**Note: Please read the post below this one first.
There is a beginning of a new adoption story to tell. A small seed has been growing and is now taking root...
We will be in Illinois visiting Eric's family over Thanksgiving, and hope to have opportunity to talk with them about the adoption doors God seems to be opening in the coming months. We are beginning to share these insights with my parents as well. After we talk with our families, then I will write in more specific terms here on the blog.
It Is Good how God leads our hearts and minds when we open up ourselves completely to Him. And how He brings the vision of a husband and wife into harmony.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
*tidbits* 2...CHANGES
Quick update of the items mentioned in our previous post---
Our Taiwan agency is still in the process of closing out our file. We were recently told that our questions will be addressed at the December board meeting. It does not look good for us to get our vital documents (birth certificate, marriage license) returned to us, however. BUT they do "hope" to refund us $400! This summer we unnecessarily prepaid an agency fee, so they want to give the money back. And we will sure take it! It will join the other adoption monies in our new bank account (still awaiting the $100 "bonus money" from our new bank...).
As far as me looking at the kids on Taiwan waiting child photolistings, I haven't been. At all. God has released us, for the time being, from Taiwan adoption. He has also released us from adopting the little girl who will always hold a piece of our heart. It has been our great priveledge to care for her, advocate for her, and pray for her-- including causing many other folks to pray for her. Our prayers for her will continue until we know God has placed her in just the right Forever Home. :-)
I realize this news may sadden, surprise, shock, or even relieve, some of you, but God is in charge of this whole deal and has a purpose in everything we go through. Currently we are positioning ourselves to be ready for our next adoption. I am starting a new (part-time) job which will help us pay debt/improve our financial picture. We are cutting down our budget and tightening our belts. (Gotta love that Dave Ramsey!!!) Then, in time, we will be more able to accept the child/ren God brings to us. Eric and I do really hope 2010 is the year our next child/ren will enter our family... :):):)
Stick around, friends, and there will be yet another johnsonfamilyadoption2ormaybe3 story to tell!
(Be sure to check out our family blog http://www.johnsonfamilyadoption.blogspot.com/.)
Our Taiwan agency is still in the process of closing out our file. We were recently told that our questions will be addressed at the December board meeting. It does not look good for us to get our vital documents (birth certificate, marriage license) returned to us, however. BUT they do "hope" to refund us $400! This summer we unnecessarily prepaid an agency fee, so they want to give the money back. And we will sure take it! It will join the other adoption monies in our new bank account (still awaiting the $100 "bonus money" from our new bank...).
As far as me looking at the kids on Taiwan waiting child photolistings, I haven't been. At all. God has released us, for the time being, from Taiwan adoption. He has also released us from adopting the little girl who will always hold a piece of our heart. It has been our great priveledge to care for her, advocate for her, and pray for her-- including causing many other folks to pray for her. Our prayers for her will continue until we know God has placed her in just the right Forever Home. :-)
I realize this news may sadden, surprise, shock, or even relieve, some of you, but God is in charge of this whole deal and has a purpose in everything we go through. Currently we are positioning ourselves to be ready for our next adoption. I am starting a new (part-time) job which will help us pay debt/improve our financial picture. We are cutting down our budget and tightening our belts. (Gotta love that Dave Ramsey!!!) Then, in time, we will be more able to accept the child/ren God brings to us. Eric and I do really hope 2010 is the year our next child/ren will enter our family... :):):)
Stick around, friends, and there will be yet another johnsonfamilyadoption2ormaybe3 story to tell!
(Be sure to check out our family blog http://www.johnsonfamilyadoption.blogspot.com/.)
Friday, October 16, 2009
adoption *tidbits*
Here's the latest:
~We are still waiting to receive various papers and documents back from our adoption agency to close out our file with them. We should have received something several weeks ago, so I think we'll have to call when they are back in the office Monday to see what the status is. Receiving some of these "items" will help us greatly with our next adoption.
~We are opening a special adoption bank account at a different bank in town. This is where all of our adoption donations thus far and proceeds from our fundraisers will go. We'd been trying to decide on a bank when we received a coupon that gives us $100 FREE for opening a new account. That sealed the deal!
~I'm still checking from time to time on all the Taiwan Waiting Child Photolistings online to see if any certain child may reach out to me (i.e. God speaking). I've expanded to looking at other Asian countries. Some are more budget friendly than Taiwan, some have a shorter court processes, some offer more grants for some of the sweet kiddos.... But our home study is Taiwan specific, so adopting elsewhere (through a new agency) would mean having another meeting with our social worker and paying for an update/addendum/change of country/etc. So who knows???
