Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Gift




It has been a few months since we updated our progress.  We have had some exciting things happening and have a renewed energy in this process.  In August, we received a gift … a gift of updated pictures of the sweet little one in Ghana for whom we have been praying  … for over a year now.  Our friend from Rochester traveled to Ghana and was able to MEET her.  What a gift … an in-person meeting and new pictures of her.  So thankful for that gift.  Sometimes you can convince yourself that someone has played a cruel trick on you and that the child you have a picture of and are praying for doesn’t exist.  Of course that could happen, and has I am sure to many people, but having someone put eyes on her was a gift that we are thankful for.

 We moved on September 30th and since that time have been working on getting things updated.  Our agency was finally able to get out to our home in November for a new home study assessment and we had our updated home study in hand the end of the first week in December.  Let me tell you, when you are a person who is responsible for writing home studies it is really hard to be patient waiting for that document to arrive.  Another item of patience in the process.  Our home study update has made it to Ghana, we have updated and renewed our application with the US government and as of yesterday, had the additional money needed wired to Ghana for the next step in this process.   It is encouraging to see (through a Facebook group we are a part of) many people from the US finally getting to the point of bringing kiddos home and making it through the process.  Less orphans, more kids with a forever family.    

So, we are praying again for a court date.  We knew, over the past several months, that nothing was going to happen because we had to get things updated and have money sent for the new program director.  Now that those things have been accomplished there is the possibility, once again, that progress can be made.  We have had many conversations over the past few months with our kids, who have become increasingly skeptical that we will even make it to the other side of this process.  We have had hard conversations that are more “grown-up” in nature as the boys’ ages bring hard questions that show their fears present in this process.  Fears of parents having to travel and trusting that through all of this, God has a plan that we are following.  We are privileged to serve a mighty God, this process gives you many opportunities to learn and experience His mightiness in new ways.  Please pray with us that this sweet little girl can have the process completed to determine her orphan status.  Please pray that if she is able to have a family to live in that the court process would be completed.  Please pray that she will not have to have to go through another full year without a family to care for her. 

We hope that you all have a blessed Christmas!  We are likely not going to get Christmas cards out this year.  I so enjoy getting cards in the mail; one of my favorite things each year.  If you send us a Christmas card it will still forward from our old address … or if you want our new address please get in touch with me and I will gladly share it with you!  :)

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Another Life Change .....



We have had a crazy six months here.  So much has happened in many areas in the lives of the Goodreaus, but just nothing regarding progress in our adoption.  When you first enter the adoption process it is easy to quit making plans in life because you are waiting for that little one to come home and you don’t want anything else to get in the way.  Sometimes then the wait goes on and on and on, until one day you realize that we have no control of the timing and we have to continue to do the things that God is calling us to and take the opportunities that come onto our path. 


In February of this year another life change began.   My sister and I felt God clearly calling us to step out and start an adoption agency.  The agency we have worked for and been mentored under for five years had some changes coming with our director being called to the mission field of Haiti.  When we learned of that change we felt this strong calling by God to step out and start our own agency.  Just to be clear, my first words to Anita when talking through all of this were, “I can tell you what I am not going to do, I am not going to start an agency.”   Anyone else out there know that feeling of the exact thing you tell God you are never going to do become the EXACT thing that He ends up asking you do to?  I thought I had learned never to do that, but clearly I am still a major work in progress!  After many months of paperwork we received our agency license on August 15th.  We are now a fully licensed agency in Minnesota … Legacy Of Adoption … you can check us out at www.legacyofadoption.com.  I cannot explain why the timing of this happened the way it did, but I can say that had we had our little one home already I think I would have missed or passed on this calling to open an agency.  Scaling back in my current position to get ready for our daughter only to find that she still isn’t home, but in that ‘scaling back’ now had the time to pursue the involved steps of opening an adoption agency.  God always has each detail figured out.

Another adventure is about to begin for us.  In mid-July we came upon an old farm house acreage property that was super exciting to find.  Living on acreage is something that Chris and I have desired for many years, really our whole marriage.  When we moved into our current home 11 years ago we had put that dream to rest believing that it would never happen.  We have so enjoyed this home that God has provided for us and have not been looking for that long dreamed of property.  It has been a crazy month of figuring out if this is a good idea to pursue this property which would actually reduce our mortgage.  Our offer on the property was a long back and forth ordeal and we came to a point where we really didn’t think it was going to happen.  When all finally was approved through a purchase agreement with a contingency requiring our current house to sell we had our house on the market within a few days.  We went on the market on a Monday afternoon and by Wednesday we had an offer.  It was a week before inspections were completed and all items figured out through that process, contingencies were removed and we have closing dates on our sale and purchase set for September 30th.  We are completely overwhelmed and so grateful for how fast this all happened.  We don’t know why we didn’t have to go through a long grueling sale but we are so thankful. 

