Entry #5 Niece's prayer, costs of adoption and podcasts

My niece’s prayer as recorded in my phone notes on May 24, 2018:

“Shell, when are you going to have a baby?”

I replied, “I’m not sure. Hopefully soon. We just have to pray every day and ask God.”

My niece, “Okay, I’m going to pray now. Dear God.” (whispers to me, “Shell, is it God who makes the babies?” I answer, “yes”. She continues, “Dear God, please make Shell a baby in a couple of days. Amen.” To me, “Shell, I really want you to have a baby soon.”

Did you notice that this prayer from my niece was exactly one year ago? How precious is she? Then, on this past Mother’s Day, while our whole family was eating at Maggiano’s, I took her to the restroom. On the way, she said, “Shell, you’re going to be a mom soon.” She is so cute and precious and confident.

Now she is six and aware of so many things. We recently started explaining to her about our adoption process. We ended the conversation by saying she might be getting a baby cousin soon and her smile was of pure excitement and joy. Children have the most beautiful hearts.

David and I listened to some podcasts about the adoption process and it really helped educate us on a few topics. Our home study agency recommended Creating a Family. One podcast in particular spoke about how to inform all involved about the intention to adopt and how to educate our child on the adoption process. It also shed light on the psychology of it all.

Speaking of which, our home study is complete! It went well and God really worked out a neat connection during that process. We were able to work with someone with a mutual connection and it just made the whole process much more personal. At the same time, there is so much to do.

We ask for wisdom, guidance and clarity on the path to adoption. Did you know it costs $25K-$45K to adopt a newborn? Did you know it’s better to go with a few agencies/lawyers to increase the odds of connecting with a newborn? Each application at an agency can cost about $2-3K, just to start the process. Did you know that sometimes an adoption falls through, and besides the emotional letdown, there can be a loss of thousands of dollars? Sometimes another couple is chosen, sometimes the paperwork wasn’t correct, sometimes the birth mom chooses to keep her baby. This is why we ask for wisdom, guidance and clarity. If any of those things were to happen in our case, we want to be overcome with the peace of God that it is okay. Each of those situations would make someone happy in the process, so we would want our hearts to be happy too. Just as my niece prayed and claimed, I’m going to be a mom soon, I want to have that peace in my heart no matter the path we go.

We are also asking for wisdom, guidance and clarity on this path for another reason. I may or may not be able to share more details, but God knows the details. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. We thank you for following our journey and hope it offers you hope, in whatever situation you may be in.

Ever hopeful,
Michelle =)

Entry #4 Mother's Day

Mother’s Day Weekend! It really is such a beautiful reminder to honor mothers. Our mothers, motherly women who treat us as their own, and your family or friends who are mothers. I’ll be spending the day with my mother, my mother-in-law, my sister who is an amazing mom, and my brother-in-law’s mother. I’ll be messaging other mothers I know with a word of appreciation for the impact they make in my life. I’m so thankful for my own mom and the greatest thing she instilled in all four of us kids - being family oriented and making sure we are there for each other no matter what. A trait I like to share outside our family too!

Our church does a really cool thing each year. The pastor will ask for the women hoping to be mothers to stand and the church surrounds all those standing and prays that God will honor this desire. I have stood the past two years, and each time it has been a bit emotional. I will be standing again this year.

I’m not one to look for attention or want the spotlight on me. I have always been shy, but as I’ve grown older I have overcome this shyness in many areas. I was just recognized at work with an achievement and had to walk across the stage to accept the certificate, and inside I was cringing all the way leading up to that moment. I don’t care for nor like public recognition. But when I stand in church, I am publicly declaring that I know God will do as He wills and I am faithful to believe in that, with hopes of getting to be a mother.

I am also happy to publicly declare my hope in God through this blog. If this journey can help just one other woman stay strong and have hope, then it is worth it. I was recently asked if I don’t mind sharing all this with others, sometimes complete strangers. I really don’t. I have always enjoyed writing notes to others or thank you cards. I considered it a success when the recipient would tell me that the card made them shed a tear. I see the power of writing and at one point I was trying to become a children’s author. Over time, I’ve found different outlets for writing, for different purposes - like this.

This coming Thursday we have our home study visit. We are prayerful, and hope you will be too, that it goes well and that the child God wants us to parent, will come to us in His timing. If you are also going or considering going the adoption route, there is some paperwork to do for a home study visit. Local background check, fingerprints, medical history report, notarizing an affidavit of good moral character, character references, financial information, insurance and employment verification, copies of documents and the application in itself.

I sincerely appreciate those praying for us, asking about the journey, taking the time to read our updates and sharing it with others who might need some encouragement. When I share this publicly, I have the peace of God about it, so it is well with my soul to do so. As a matter of fact, I’ll be starting up a second blog that’s been on my heart for a while. It’ll be coming out later this week.

As always, we’re keeping our hope in God,
Michelle =)