The Journey Begins

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:5What a gift it is to be called to celebrate and participate in the "miracle of adoption". This of course comes at a time when we felt our family was complete. Our youngest is now 6 1/2; he will be in school full time next year. We had plans to travel more, to continue the my already blessed real estate business , plans to move to a new home, ballroom dance lessons, more golf, the list goes on. And then ever so gently, slowly and without recognition, God conceived Esabella in our hearts. So our hearts are pregnant and growing bigger every day.For those of you that do not know about the adoption process, it has already been quite a journey. As I recall when having the boys, the only question or concern anyone had was "do you have a car seat to take him home in? And "Insurance card please". Adoption however included DH and I being finger printed, having an FBI and Police Report run on us, ordering official birth certificates and marriage license, physicals, HIV tests, completing a 51 page booklet, each, on our past and current life, participating (along with our 3 boys) in an 8 hour interview with a social worker, who by the way is amazing and made it fun for all of us, ordering passports, copies of drivers licenses, 8 referral letters from friends, and a Financial Study. Oh...and let's not forget the Government and agency fee of close to $33,000. All of this red tape to give a beautiful child a home, a family, and life. It's no wonder more families do not choose adoption. Yet, with all the work required of us as well as the cost, we feel compelled and fortunate to expand our family in this way.We know the journey may be long; there may be times of great disappointment, anxiety and worry. We have been told that adoption is a "roller coaster" ride. It's starting to feel like pregnancy more and more everyday. Yet...we press on. Everyday we get closer to receiving the first picture of our future daughter, the first glimpse of "God's Eye's". We want to take all of you on our journey with us. There are several ways that you can experience the journey; continue to visit our blog site for updates and photos, pray for us that the Lord will guide us and provide all the funds needed to bring her home, pray for health and protection over Esabella and her birth Mother as well as the Lord's hand in guiding them to All God's Children. We need your support and prayers. This is a bold and new journey for our family, but one we accept with great joy. May God Bless all of you a thousand fold, and may he hold you always in the palm of his hand.