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

Staffing Update

The staffing for Beautiful Girl (BG) was today.  You know I was checking email all day, right?  Honestly, I didn't expect to learn anything today, but I did.

I was called this afternoon and told the committee had a few additional questions for us.  They asked questions about home schooling, our plan for future adoptions, and our willingness to help BG maintain connections with important people in her life.  

I called Sean to discuss everything and typed up a statement with our honest answers.  

I wasn't told their recommendation, but I think the signs look good.  We have a few weeks to wait for an official answer.  Please continue to pray for us and BG.  ~In Christ, Talya

Humbled by His Grace

Over a week ago, I got a call from the adoption recruiter (she never calls me, only emails) telling us that the staffing to determine BG's forever family has been scheduled for February 20!!!  That's a month earlier than we had last been told and two weeks from the day of her call.  I was elated.  It got even better when I was told we were the only family left for consideration.  The other two families had dropped from the process.  WHAT!!!!????  With that piece of news, our chances of welcoming BG into our family increased significantly.  Now, it's still not a done deal, as formal recommendations and approvals must be made, but we are super-hopeful!

Once again, the Lord has shown and continues to show us His infinite grace throughout this circumstance, and I have been seriously humbled by it.  As I prayed and thanked the Lord for this news, I had to humble myself and ask for forgiveness for my lack of faith throughout this process.  I am humbled that He continues to bless us with His grace when we are so undeserving.

Believe me, I have gone through waves of anxiety, doubt and impatience as dates were pushed further and further back (see this post).  When we were told in January that the staffing would not take place until late March, we even thought of withdrawing our consideration of BG and looking at other children in the hopes the process would move faster.  We prayed... we sought counsel... we listened to sermons -- Charles Stanley has a great sermon on waiting on the Lord and trusting in His timing, found here.  Our faithfulness ebbed and flowed, but God's faithfulness never wavered.

Ultimately, the Lord pressed upon our hearts a commitment to BG until He closes that door, if it is His will.  I love her without knowing her.  We decided we needed to stay the course.  The Lord's plan and His timing are perfect.

When I trust Him, the Lord gives me a peace that reminds me that He is sovereign.  He's always working behind the scenes in ways I may never know.  There are even those sweet times when He makes the "big reveal"of something awesome that surpasses what we could have imagined.  Is He bringing us to His "big reveal"?  Yes, if we remain faithful.  His "big reveal" may not be what I hope it to be, i.e. BG joining our family, but it will be something that brings Him glory.  In the end, that's what we want.

Friends, please pray for us as we continue on this path:

• The staffing is scheduled to take place at 10:30 AM (central time) on Friday, 2/20.  
• Pray for wisdom for the professionals who are making the decision.
• Pray that we would trust the Lord and walk in obedience no matter the outcome.
• Pray for protection for our family's hearts and BG's heart.

"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"  ~Psalm 27:14

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."  ~2 Peter 1:2

Thank you!  ~In Christ, Talya

Happy 11th Birthday, Rachel... In Pictures

Today, the Hooker family celebrates another wonderful January event -- Rachel's 11th birthday!  I am grateful to the Lord for my Pooty Tooty and her sensitive, affectionate ways.  I feel truly blessed to be chosen to be her mommy.

At birth

10 1/2 months

4 years

6 years

8 years

11 years TODAY!!

In Christ, Talya

Psalm 127:3a  "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord..."

Isaiah's Family Day!!!! & Thanks

I can hardly believe it's been a year since we met our son and held him in our arms for the first time.  We tirelessly spent two days driving and hadn't even checked into our hotel when we arrived at Covenant Care for the paperwork and placement ceremony.  I can tell you I was so nervous that I had to keep running to the... well, I'll spare you the details.  It amazes me how the Lord has joined our hearts together in love for this little boy, who brings such joy to each one of us.  Please enjoy our placement video: 

I would like to once again thank our local church family who loved us, cared for us, and prayed for us a year ago and throughout this past year.  The love you have shown our family, and especially Isaiah, has far exceeded anything we could have imagined.

I would like to thank family and friends who prayed for us, sent encouraging messages and gifts, and opened your homes to us in fellowship.

Thanks to all the staff at Christian Family Services and Covenant Care, you too Jill :-) , who had a hand in Isaiah's adoption.  I can't forget to thank our attorney and the judge who signed off on the adoption decree.

A most special and heartfelt gratitude to P, Isaiah's birth mother.  She chose life for him in a world that would encourage her to do otherwise.  I hope one day to get to meet her and give her a hug for choosing us to receive one of our biggest, most precious blessings.

We love you!

To God be the glory!!!!  ~In Christ, Talya

It's Her Birthday... In Pictures!

Happy 14th birthday to our precious, Arielle, who describes herself as our "great, wonderful, sweet, obedient, best first born".  Can you sense the humility?  She's been my "little buddy" from day one, even though she's not so little anymore.  I am grateful that the Lord blessed me to be her mommy.

4 months

16 months

4 years

7 years

10 years

December 2014

In Christ, Talya