We do want to thank everyone for the support and prayers you have offered in our behalf. We are doing much better and are confident God is leading our steps as we seek Him. We also continue to be faithful to pray for "Her" in Taiwan-- that she has peace, comfort and joy in her life at the orphanage...and that soon she will be given a loving Godly home.
It is also a relief to not be doing large-scale fundraisers in the months of October, November and December - very busy months in church ministry. This unexpected "free time" (lol! ;-)) is allowing Eric and I to focus on strengthening our marriage and our relationship with Noelle and just generally getting our life in balance. This is a very good thing! :-)
This is what we know: God has our next daughter, or son, already picked out. He will reveal our child, or even bring us our child, when the timing and circumstances are right. (yay!)
~We are still waiting to receive various papers and documents back from our adoption agency to close out our file with them. We should have received something several weeks ago, so I think we'll have to call when they are back in the office Monday to see what the status is. Receiving some of these "items" will help us greatly with our next adoption.
~We are opening a special adoption bank account at a different bank in town. This is where all of our adoption donations thus far and proceeds from our fundraisers will go. We'd been trying to decide on a bank when we received a coupon that gives us $100 FREE for opening a new account. That sealed the deal!
~I'm still checking from time to time on all the Taiwan Waiting Child Photolistings online to see if any certain child may reach out to me (i.e. God speaking). I've expanded to looking at other Asian countries. Some are more budget friendly than Taiwan, some have a shorter court processes, some offer more grants for some of the sweet kiddos.... But our home study is Taiwan specific, so adopting elsewhere (through a new agency) would mean having another meeting with our social worker and paying for an update/addendum/change of country/etc. So who knows???
We do want to thank everyone for the support and prayers you have offered in our behalf. We are doing much better and are confident God is leading our steps as we seek Him. We also continue to be faithful to pray for "Her" in Taiwan-- that she has peace, comfort and joy in her life at the orphanage...and that soon she will be given a loving Godly home.
It is also a relief to not be doing large-scale fundraisers in the months of October, November and December - very busy months in church ministry. This unexpected "free time" (lol! ;-)) is allowing Eric and I to focus on strengthening our marriage and our relationship with Noelle and just generally getting our life in balance. This is a very good thing! :-)
This is what we know: God has our next daughter, or son, already picked out. He will reveal our child, or even bring us our child, when the timing and circumstances are right. (yay!)
Friday, October 9, 2009
Our Adoption..."Plans"
Sorry folks, for the complete and utter silence here on the blog. Sigh.
I haven't really known what to say.
It's hard when for months and months you 'think' you know where you are heading-- then wham!!
We do believe God has a purpose in all those months of our journey to "her" in Taiwan. It may be some time, however, before God reveals the purpose. We are healing from the pain of a failed adoption - boy, I never thought we would have that phrase applied to our family! - and are still a bit discombobulated. We have one precious daughter from China and know we are supposed to adopt again (then probably again, aaaaand maybe again after that). We haven't hit 40 yet, so we've got plenty o' time, right?! ;-)
Direction. That is what we are looking for. Haven't got it yet. It seems God likes us exactly where we are-- on pause and without a plan. And focusing solely on Him (--adopting does take a lot of thought, time and effort).
The great thing is-- we still have a valid Home Study (circa June 1, 2009)!!!
It is valid for one year, I think. 'Will have to check what Tennessee regulations are. I also believe we only need to update with our social worker annually until we adopt. It is Taiwan specific, but is very open-ended regarding gender, age, special needs, number of children, etc. We still haven't submitted our U.S. Immigration application to adopt a child from another country (the I-600A form). According to Immigrations, we have until December 1, 2009 to submit that application (along with a hefty fee, of course) before we need a "home study update" - if we plan on adopting from Taiwan. (Our home study is considered valid only for 6 months when applying for immigration approval.)
OR we could always pay to have our home study "amended" for a change of country later on, and fill out the immigrations "change of country" form...
OR we could have it completely revised to be a "domestic" home study that could be used for a U.S. adoption...
See what I mean? DIRECTION.
