Adopted for Life

 Just finished reading Adopted for Life.  It was great.  My voice cracked and tears filled my eyes every time I quoted parts to Spencer.  He would probably say I quoted half the book to him and now ruined the read for him.  To be sure, we adopt because we have been adopted.  Because God is about deliverance, restoration and making people whole. 

Because He is about taking a sinner undeserving of grace and making him an heir with an amazing inheritance.  We want to be like our God and be bringing about His kingdom in ways that mirror Jesus’ ministry.  We want to be about taking care of widows and orphans.  I am grateful to God that we have had the opportunity to adopt.  I know it will change our lives as any new addition to a family does.  I pray that it will be for our sanctification and his salvation.      

I am glad that Russell Moore has written this book.  I do hope that there will be an increase in Christian families who adopt.  What a testimony to the lost world for Christians to care for the helpless.  So much of what he says rings true to our experience.  Its about a lot of little things that lead you to want to adopt, prepare you to adopt.  A lot of little decisions to be made along the way.  Lots of paperwork to be filled out along the way - but with the help of an agency and it comes in waves.  Lots of things to consider – but there are good books to be read.  Lots of money involved – but again paid in little chunks along the way.  Its not as daunting as it all seems.  We are after all in the last few months of the process and we have made it thru just fine!  More than that.  Our kids are ecstatic, we can hardly wait to go get him and I am already starting to feel like he is in our family and has been in our hearts all along!  Get this – I am even ready to do it again!  Pray for us!  Doing it again will make us broke for sure!  Really pray for us!  I am feeling more confident now and equipped and moved to adopt a special needs child or an older child that is not likely to be adopted by most parents.  Not sure if God will have this happen but if so, I trust He would give us what we need to handle it.  Some of you know Spencer and I both have had a longing to parent a child with Down Syndrome for a very long time.  I am just thrilled to be given the opportunity to be mom again AND to display the love and grace of Christ in this unique way!  

If you want to buy it here's where you can:  http://www.monergismbooks.com/Adopted-for-Life-The-Priority-of-Adoption-for-Christian-Families-and-Churches-p-18407.html

Veronica 

AJAY

Its been November 08 since I last updated this blog. Wow I feel like we are a different family now in so many ways. We aren't living in the place that we were in for the last 9+ years. Instead we live in a tropical wonderland. It’s a great place and full of interesting people. There are many nationalities here and the diversity is evident everywhere on the street. We are enjoying it so far. The circumstances that got us weren't the most fun days of our lives. But we see His hand in it all and trust that it was for our good and His glory. I trust that he had us there for so long to refine some areas in our lives and shape us into the people He desires us to be.

Also another major change is that our adoption process isn't just a bunch of paperwork any longer. In February 2009 we finished all the paperwork and began waiting. Then in April when we "had" to move we thought that for sure our adoption process would be delayed. In some ways it was but He used it for good and knew what we needed as a family. On May 27, 2009 while checking email over at some friends house we got the email about a little boy named Ajay. Veronica and I knew right away that this little Indian boy was to be a Stringer.