Hello there!
There has been little to post because very little has been going on but there's some new things going on here!
Landon and I decided to check out a new agency for adoption! We still love the ministry of Loving Alternative but they only place somewhere between 3 to 10 children in a year. So, we decided to look at an agency who does a little more than that.
We were referred to Gladney Adoption Agency out of Fort Worth.
http://www.gladneyadoption.com/
They have been doing adoptions for over 100 years in Texas (isn't that crazy?!) And they place over 300 children in a year which is better odds for us. They do both domestic and international adoption as well.
We filled out initial information via their website for domestic adoption and they emailed us back in 4 days and we were approved! Now the next step is an orientation on February 17th. After the orientation if we want to move forward we turn in our official application for $150 and then we start the homestudy and we start paying fees...lots of fees!
So, please pray for the orientation in February that we would see the process clearly, that we would see where God is leading and follow and also that whatever path we need to be on and whatever things need to fall in place would fall in place.
As I know more I will post more but it seems as though things will move faster after that orientation if we still go with Gladney so please pray for us and thanks for the love and support!
~Lindsay and Landon
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, December 12, 2011
Being a Spectator in Your Own Life
Since this journey has begun, I have lost more and more the feeling of being in control - so much so that at this point I feel like a spectator in my own life.
Not only do you feel in this kind of situation the loss of control, but there is a very frustrating helplessness as well. These feelings can make you feel like you are spinning your internal wheels and not getting anywhere and that is exhausting.
Trial, suffering, hardship (whatever you name it) graces us with the opportunity to be a spectator, instead of a player. Suffering prys our white-knuckle fingers off of our lives and resolutely places it in the hands of God. My life has always been in the care of God but this journey of infertility and miscarriage has made this more obvious to me.
Right now I have no idea how this section of our life will unfold, I have little to no plans, no real clear idea of the future and I honestly have enough "light" in this situation to only what is next. And this is another grace given in trial - dependence.
Yesterday, our pastor had a great sermon about this very thing and said we should be more like the guy in the bleechers eating corn dogs cheering as the most important player, God, orchestrates the game of our life and accomplishes our victories and triumphs - you can listen to it here: http://www.grandparkway.org/sermons/ or search iTunes for Grand Parkway Baptist.
Appropriately for Christmas, we see this in Isaiah 9 when the prophet speaks of what will come 700 years after his death when the Son will be given. He will bring joy, peace, righteousness and even the government will rest on His shoulder. And what is our role in this? What is our take home application for what we should change this week? Nothing- because the zeal of the Lord will accomplish this salvation and bring about what no man could accomplish. The Lord will accomplish this because He is in control and because He is all powerful and no one can do what He does.
So, I am learning to be a grateful spectator in my life. I am excited to see what play God makes next. In the mean time I get to trust that God is the one making things move and shift and checking all the to-do lists at this point.
What a gracious God who would use my life to demonstrate His abilities to do far more beyond what I can even ask or think. What a merciful chance I have been given to let go of the illusion of control and believe that my zealous God will fight for me. And I am finding that hardship has become a friend whose desire is to lead me closer to Jesus who had the ultimate trust in His Father to glorify Him at the right time after His suffering was complete.
Today, I am grateful to be a psychotic, screaming, painted face fan of my own life because I know my Savior always plays His hardest when He's playing in my life. Maybe that's kind of what faith looks like...
~L&L
Not only do you feel in this kind of situation the loss of control, but there is a very frustrating helplessness as well. These feelings can make you feel like you are spinning your internal wheels and not getting anywhere and that is exhausting.
Trial, suffering, hardship (whatever you name it) graces us with the opportunity to be a spectator, instead of a player. Suffering prys our white-knuckle fingers off of our lives and resolutely places it in the hands of God. My life has always been in the care of God but this journey of infertility and miscarriage has made this more obvious to me.
Right now I have no idea how this section of our life will unfold, I have little to no plans, no real clear idea of the future and I honestly have enough "light" in this situation to only what is next. And this is another grace given in trial - dependence.
Yesterday, our pastor had a great sermon about this very thing and said we should be more like the guy in the bleechers eating corn dogs cheering as the most important player, God, orchestrates the game of our life and accomplishes our victories and triumphs - you can listen to it here: http://www.grandparkway.org/sermons/ or search iTunes for Grand Parkway Baptist.
Appropriately for Christmas, we see this in Isaiah 9 when the prophet speaks of what will come 700 years after his death when the Son will be given. He will bring joy, peace, righteousness and even the government will rest on His shoulder. And what is our role in this? What is our take home application for what we should change this week? Nothing- because the zeal of the Lord will accomplish this salvation and bring about what no man could accomplish. The Lord will accomplish this because He is in control and because He is all powerful and no one can do what He does.
So, I am learning to be a grateful spectator in my life. I am excited to see what play God makes next. In the mean time I get to trust that God is the one making things move and shift and checking all the to-do lists at this point.