Although we may not have direction regarding our next adoption, we do have a clear direction when it comes to our purpose here on earth-- " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " Luke 10:26-28
Guess that says it all, huh? I am confident all will be revealed in time. His time. :-)
***NOTE: I will post all the details here as we make concrete steps forward with our adoption. I also plan to post more of the "personal details" of our current situation on the private blog. I will posting most frequently, however, on our family blog. Please stop by when you can...and leave a comment! Thanks!!
I haven't really known what to say.
It's hard when for months and months you 'think' you know where you are heading-- then wham!!
We do believe God has a purpose in all those months of our journey to "her" in Taiwan. It may be some time, however, before God reveals the purpose. We are healing from the pain of a failed adoption - boy, I never thought we would have that phrase applied to our family! - and are still a bit discombobulated. We have one precious daughter from China and know we are supposed to adopt again (then probably again, aaaaand maybe again after that). We haven't hit 40 yet, so we've got plenty o' time, right?! ;-)
Direction. That is what we are looking for. Haven't got it yet. It seems God likes us exactly where we are-- on pause and without a plan. And focusing solely on Him (--adopting does take a lot of thought, time and effort).
The great thing is-- we still have a valid Home Study (circa June 1, 2009)!!!
It is valid for one year, I think. 'Will have to check what Tennessee regulations are. I also believe we only need to update with our social worker annually until we adopt. It is Taiwan specific, but is very open-ended regarding gender, age, special needs, number of children, etc. We still haven't submitted our U.S. Immigration application to adopt a child from another country (the I-600A form). According to Immigrations, we have until December 1, 2009 to submit that application (along with a hefty fee, of course) before we need a "home study update" - if we plan on adopting from Taiwan. (Our home study is considered valid only for 6 months when applying for immigration approval.)
OR we could always pay to have our home study "amended" for a change of country later on, and fill out the immigrations "change of country" form...
OR we could have it completely revised to be a "domestic" home study that could be used for a U.S. adoption...
See what I mean? DIRECTION.
Although we may not have direction regarding our next adoption, we do have a clear direction when it comes to our purpose here on earth-- " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " Luke 10:26-28
Guess that says it all, huh? I am confident all will be revealed in time. His time. :-)
***NOTE: I will post all the details here as we make concrete steps forward with our adoption. I also plan to post more of the "personal details" of our current situation on the private blog. I will posting most frequently, however, on our family blog. Please stop by when you can...and leave a comment! Thanks!!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Check the family blog...
...for several new posts. http://www.johnsonfamilyadoption.blogspot.com/ (Journey to Noelle ~ And Our Life This Moment)
I haven't had the heart recently to write much about our Taiwan adoption. BUT, I did receive a wonderful and encouraging email from our primary agency contact. I will share some of that information here soon.
I haven't had the heart recently to write much about our Taiwan adoption. BUT, I did receive a wonderful and encouraging email from our primary agency contact. I will share some of that information here soon.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Lord gave this to me--
On Monday morning as I wept before the Lord in prayer, He showed me this passage of scripture. The words jumped off the page and into my confused, aching heart - soothing and comforting me. When I opened my bible, there was Psalms 146:
"Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, my soul;
I shall praise the LORD all my life, sing praise to my God while I live.
I put no trust in princes, in mere mortals powerless to save.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth; that day all their planning comes to nothing.
Happy those whose help is Jacob's God, whose hope is in the LORD, their God,
The maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever,
Secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free; the LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD protects the stranger, sustains the orphan and the widow,
But thwarts the way of the wicked.
The LORD shall reign forever, your God, Zion, through all generations! Hallelujah!"
Through this passage, my Heavenly Father reminded me that one of His most valued 'jobs' is caring for "the least of these". That He loves them deeply and is with them always. He sustains them, He provides justice for them, He lifts them up, He gives them hope.
He also hinders/halts/stops completely the ways of man who's plans and purposes go against His own. When we feel powerless against the authorities here on earth, God is the final authority and is always working out His plans, often behind the scenes. But nevertheless, HE IS WORKING!! :-)
So how does this relate to our specific situation with the little girl in Taiwan?
We do not know.
Yet.
We are taking things slowly and seeking God. We are listening to His still, small voice (tho' I have asked for writing on the wall, or at least a few trumpet shouts). We will lean on Him and wait..so we can be fully prepared and ready to act when He says, "GO!"
Before I end this post, I must say thank you to everyone for the many, MANY prayers. We've received emails, blog posts, FaceBook comments, phone calls, loving words from our church congregation-- Eric and I have felt them and have been bolstered up. You are all so dear to us. Thank you!