So, more lessons on understanding that sometimes we wait, and often there can seem to be some purpose in the wait that we hadn’t been able to see prior.  We are still, at this time, planning to continue on with our adoption process in Ghana.  That is what we have come to for the moment.  We need to be sure that God is closing that door, not us.  We understand that some more changes are coming in the region that our little one is in, so we need to wait a little bit before continuing in the process.  With a move into a new home we will also have lots of paperwork to re-do.  I am pretty used to paperwork this year, feels like it is all I have done!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The Curve Ball


Waiting is hard.  It really kind of stinks actually. We have three major life changers that we are waiting on right now and we have had to exercise extreme patience in the past couple of months.  It can feel like God is trying to ‘teach us patience’ at times and I wonder does this lesson ever get learned well?  I have heard the sayings “Don’t pray for patience” or “My mom prayed for patience and God gave her my brother” … Quite honestly I don’t really believe in having to be “taught patience” what I really believe it is comes down to is learning to believe in the Lord’s best in each situation.  The real lesson for me is knowing over and over, with each day, that God is in control of this and He has a plan that requires us for the time being … to wait. 

 
We have finished yet another year of baseball.  Really my favorite time of year.  I love being at the ball field and could sit and watch baseball or softball daily.  It has been in my blood for a really long time.  Being a pitcher in days past I got to experience the fun of throwing pitches that the batter did not know were coming.  It is quite fun to throw a curve ball, change up or off speed pitch and watch the batter try and hit it.  I have vivid memories of trying not to laugh on the mound because sometimes it truly (from the pitcher’s perspective) just looks funny.  I have actually seen batters tip over trying to hit the ball that was vastly different than what they expected to come.  It has gotten me thinking that sometimes I think that God is just one of those ultimate pitchers.  He throws curve balls and has the vantage point of watching us not knowing it is coming.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that he throws traumatic things at us to get a laugh, but in my pitcher’s mind I just think sometimes He has fun with it. 

Chris and I are in one of those moments where we have seen a few curve balls over the past several months.  We are feeling right now with this adoption process that God has a different path He may send us on and we have swung and missed a ball that He never intended for us to hit.  It is hard to remain content in the “not knowing” but we are doing our best to listen, trust and discern what He is telling us.  Please pray for us and with us about this.  We do not know if we should be changing to a different program or staying put in this program having less and less confidence that it is going to go anywhere.  We don’t want to be one of those families that “gives up” when we have so clearly been directed to where we are at and we have the face of a little girl who we have been “referred” (although we don’t yet even know if she has orphan status).  We also don’t want to continue chasing pitches that are not the ones we are supposed to hit.  

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Still Waiting ...


I have started writing this post and then walked away a few times.  It is hard to know what to write when there isn’t anything new to share.  I have had several people ask me lately if we have heard anything, and unfortunately the answer is “no.”  We have connected with our Power Of Attorney in Ghana and he continues to reply that we need to be patient, and “it will happen soon.”  Love those obscure words like “soon” it can mean so many things to so many people.  To me “soon” would have already happened.  We don’t know at this point when it will happen, but still believe that God is in control and all happens in His timing.  We are currently finishing up the process to update our home study - another reminder of the length of this process.   We pray for this sweet girl in Ghana who needs her permanent family and live in the hope that Christ provides that He has not forgotten about her.   Kylie asked me a couple of days ago if we can buy her new sister a present to give her when she arrives home.  Oh yes, Kylie, that would be a perfect idea!  Can’t wait to meet this precious girl and get her home. 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Patience, Patience, Patience ....


