God Surrounds

Have you ever experienced buying a new car (it only has to be new to you)?  You make the purchase excited about the new addition to your garage and all the adventures it will take you on, still under the illusion that few others in your area have made the same choice.  After just a couple short days you realize that your car is EVERYWHERE!  You walk towards it leaving the grocery store, surprised how close you got before you realized you don't own the dog in the backseat, ride next to it on the freeway, and are astounded by how many colors it actually comes it.  As it turns out, the cars were always there, but now that its part of your day you notice.

No, we didn't get a new car, but over the last couple months I've been astounded by how much God is surrounding us with other families hoping to become adoptive families.  Of course I've been primed to notice, but I truly see God's hand in creating a system of support and encouragement around us.  Its nice not to feel alone.  People find out we are in the process of adopting and are excited to share with us!  This enthusiasm is a gift to the heavy heart that has spent so much energy over the last few years just trying not to detract from the happy announcements of so many others.

Here are some examples of the adoption support network that is unfolding in our lives:

• Very dear friends adopted their son (our godson) as an infant just 1 1/2 years ago.  We love him so much!
• My coworker's daughter and her husband have a two month old little girl placed in their family through the same agency we are working with.  They have had wonderful experience so far, their daughter is beautiful, and my coworker is such a proud grandpa!
• A couple new to our bible study was certified as foster parents and now (after only a few short weeks of waiting) they are parenting a three month old baby boy.  They hope to be his forever family.
• Another coworker is working on being certified to adopt an older child through the foster care system.  I was able to encourage him after he and his wife suffered a loss as well.  We enjoy updating each other on our respective agency experiences/processes.
• TWO families in our under 40 unit neighborhood are planning to adopt from the foster care system in the next year or so.  One hopes to adopt a little girl aged between their two boys and another hopes to adopt a child younger than their 3.5 year old son.
• My husband's dad's cousin and cousin-in-law both encouraged us by sharing her experiences as adopted children and continue to support us.

As I say in the title, God Surrounds, and I'm convinced that the presence of these people in our lives is NOT as circumstantial as simply noticing a car once its new to you.  It makes me smile to see examples of the many beautiful ways God forms families, and I hope that God is using our story to encourage others as so many have encouraged us. 

Thank you to all who have shared your lives with us, and continue to bless us through your support and love.