nine)
Why did you adopt a baby from a foreign country when so many American children need homes?
(Yes, I get that question)
(Yes, I get that question)
Can you really love an adopted child as much as “your own” child?
(That was actually MY question)
(See Part Five)
(That was actually MY question)
(See Part Five)
Do you know/keep in touch with your children’s birth parents?
Do your children know they are adopted? How do/did you tell them?
(See Part Six)
(See Part Six)
Isn’t adoption too risky, too scary? What about all those birth moms who change their minds?
As you can see, this isn’t your typical hum-drum, warm and fuzzy adoption series. I’ll be keeping it real (Randy Jackson), as always. And I know, you’d expect nothing less from me.
I know I just lost half of you with my senseless American Idol reference. But I couldn’t say “keeping it real” without mentioning Randy. And I‘m always looking for an opportunity to season my posts with a dash of American Idol.
Now, in the spirit of keeping it real (Randy Jackson), I’m letting you in on a little secret:
I am asking God for gigantic things to happen as a result of this series. When I first started the rough draft for this post, the following sentence appeared in the conclusion:
“My biggest hope is that at least one more child finds a family as a result of this series.”
Even as I wrote it, my heart ached. That statement was a lie. I didn’t want only one child to find a family. That wasn’t my “biggest hope.” Not by a long shot. I wanted more than that. Not one child. More like one HUNDRED children.
And before I had a chance to fully process my heart ache, I sensed God whisper,
“Ask Me for a hundred, then.”
So, that’s what I’m doing. I’m asking God to use this series to inspire families everywhere to adopt. Or if they can’t adopt, I’m asking God for people who will help someone ELSE adopt. And I’m asking for one hundred children to have a home who do not have one today, as a direct result of me writing and YOU reading this series.
That’s a little scary.
Why?
Why?
For one, making my gigantic request public puts pressure on me God to do it. What if He doesn’t come through? How will I explain that? I don’t know. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
And for two, what if me and my I-love-adoption-and-get-all-emotional-about-it– self start feeling the tug to make room for one or two of these hundred kids I’m praying for?
I. Don’t. Know.
I’m nervous.
You should be, too. I’m praying that God tugs YOUR heart. That YOU are one of those families. So, as I mentioned in the very first sentence of this post, consider yourself prayed-for.
Just keeping it real, my nervous and prayed-for friend. Just keeping it real.
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Q4U: What have you always wanted to know about adoption but didn’t know who to ask? Seriously, ask me anything. Ask anonymously, if you want to. I will try to answer every single question before the series is over.
Also, if you know anyone who might be interested in this series, will you kindly help me spread the word by way of Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, your personal blog, phone calls to perfect strangers, an ad in your local news paper, bill board, megaphone or paper airplane?
Thank you!
Thank you!
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Did you read all the way to the end?
Yay!
Did you read all the way to the end?
Yay!
My question is, was the rest of your family supportive of you adopting? I know my family would take a long time to warm to such an idea (if the ever would)
Shelley,
That is an EXCELLENT question. And one I am eager to answer. I will most certainly cover that when I get to the FAQ's.
Thanks!
Sandy
Wow. What a coincidence this is your new topic. I have a email to you in my drafts folder that has been sitting there for weeks in regards to my many questions of adoption.
I have so many questions on this, but my main question is, how/when did you start telling your adopted children that they were adopted? My daughter is almost 2 and I want to be very open with her about her being adopted, but I really have no idea where to start.
More questions to come, I promise 🙂
Sandy,
Just a little info about me that you may not know…I work for an adoption agency. We are a church based, non-profit agency and have been around since the 1960's.
My sister's three children all came in to our family via adoption. The two older ones have always known that they are adopted and my niece has decided that all her children will be adopted! The third child has severe needs due to his birth mother using meth. He has no idea.
Lori
Angie: I am definitely covering your question. It's an important one. 🙂 And I love your sweet girl…as you know.
Lori: As I said in your e-mail…now I love you even more! I have a feeling you will be playing a part in these "100 children" I talked about in the post.
#1 – Would you please stop picking on me with all your posts?! I'm getting a little weary of being made so darn uncomfortable.
#2 – I didn't realize Elijah was adopted, too. I only knew about Elliana.
#3 – Adoption/fostering is a heart-tug issue for me, for sure. But it seems that my man and I are never quite on the same page. So I'm waiting on God to work that out.
#4 – Yes, indeed! I am ready for another series! 🙂
Sandy, your post reminded me of something I wanted to tell you. There is a new book out about adoption called "Love You More." It's by a neighbor/acquaintance/friend from here, Jennifer Grant Funck, who adopted a daughter from Guatamala (I think). Anyway, I haven't read it yet, but others have told me it's great. Thought you might be interested.
What a cool thing to just ask God for what you want. One Hundred babies . . . awesome.
Fondly,
Glenda
My husband and I do not have any children. We talk about adopting all the time and we would love to do it. We would do it tomorrow…if it wasn't for the financial expense. I can't wait to hear about the entire process, from beginning to end; how long it takes, the legalities, etc.
I cannot wait to hear your story and get as much information as I can. Thank you for doing this series!
Dear Anonymous: You are the very reason I am writing this series. You have no idea how excited (and yes, emotional) this makes me.
I can't wait to read your posts, Sandy. We've been dealing with the country of Armenia for 3 years now, and seems like we are getting nowhere. Trying not to get discouraged, so we are also considering domestic, & adopting an older child in foster care. I know God will direct your words, and I am looking forward to hearing from you, and from God!