***Please note***
We are still struggling with sickness around here (hence the lack of posts on the blogs). Noelle and Eric are doing somewhat better, but Noelle's chest is very rattle-y this evening. That concerns me.
And Eric is super worn out, feeling jittery and generally not himself. Being sick has put him behind with his many church responsibilities.
And the flu finally caught me. I started feeling it yesterday morning and was able to get a prescription of Tamiflu this afternoon. Hopefully it will lessen and shorten my symptoms.
The enemy of our souls loves that we are down physically, as well as emotionally. But we've got The Victor fighting for us! We will overcome! :-)
"Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, my soul;
I shall praise the LORD all my life, sing praise to my God while I live.
I put no trust in princes, in mere mortals powerless to save.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth; that day all their planning comes to nothing.
Happy those whose help is Jacob's God, whose hope is in the LORD, their God,
The maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever,
Secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free; the LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD protects the stranger, sustains the orphan and the widow,
But thwarts the way of the wicked.
The LORD shall reign forever, your God, Zion, through all generations! Hallelujah!"
Through this passage, my Heavenly Father reminded me that one of His most valued 'jobs' is caring for "the least of these". That He loves them deeply and is with them always. He sustains them, He provides justice for them, He lifts them up, He gives them hope.
He also hinders/halts/stops completely the ways of man who's plans and purposes go against His own. When we feel powerless against the authorities here on earth, God is the final authority and is always working out His plans, often behind the scenes. But nevertheless, HE IS WORKING!! :-)
So how does this relate to our specific situation with the little girl in Taiwan?
We do not know.
Yet.
We are taking things slowly and seeking God. We are listening to His still, small voice (tho' I have asked for writing on the wall, or at least a few trumpet shouts). We will lean on Him and wait..so we can be fully prepared and ready to act when He says, "GO!"
Before I end this post, I must say thank you to everyone for the many, MANY prayers. We've received emails, blog posts, FaceBook comments, phone calls, loving words from our church congregation-- Eric and I have felt them and have been bolstered up. You are all so dear to us. Thank you!
***Please note***
We are still struggling with sickness around here (hence the lack of posts on the blogs). Noelle and Eric are doing somewhat better, but Noelle's chest is very rattle-y this evening. That concerns me.
And Eric is super worn out, feeling jittery and generally not himself. Being sick has put him behind with his many church responsibilities.
And the flu finally caught me. I started feeling it yesterday morning and was able to get a prescription of Tamiflu this afternoon. Hopefully it will lessen and shorten my symptoms.
The enemy of our souls loves that we are down physically, as well as emotionally. But we've got The Victor fighting for us! We will overcome! :-)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Encouraging Words; An Update; A Prayer
~ENCOURAGING WORDS
I have been clinging to some encouraging words of a choir song we recently presented in church. We had rehearsed this number several times, but the true meaning didn't really hit me until we performed. I actually sobbed my way through the song, as I felt God's Spirit wash over me.
He's a Father to the fatherless,
A Comforter to the lonely,
The lifter of our head---
These words have spoken volumes to me ever since. We cannot be with that sweet little girl in Taiwan (and now that prospect is dimming...), but God can. We cannot be her parents at this time (??), but God can. We cannot lift her up with encouragement by telling her we are seeking her as our child, but God can.
~AN UPDATE
And you know what?!? He has!!!
In the midst of that painful conversation with our agency, we learned that our main agency contact recently returned from Taiwan. She was able to spend time with this sweet little girl during her visit. Remember, "she" came to the United States for 5 weeks this past summer. This is where she came to know and love and be loved by the folks at our agency. The orphanage originally had denied our agency's request to visit with "her", but they changed their minds. Praise God! We had several people praying with us about that. :-)
The report is that "she" was very enthusiastic, in great spirits, doing very well and was happy to see our agency contact. Yipeeeee!!! Remember how we had received reports all spring about her depression and bouts of crying. Well, God has been faithful to care for this child He loves. This child He has "a plan" and a "hope and future" for. (Jer. 29:11) Yay God!!!
~A PRAYER
I read this prayer on another blog and wanted to pass it along to you. It echos so many of the things I have thought in my heart during our adoption journeys.
"An Orphans Prayer"
I am waiting...somewhere far...far away on the other side of the world.
I may not know who you are or what you look like,
but somewhere deep in my heart I know you are out there.
That one day you will come and find me.
It's a long journey, and it takes a lot of time...I wish it could be easier.
But I know the ones that come for me will not count the cost.