So, word from Ghana was yet another delay.  The Social Welfare Director said he has been sick since last week so he could not finish the report.   We wait for a new date to be determined.  The positive news from the court hearing today is that our lawyer asked the judge for an “open date” which means they can return at the point all documents are ready.  Our power of attorney in Ghana keeps reassuring us that everything will be fine.  Our only choice really is to continue to practice patience and wait.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  We will certainly let you know when our next date has been set.  Please pray that will happen soon!  We are going to be running into some deadline dates with upcoming changes in the US laws with international adoptions.  We need this first court date to happen in the next couple of months.  Thanks for following us on our journey!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Another Big Day Tomorrow


 

Tomorrow is our next scheduled court date.  We are looking forward to getting to the end of the day tomorrow so that we know the outcome.  Hopeful, realistic and most of all trying desperately to grasp onto the knowledge that God is in control of all of this.  He knows what needs to happen and He knows when it needs to happen. 

One thing that can be a constant struggle on this journey of adoption is knowing and trusting that the bigger plan that we cannot see is better than the plan that we tend to want have control over how it plays out.  I mean, there is a child who is an orphan, and there is a family with open arms waiting, it should just happen right?  Why the wait?  Why can’t God just move instantly in that moment that we think is the right moment and get that child into a family?  It is just like us, in our humanness, to want things on our time and in our way.  I struggle so much with this some days when I see all of the kids in need that live in this world.  What I tend to forget is the many things that God is doing along the way that are a part of HIS plan … not MY plan.  He knows things that need to happen, and often these things are also in our best interest (or the child we are seeking to adopt) we just cannot see it when we want what we want.  Kind of reminds me of being a parent to our children.  Oh how they WANT things and we know in that moment the timing is not right for them to have what they think is best.  We know that something else needs to happen first before it is best for what they want to play out … trying to remember that today.  I have a Heavenly Father, who knows what is best and He has it all in control.   

Thank you for your continued prayers.  Please pray for this sweet girl in Ghana.  Pray that her future would be made known and that if she is able to receive a forever family that we could be that family.  We are ready, waiting and trusting that Our Father knows best.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

New Court Date Scheduled

 
Well we heard just a bit ago that the court date was rescheduled as the social welfare director did not finish with the social welfare report on the child referred to us.  We are disappointed but not surprised.  We have a new date set for April 9th …. Please keep praying!  Thank you! 

Monday, March 17, 2014

CALLING ALL PRAYER WARRIORS!!


 
Our spring break came to an end yesterday.  Today the boys returned to school, Chris returned to work and Kylie and I returned to our daily routine of household chores (laundry – yuck!) a little TV for her and work for me.  It is fun to spend time as a family and build memories.  We so look forward to those moments that we have.  Often now when we are doing things together I think about what it will be like with one more little one in the crew.  When I see the boys so tenderly helping Kylie, will they do the same for our new little sweetie?  I am confident they will and even through the tasks asked of them, or the ones they chose to do just to help, they will step up and show Christ’s love.  It is a sweet thing to see as most of you probably experience in your homes as well.  I just love to watch the transforming heart.  There is no guarantee on this journey.  No “for certain” that any of our children will grab onto the transforming gift of Christ.  What a treasure it is. 

 
We are asking for prayer in the next 36 hours.  We still have a court date scheduled in Ghana for THIS Wednesday the 19th and are asking that you pray on behalf of this little one and our family.  Please pray for God’s plan to unfold and that He would move mountains to bring permanency for this sweet little girl.  Our prayer is always first and foremost that if this is God’s plan for her that He would make it happen.  We want to be sure that she is orphaned and that the processes that need to take place are done correctly.  We don’t want our impatience to cloud any plan that God has.  We wait, we pray and we hope for great news on Wednesday.  We know that news could be that court was held and things are not in order … or they attempted court but those needed to proceed did not show up.  In each and every scenario we trust and believe that God is working through it all.  And while you are praying in the next 36 hours, could you also pray for my sister Anita’s family.  There are weeks that are really tough when you are following God and doing things He is asking.  Sometimes those tough things come in the form of an attack by the one that does not want to see healing and restoration.  Please pray for them as well … I love them so much and it is so hard when tough times hit.  We serve a mighty big GOD and I know that He loves much deeper than we can fathom.  Thanks for following our journey, sending us never ending words of encouragement and for your faithful support.  We appreciate it so much!  

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Realistic Hope?


 


Chris and I were having conversation over the weekend about our upcoming court date.  We are so hopeful that things will move forward on this date and we will know for sure the next steps with the child that has been referred to us.  The problem is REALITY.  The reality is, if we look at those that have gone before us we should be prepared to have our court date cancelled several times.  How does one remain in hope, but not get very disappointed when reality happens?  Is there such a thing as realistically hopeful?  That is where we feel we are at.  We HOPE for great things and that God has big plans to make things happen, we are REALISTIC that we may have to deal with a court date that doesn’t happen …. And then we look at expectations.  We hope, with an expectation that things likely won’t happen the way we want.  But then is that even hope? 
 