What a gracious God who would use my life to demonstrate His abilities to do far more beyond what I can even ask or think. What a merciful chance I have been given to let go of the illusion of control and believe that my zealous God will fight for me. And I am finding that hardship has become a friend whose desire is to lead me closer to Jesus who had the ultimate trust in His Father to glorify Him at the right time after His suffering was complete.
Today, I am grateful to be a psychotic, screaming, painted face fan of my own life because I know my Savior always plays His hardest when He's playing in my life. Maybe that's kind of what faith looks like...
~L&L
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Application is in, now more waiting...
YEAH!! So excited, we turned in our "Formal Application" for adoption!
Here's me with the application right before I mailed it.
We just got a letter in return to let us know the next step is Orientation. Those happen usually in February or March. The orientation helps Landon and I figure out what we are really hoping for in this adoption experience and then explains the rest of the process.
It's more waiting which I am struggling with but I do feel relief that the ball is in their court now and I just need to make sure I can get to that class.
I have decided not to set up my print shop until after the orientation. That will give us a clearer idea of a deadline and amount we need to shoot for. So, sometime around February/March check back here for updates on where you can get some fantastic prints by me and Landon.
Sorry this is short, there's a lot more I want to write about waiting, longing, disappointment, joy, eternity and Jesus as my friend but I just don't have the time right this second. I will be back with more of the inner journey after Thanksgiving :)
Here's me with the application right before I mailed it.
We just got a letter in return to let us know the next step is Orientation. Those happen usually in February or March. The orientation helps Landon and I figure out what we are really hoping for in this adoption experience and then explains the rest of the process.
It's more waiting which I am struggling with but I do feel relief that the ball is in their court now and I just need to make sure I can get to that class.
I have decided not to set up my print shop until after the orientation. That will give us a clearer idea of a deadline and amount we need to shoot for. So, sometime around February/March check back here for updates on where you can get some fantastic prints by me and Landon.
Sorry this is short, there's a lot more I want to write about waiting, longing, disappointment, joy, eternity and Jesus as my friend but I just don't have the time right this second. I will be back with more of the inner journey after Thanksgiving :)
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Influential People Who Were Adopted
Just for fun today I found a list of influential people who were adopted!
Google search it and you might be surprised yourself!
Dave Thomas (Wendy's Fast Food Founder)
Babe Ruth (baseball great)
Steve Jobs (yep, THAT Steve Jobs)
Scott Hamilton (figure skater)
Melissa Gilbert (actresss)
Aristotle (founder of western philosophy)
George Washington Carver (inventor, educator, civil rights hero)
Sarah McLaughlin (singer)
Just to name a few. So encouraging to know the care and support of parents can lead to huge things!
We're about to turn in our application, complete with pictures of our beautiful back yard (I'll post those soon!). Then we are on our way to an orientation! Yeah! Baby steps like our baby plants!
~Linds
Google search it and you might be surprised yourself!
Dave Thomas (Wendy's Fast Food Founder)
Babe Ruth (baseball great)
Steve Jobs (yep, THAT Steve Jobs)
Scott Hamilton (figure skater)
Melissa Gilbert (actresss)
Aristotle (founder of western philosophy)
George Washington Carver (inventor, educator, civil rights hero)
Sarah McLaughlin (singer)
Just to name a few. So encouraging to know the care and support of parents can lead to huge things!
We're about to turn in our application, complete with pictures of our beautiful back yard (I'll post those soon!). Then we are on our way to an orientation! Yeah! Baby steps like our baby plants!
~Linds
Monday, October 17, 2011
Unlikely animal adoptions
Not to make light of adoption in any way...but these are adoption pictures that are too cute!
This one is sweet. This mama tiger lost her litter early and they all passed away. After the loss the tiger's health declined and she was depressed. Caretakers dressed up some little piggies in tiger cloth and the mama tiger raised the piggys and loved them as her own. So cute!
This is good for a laugh and a warm fuzzy feeling but even these images demonstrate to me that something in us loves adoption. Something in us loves when someone (or something) decides to take care of someone that is not "naturally" their own.
Enjoy!
This one is sweet. This mama tiger lost her litter early and they all passed away. After the loss the tiger's health declined and she was depressed. Caretakers dressed up some little piggies in tiger cloth and the mama tiger raised the piggys and loved them as her own. So cute!
This is good for a laugh and a warm fuzzy feeling but even these images demonstrate to me that something in us loves adoption. Something in us loves when someone (or something) decides to take care of someone that is not "naturally" their own.
Enjoy!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Small beginnings and a small garden
I have a short, small post today :)
Landon and I have spent the last 3 days recovering our backyard (well, Landon really did most of the work). Because of the drought, and probably fungus, we lost half of our lawn in the backyard. We also built two garden boxes to have vegetables but with the onset of the drought this summer and some job changes, our boxes were still barren.
At times, the yard was a bit of a painful and physical reminder about how we felt about the last 2 years. Miscarriages, long periods of not getting pregnant, job loss, job change, God's distance - like a half finished backyard getting dryer by the minute.
Since our weather has changed, we had a bit of rain and we had a bit of time (oh yeah and because the newest leg of our adoption application wants a picture of the backyard) we set out to change things.
