Announcement :)

So I have an announcement that is well overdue. For those of you who don't already know, we are adopting! Yes, it sounds crazy, but when does God ever ask us to do something "normal"? Jake and I are beginning the process to adopt two little boys with Down Syndrome from Ukraine. Their names are Pavel and Oleg. They are absolutely adorable and they have stolen my heart.

Its a long story how we finally came to this point, but here is the "readers digest" version... in Ukraine (among other countries), kids with Down Syndrome are orphaned from birth because there is no society for kids with special needs there. And if they are not adopted (usually out of the country) from the orphanage by the time they turn four, they are institutionalized. Now, I don't remember where I read this statistic, (so it could be a little off, don't quote me on this) but somewhere I read that 80% of them don't live past one year once they've been transferred to the institution. Wow.

So God brought me across these two little angels. I was looking at their pictures for a couple of weeks before God spoke loud and clear to me. It was time to get serious and step up to claim these boys. Bring them home. So knowing what a huge responsibility and decision this was, I immediately went to His word. And what did He speak there? In the midst of my tears to the Father, this is what He said- Micah 4:9 "Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in your midst? Has your counselor perished? For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor. Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in birth pangs." Wow!! Then He took me to Proverbs 24:11 "Deliver those who are drawn toward death and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter." Hmm, I thought. Sounds like He's confirming it to me!

So through much prayer and conversation between Jake and I, we made the decision to move forward with this. My heart is so full, I don't even really have words. Its all very surreal right now. And I'm in paperwork up to my eyeballs.

For now, I need to ask for your prayers. Please pray that God would continue to orchestrate. Pray that the paperwork goes smoothly. Pray that the money would come in- we'll be sending out support letters soon. Pray that God would have His way in our lives.

I've also started an adoption blog where you can follow all of the adoption updates. www.bringinghomeboys.blogspot.com Check it out to see pictures of my little boys!