What it reminds us is that this all comes down to FAITH.  I think sometimes as Christians we throw these words around and don’t really think about what they mean.  When we made the decision to adopt Kylie we choose her middle name to be Faith … we knew our journey to her was directly related to our Faith in Christ and following God’s leading.  The verse we picked for her when we dedicated her was from Hebrews 11:1 -3 & 6 … “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible … And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
 
So … our HOPE ultimately comes from our FAITH.  Without FAITH, we cannot truly HOPE!  We can be sure of what we hope for in this situation and we have faith that God is in control of it and knows all of the details that we cannot see.  So, maybe it is realistic hope … but really it is FAITH that allows the HOPE to exist!  Please continue to pray with us for March 19th …. Please pray that God would move on behalf of this sweet orphan in Ghana who needs a forever family, and please pray that God would allow our family to be that family for her.  The picture I chose for this post reminds me of joyful faith and hope ... our fundraiser day that was so filled with hope and faith and those that love us.  Thank you so much for your love and support … we are honored that you are following our journey and appreciate your prayers so much!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

We have a COURT DATE!!!

 
Chris was working with his iTunes on the computer this morning when our email tone sounded … and it was from Ghana!  I don’t believe we have ever gotten an email over the weekend so typically what happens is after we go through half of the day on Friday we adjust our expectations to not hear anything until (at the earliest) Monday night or Tuesday.  So, to get a message today was a bit of a shock.  WE HAVE  A COURT DATE!!!  We know that likely things will be canceled, or continued due to someone not showing up so we hesitantly move forward knowing that this could be canceled.  But for today, we REJOICE that we have a date to look forward to.  It is amazing how much you don’t realize how you are feeling about it all until that news comes in.  The floodgates open and a feeling of relief comes over you.  For those of you that have waited for their adoption to progress you know that feeling … the constant need to check your email just in case the email you were waiting for came in within the past five minutes since the last time you checked.  Thank you Lord for this wonderful news today!   Please continue to pray as we look forward to March 19th … and hope that this day will bring more news.  Please pray for this sweet Ghana girl that needs a forever family.  Thank you for your prayers.  We so appreciate them. 

Monday, January 27, 2014

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

 
Well today is little girl’s 3rd birthday – “little G” … our sweet Ghana girl.  We celebrated in this cold tundra last night making a home-made buttermilk chocolate cake topped with peppermint baking bits and lit candles for her. 
 
 
It is an odd thing because you move forward after receiving a referral knowing this child could be joining your family … but also, there is a very possible scenario that things won’t progress that way.  We think, plan and talk each day like she will be joining our family but the reality is we don’t know for sure.  We all talk about her and Kylie has been speaking more frequently about all of the things she wants to show and teach her when she arrives.  She told me today that she is going to share her blankets and reminded me that we still need to get a bunk bed in her room.  I told her that it will probably be a while still before we will be able to bring her home.   I then shared with her that we had to wait a while for her to come home too.  And that when she came home we were all so happy to finally meet her.
 
My heart is sad today … I am tired of the cold temperatures we are living through and I just want to reach the next step in this process.  This is when it is necessary to go to the only One who gives, HOPE!  I know that God has her in His hands and I trust that He has not left her as an orphan.  He will move when the timing is right.  I know I say that almost each time I write on this blog, but I often have to remind myself of that fact.  His plans are greater than my plans, His ways greater than my ways.
 
I was reading tonight about Ghana birthday traditions.  I don’t know how accurate this is, but in celebrating their birthday, Ghanaian children wake up with a special treat called “oto,” which is a patty made from mashed sweet potato and eggs fried in palm oil.  Later in the day they arrange a birthday party where they usually eat stew and rice and a special dish which is known as “kelewele.”  This is prepared from plantain chunks.  I just wonder if she had this special birthday treat “oto” today.  Will there be stew to celebrate her birthday?   Kylie made a special “birthday cupcake” from her Duplos to celebrate.  She would love to share this with her sister, but for now she will have to wait … Happy birthday sweet girl, happy birthday!  Please keep praying! 
 
 

Monday, January 13, 2014

A Plea To Prayer Warriors!!