They will only see the joy in finding me.
For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless.
Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else?
Asking why my life couldn't have been different?
It is so lonely.
Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children, I know that something is missing...
I know in my heart I need a place to call home.
My arms long to be wrapped in a fathers embrace...
I long to be saved by a mother's love...
Gazing out the orphans window, I offer a prayer of hope,
"Oh God please help them come quickly."
Even as I lay in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured, that no matter how lost I appear,
I am not alone.
Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching my lonely heart.
The one who made me, the God that knew me before I was born, hears me every time I call.
He whispers His promises in my ear.
I listen with hope to His voice.
But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me.
The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth.
I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?
Yet He calms my heart and assures me He will find you.
That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly.
He has promised me that he will make a way through the fields,
that He will personally cut a path, and lead you right to my orphanage door.
My prayer is....When He speaks...Please don't forget to listen...
When He calls don't be too afraid to go.
For I am waiting...somewhere, far...far away on the other side of the world to come home.
-Anonymous
Oh how I love the part that talks about the Holy Spirit communing with the child's spirit, so the child can know God. I believe this. I prayed this prayer for Noelle, even before we knew who she was. And I have prayed this for "her" in Taiwan. Whether or not she has ever read a bible or been told the stories of Jesus, I believe "she" is coming to know her Savior, right there in that orphange a world away from us.
I have been clinging to some encouraging words of a choir song we recently presented in church. We had rehearsed this number several times, but the true meaning didn't really hit me until we performed. I actually sobbed my way through the song, as I felt God's Spirit wash over me.
He's a Father to the fatherless,
A Comforter to the lonely,
The lifter of our head---
These words have spoken volumes to me ever since. We cannot be with that sweet little girl in Taiwan (and now that prospect is dimming...), but God can. We cannot be her parents at this time (??), but God can. We cannot lift her up with encouragement by telling her we are seeking her as our child, but God can.
~AN UPDATE
And you know what?!? He has!!!
In the midst of that painful conversation with our agency, we learned that our main agency contact recently returned from Taiwan. She was able to spend time with this sweet little girl during her visit. Remember, "she" came to the United States for 5 weeks this past summer. This is where she came to know and love and be loved by the folks at our agency. The orphanage originally had denied our agency's request to visit with "her", but they changed their minds. Praise God! We had several people praying with us about that. :-)
The report is that "she" was very enthusiastic, in great spirits, doing very well and was happy to see our agency contact. Yipeeeee!!! Remember how we had received reports all spring about her depression and bouts of crying. Well, God has been faithful to care for this child He loves. This child He has "a plan" and a "hope and future" for. (Jer. 29:11) Yay God!!!
~A PRAYER
I read this prayer on another blog and wanted to pass it along to you. It echos so many of the things I have thought in my heart during our adoption journeys.
"An Orphans Prayer"
I am waiting...somewhere far...far away on the other side of the world.
I may not know who you are or what you look like,
but somewhere deep in my heart I know you are out there.
That one day you will come and find me.
It's a long journey, and it takes a lot of time...I wish it could be easier.
But I know the ones that come for me will not count the cost.
They will only see the joy in finding me.
For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless.
Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else?
Asking why my life couldn't have been different?
It is so lonely.
Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children, I know that something is missing...
I know in my heart I need a place to call home.
My arms long to be wrapped in a fathers embrace...
I long to be saved by a mother's love...
Gazing out the orphans window, I offer a prayer of hope,
"Oh God please help them come quickly."
Even as I lay in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured, that no matter how lost I appear,
I am not alone.
Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching my lonely heart.
The one who made me, the God that knew me before I was born, hears me every time I call.
He whispers His promises in my ear.
I listen with hope to His voice.
But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me.
The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth.
I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?
Yet He calms my heart and assures me He will find you.
That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly.
He has promised me that he will make a way through the fields,
that He will personally cut a path, and lead you right to my orphanage door.
My prayer is....When He speaks...Please don't forget to listen...
When He calls don't be too afraid to go.
For I am waiting...somewhere, far...far away on the other side of the world to come home.
-Anonymous
Oh how I love the part that talks about the Holy Spirit communing with the child's spirit, so the child can know God. I believe this. I prayed this prayer for Noelle, even before we knew who she was. And I have prayed this for "her" in Taiwan. Whether or not she has ever read a bible or been told the stories of Jesus, I believe "she" is coming to know her Savior, right there in that orphange a world away from us.
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