Readings, Meetings, & Baptisms, Oh My!

So many exciting things are going on for us this weekend!

First, we will read Beautiful Girl's (BG) file at the agency tomorrow.  We'll be able to see everything the agency has about her since she entered care -- i.e. reasons for entering care, biological family history, medical history, placement history, etc. Sean and I will be note-taking crazy-people, since we can't make copies of anything, and this is several hour event.

Second, on Saturday morning, we will finally get to meet BG face-to-face!!!!  I am so excited and really nervous.  I want to say the right thing and do the right thing.  BG is already anxious and afraid, and we don't want to make it worse.  We'll get to spend a couple hours with her at her foster home, and we'll meet one of her brothers.  I want BG to love us, but love takes time, and it may never manifest in the way I would like it to.  What matters most is that we love her with no expectation of reciprocity.  We must love her with a supernatural love that comes only through Christ.

Third, Arielle, Rachel, and Josiah are being baptized on Sunday!  I praise the Lord that they have all made professions of faith over the past few years.  In the past, Sean and I have been cautious about moving forward with baptism.  We somehow felt it was our place to ferret out false conversion by seeking some unknown number of fruits of repentance in our children.  We've learned that our approach was promoting a works-based righteousness -- the opposite of what we find in scripture (see Ephesians 2:8-9).  God knows the heart and who truly belongs to Him and who doesn't; He doesn't need my help to figure it all out.

If you think of us in the next few days, please pray for us:

• safety as we travel out-of-town 
• peace in the home of the sweet family that is caring for Arielle, Rachel, & Josiah
• that we will be able to take notes on the critical information in BG's file
• that Isaiah will be in good spirits and that we're able to find ways to keep him occupied while we are at the agency
• that the Lord would give BG and her brother peace and that BG would cast her anxieties on the Lord
• that Arielle, Rachel, & Josiah's act of obedience in being baptized would bring glory to the Lord and that they would be more conformed to Christ each day

Thank you!  ~In Christ, Talya

"For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

Approved!

This afternoon we got THE CALL -- the call that told us we have been officially approved to move forward in pursuing the adoption of Beautiful Girl (BG)!!!!!!  We are so excited!!!

So what happens next?  Sean and I will travel to the agency next week and read their file on BG.  It contains all the information they have about her since she entered foster care.  Sometime thereafter, we will get to meet her for the first time.  We are hoping we can stay in the area overnight and meet her the day after the file read.  It would be much more convenient to do it that way, since the agency, although located in our state, is a few hours away.  If that doesn't work out, then we think we will be able to meet her at the very end of the month.  Arielle, Rachel, & Josiah won't be present, but we may have Isaiah with us.

We will then have a series of visits with BG over a period 30-45 days or so.  Much of this will be based on BG's adjustment and her particular needs during the transition period.  First, we will meet with her in settings that are familiar to her -- e.g. her foster home, local park, etc., then we will have weekend visits.

I didn't want this day to pass without posting this brief update.  We are so grateful for what the Lord has done and is doing.  I am praying that I trust Him with the details.  Please pray for us as we work out the logistics and prepare to meet our new daughter!  Thank you.  ~In Christ, Talya

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18