Sunday, March 21, 2010

Spring Time

Hey there,

well it's been a couple weeks since I have written and it is now the first part of Spring. Can you believe it? Where does the time go? Oh, and Chris and I drove home in a snowy, wintry mix last night. Texas weather is hard to beat!!!

I love this time of year (other than the allergy attacks), watching flowers bloom, leaves grow on trees, and everything snapping back to life. It feels like a new beginning, in more ways than one. I have been consumed with adoption lately, hence the reason for my delay in updates. While researching adoption, I learned that dealing with infertility is something to thank God for. I am not saying I like it, or that my emotions are not all over the place at times, but I don't feel like I have been honoring God through this process in the way that would glorify Him.

I have asked the questions, "Why us?" and "Why can't we?", which is not wrong, but the questions can't stop there.  I have learned to ask the question, "God, how can you use this struggle in our lives for your purpose?" Asking this has helped changed my focus and allows me to recognize there is a reason in battling infertility. While we may never know the answer, I know it's going to be okay.

So, as we start Spring, and begin to see life blooming around us, it's going to be okay.

Here are a couple new card designs. Enjoy!
Much love,













Friday, March 5, 2010

Some Questions

Hey everyone,

Happy Friday to you! Over the past two weeks, Chris and I have begun to discuss the possibility of domestic adoption. At this point, we are continuing to keep an open mind on domestic and international, but there is something exciting about the possibility of bringing home an infant.

I have to admit that I feel at a loss concerning domestic adoption. The decision of choosing an agency to work with (I know I have mentioned this several times, but it is such a major decision) to open adoption, semi-open, or closed adoption.

Open adoption - the birth mother, birth father, and adoptive parents meet several times and continue to exchange information and remain in contact with each other

Semi-open - refers to an adoption where the birthparents and adoptive parents will meet once or twice, know each other on a first name basis, and might exchange pictures and information as the child grows

Closed - the birth mother and birth father are kept anonymous, along with the adoptive parents being kept anonymous

For those of you who have experienced domestic adoption, I would love to know about the agency you decided to work with and whether you chose open, semi-open, or closed adoption. I learn something new each day and appreciate further the depths of how we have been adopted into the family of God.

As Ephesians 1:3-6 says-
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves (Ephesians 1:3-6).

With glorious praise and joy,