Talk about it...Talk about it...Talk about it...Talk about it...(The Journey Part 1)

Did anyone else think of the song when they read that title? Sing it with me now...

Well, since we finally seem to be getting close to the "end" (of the waiting), I think maybe it is finally time to write about the "beginning" of this journey our family is on. And just so we all know:

• We're writing this for our sake, because of all those things I thought I would never forget and now can't remember. I don't want to forget one single detail. It is our story.
  
• We are writing for Hayden. It is her story.
• We're writing with the hope that we can be an encouragement to anyone who might happen by. Maybe we can be a part of your story.
  
• But most of all, we are writing so that we can express our gratitude to God for His amazing provision every step of the way. It is His story.
  

About 10 years ago Darrell began talking about adopting a daughter from China. We talked about it. He dreamed about it. But life went on. We lived in Las Vegas then and life was full throttle with a thriving ministry and three young children. Talk was as far as we got.

Fast forward to fall of 2001. We were transitioning from Vegas to New Albany, Indiana. (That's a subject for not just a different post, but a different blog! I'll let you know if I ever start one.) Adoption came to the front of our thoughts again as we anticipated a slower pace of life in an idyllic smaller town setting. We received the paperwork, but before we could complete it learned that the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) was not accepting dossiers during 2002, hoping to catch up on some of their backlog. That turned out to be a blessing for our family as 2003 was another difficult transition. (Again, a post for another blog. Maybe someday.)

Darrell continued to occasionally talk about adoption. I was always happy to talk about it. Talking is easy for me. But sometime in the spring of 2006 the time came to either move forward or stop talking about it. And, to be completely honest, I was okay to just stop talking about it. But Darrell wasn't. He was serious. He told me he felt strongly called to adopt a daughter from China. I gently reminded him that, 1) I was about to turn 40, 2) We home school three children, and 3) We don't have ANY extra money for something so expensive.

One day at church a lady came to me and said, "I hear you want to adopt a baby from China." I'm not sure what was in my Cheerios that morning, but I quite frankly replied, "No. My husband and children want to adopt a baby from China." And I proceeded to tell her my three well-rehearsed objections. Her response was one that only God could have orchestrated. "I was in my mid-40s, homeschooling two teenagers, and we didn't have any money for adoption either. Meet our little girl." All of my objections bowled down with one person. She and her husband invited us to dinner and encouraged us to pray out loud together every day until God brought us to the same page. We agreed to do that, and we are eternally grateful for their part of our story.

I know now what they knew then: If God has put adoption on your radar screen, there is no wondering what He wants you to do. James 1:27 tells us that, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." We prayed. It only took a few days. We decided to say yes, and move forward as the Lord provides.

It was time to do more than talk about it.

To be Continued...