 
We received an email on Friday from our POA (Power of Attorney) in Ghana.  We had been waiting for a response to confirm that the paperwork we sent was done correctly and wouldn’t need to be changed or re-done.  He did confirm that our paperwork is in order and that we are now waiting for the Social Welfare to finish with their work; the paperwork can then be filed and we will know the court date.  As in everything with this process so far, we have no idea how long that could take.  We are realizing though that really it doesn’t matter what we are told about how long it will take because it will likely not be an accurate estimate.  I don’t believe that it is intentional, just the mode in Africa.  We are accustomed to the US and people demanding timeframes and expecting things to be done in that timeframe.  In this situation we cannot rely on timeframes given to us.  We know beyond know that God is in control of all timeframes and that really, no matter what we are told, it is only His timeframe that will play out.  We are feeling a strong need to call all those around us to PRAY for this little girl we have been referred and PRAY that the process will continue so that her permanency can be determined. 
 
We have been overwhelmed with the financial support we have received in this process … overwhelmed is an understatement really.  God has now brought in over $17,000 for our adoption and the confirmation that this is where we need to be has not gone unnoticed.  When God calls He will provide … I hope that anyone reading this can see this as a testament to His provision and plans.  We could have not imagined that amount of money coming in but God knows exactly what is needed and He moves in ways beyond our understanding.  If He is calling you to something please see through our process that obedience is all He asks of us … He has it all covered and He will provide, guide and plan it all for you! 
 
Anyway, back to my original request … will you please PRAY with us?  We are asking for concentrated prayer for this sweet girl waiting in Ghana … please pray that the Social Welfare would finish their work so that the paperwork can be filed and a court date can be established.  We do not know if we will be traveling for this first court date, but our prayer is that the date can be established.  God can move mountains, we believe that to the core, and ask that you pray for this with us! 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Thoughts From A Waiting Momma




Waiting is defined by dictionary.com as:  to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens” … yep, that is it.  To remain inactive … that might be the hardest part of waiting.  Often we can find things to keep us active which ultimately can help keep your mind off of what you are waiting for.  Since being in this process starting this past April/May, we have had a “task” to do almost the entire time.  We first had the process to complete:  home study, orphan application to the US government, fingerprint appointment, medical appointments, dossier completion, originals, copies, notaries … and then the fundraising came next.  We have reached a point where there is not a “task” to do and the true waiting has begun.  We have been blessed to become fully funded and don’t even have to worry or think about that piece any longer. 

I had an adoptive mom tell me last night that waiting in adoption is like being at the end of a pregnancy when you don’t know when you will go into labor.  The hard part with adoption is that this part of the pregnancy can go on for months (or in some cases years).  Thankfully we don’t keep getting bigger in that process … er, uh, well maybe a little bigger with stress eating, but not a growing baby inside of us!  When we were in the adoption process with Kylie we waited nine months for our first match, which ended up falling through.  The wait, anticipation and then disappointment is another part of this crazy process.  The precious child in our first match was born on my Grandma’s birthday (yes, the grandma I have spoken of through this blog who was adopted) so letting go of her was really hard … but she wasn’t our child.  A month later, our sweet Kylie was born and we couldn’t imagine life without her.  God’s plan was for Kylie to come into our family and we are amazed that we were ever chosen to be her parents.  We have a child who has been referred to us, but until we have our first court date we do not know for sure that we are the family for her.  We know that even after having her picture for several months now, she may not be the child that we get to receive into our family.  Another part of this process … love deeply and fight like a parent would knowing that you may have to let go if things don’t progress with being able to adopt that specific child. 
 
I watched a family go through that process with a child from Ethiopia a few years back.  They loved deeply this sweet boy, but then after it was determined he wasn’t adoptable, they had to release him.  Not that they had physical custody of him, but they had loved him with parental love in anticipation that he would join their family.  Their hearts still love and long for this sweet boy but there is nothing that can be done other than to pray for him as he will live his life aging out of the orphanage system. 

Waiting is hard in this instantaneous society we live in.  We don’t want to wait for anything … and for many things we don’t have to wait.  What lessons we learn through waiting.  We trust that God is in control of this process.  He knows what needs to be done and He will make things happen when they need to happen.  I say that knowing that this could take many more months (and I hope not years).  How easy will it be to continue to wait?  My hope is that we can continue to trust in His timing and we ask your prayers for us in this process.  We pray for this sweet girl waiting in Ghana … her name means “fortunate one” and we believe that God has amazing plans for her. 

Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”