Waiting for Lightning

(For background to this post, read Part 1 and Part 2 of our "switch from international to domestic" story.) Josh and I had lots of conversations back then that went a lot like this: Me: "So...are you thinking we should do domestic?" Josh: "Well, I'm not sure." Me: "Me either.  What would have to happen for us to be completely sure?"   Josh: "Good question.  I don't exactly know but I think we should keep praying and talking with other people about it.  The Lord will lead us." (Photo taken by the lovely Misha Seger)I'd like to say I left those conversations with an angelic peace and confidence that God would direct our paths. But in reality, what I really felt was frustrated...

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Adoption Hierarchy Craziness

(To read part one of how we entered the domestic adoption world, click here.) As Lord Grantham says on Downton Abbey, "We all have chapters we would rather keep unpublished."  This is a part of our adoption story that I'd rather just forget about.  I've debated sharing it but it's a part of how God brought us to this point.  Plus, I've grown increasingly dissatisfied with anything less than authenticity.  (Facades are a really huge waste of time and I want people to know the real me, not a dressed up version of who I really am.)(image courtesy of habituallychic.blogspot.com, a blog I have never read) So, the honest truth? I have been completely resistent...

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What About Africa?

"I thought you were adopting from Africa."  Yep.  So did we.  But here's the thing about adoption (and life in general)-it's unpredictable.  Even when you think you know what's going to happen, you don't.  There have been many many times when I was absolutely confident beyond a shadow of a doubt about something and then that something did not happen.  Surprisingly enough, God's plans are often way different than mine. For instance, back when I was in high school, I was absolutely certain that one day I'd adopt from China. That certainty continued through college and as I started graduate school, planning to head to China to work in an orphanage.  I read books...

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