We tilled the ground, laid the sod, planted seeds, fertilized and watered and now we wait.
As we planted I wondered what God would teach us in the planting (I hear its very spiritual to be a farmer - please hear my sarcasm because I am so bad with plants!). And Landon mentioned Zechariah 4:10 "Who has despised the day of small things?" Small things, small seeds...small things with huge potential and high hopes.
As I considered I thought of our small beginnings as a couple, the struggles of wanting children and now the small glimmer of hope that we could be parents to some parent-less children - all small things that I hope will have a happy end.
Be glad today that God doesn't despise any small beginning, in fact, he sees more value in a small beginning than you do.
Landon and I have spent the last 3 days recovering our backyard (well, Landon really did most of the work). Because of the drought, and probably fungus, we lost half of our lawn in the backyard. We also built two garden boxes to have vegetables but with the onset of the drought this summer and some job changes, our boxes were still barren.
At times, the yard was a bit of a painful and physical reminder about how we felt about the last 2 years. Miscarriages, long periods of not getting pregnant, job loss, job change, God's distance - like a half finished backyard getting dryer by the minute.
Since our weather has changed, we had a bit of rain and we had a bit of time (oh yeah and because the newest leg of our adoption application wants a picture of the backyard) we set out to change things.
We tilled the ground, laid the sod, planted seeds, fertilized and watered and now we wait.
As we planted I wondered what God would teach us in the planting (I hear its very spiritual to be a farmer - please hear my sarcasm because I am so bad with plants!). And Landon mentioned Zechariah 4:10 "Who has despised the day of small things?" Small things, small seeds...small things with huge potential and high hopes.
As I considered I thought of our small beginnings as a couple, the struggles of wanting children and now the small glimmer of hope that we could be parents to some parent-less children - all small things that I hope will have a happy end.
Be glad today that God doesn't despise any small beginning, in fact, he sees more value in a small beginning than you do.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Colorado and other things!
WOW! It's been awhile but I have been busy with a vacation!
Landon and I took a trip to Colorado to Salida and the Maroon Bells - it was stunning. The weather was perfect, the Aspens were bright yellow and there were no bear problems!
During our road trip to get there we started reading the book Adopted for Life by Russell Moore:
This book explores the biblical basis for adoption, how modern adoption displays the gospel and shares his personal journey through adopting his two sons from Russia. Moore is a great writer who smoothly leads you thought theological points of our Gentile adoption into the nation of Israel in a clear, understandable and entertaining way.
We have read about 3 chapters as of now and it is making us so excited about adoption but its also given me a greater and more personal understanding of my own adoption into the family of God through Christ. It is transforming our hearts and we can't wait to get more time to read it.
I would highly recommend this book not only to people wanting to adopt but people who are on the fence about adoption, people whose friends are adopting and people who have no relation to adoption at all because it really is so good at explaining how incredible our adoption to God is. So, put it on your Christmas list!
In other news I will be opening my print shop soon to raise some funds - I will keep you posted. The shop will include pictures from our mission trip to Mexico last year, pictures from our most recent Colorado trip (you'll LOVE these) and lastly a few adoption specific prints that I have designed with verses on them. And who knows maybe I'll get some random stellar shots in there from somewhere else.
This is a great way to support our adoption whether you have $20 or $200 AND you'll get a fantastic piece of art to go with it!
Again, I'll give you all the information when it's all set up and you can get buying!
~L&L
PS- favorite quote so far from Adopted for Life - "Adoption is not charity, it is spiritual warfare."
Landon and I took a trip to Colorado to Salida and the Maroon Bells - it was stunning. The weather was perfect, the Aspens were bright yellow and there were no bear problems!
During our road trip to get there we started reading the book Adopted for Life by Russell Moore:
This book explores the biblical basis for adoption, how modern adoption displays the gospel and shares his personal journey through adopting his two sons from Russia. Moore is a great writer who smoothly leads you thought theological points of our Gentile adoption into the nation of Israel in a clear, understandable and entertaining way.
We have read about 3 chapters as of now and it is making us so excited about adoption but its also given me a greater and more personal understanding of my own adoption into the family of God through Christ. It is transforming our hearts and we can't wait to get more time to read it.
I would highly recommend this book not only to people wanting to adopt but people who are on the fence about adoption, people whose friends are adopting and people who have no relation to adoption at all because it really is so good at explaining how incredible our adoption to God is. So, put it on your Christmas list!
In other news I will be opening my print shop soon to raise some funds - I will keep you posted. The shop will include pictures from our mission trip to Mexico last year, pictures from our most recent Colorado trip (you'll LOVE these) and lastly a few adoption specific prints that I have designed with verses on them. And who knows maybe I'll get some random stellar shots in there from somewhere else.
This is a great way to support our adoption whether you have $20 or $200 AND you'll get a fantastic piece of art to go with it!
Again, I'll give you all the information when it's all set up and you can get buying!
~L&L
PS- favorite quote so far from Adopted for Life - "Adoption is not charity, it is spiritual warfare."
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