Updates and Questions

Hello to everyone. I thought I would quick post this a minute since I have some free time today during semester tests. I wrote most of this up last night, so I thought I would quick add this to our blog. You can definitely tell the end of the school year is near as the young people have more energy these last few days then they have had for months. The excitement is a good thing though as the students are anxiously waiting for summer break and the changes that it brings. That is similar to where are family is at right now. We are very excited and anxiously awaiting the big change that is about to happen. We just don't know when God is going to tell us that the time is right to add a person to our family, but we are excited and patiently waiting for that time.

We have had some more people ask us how things are going so far and more specifically ask us how raising the money for this adoption has gone so far. While both Abby and myself are business minded people, salespersons and fundraisers we are not. We would rather keep track of the money then raise it, like any good accountant would!! Anyway, some people have asked about donating money or when would be a good time to donate. So we thought we would answer some of those questions now.

We have raised a little less than half our needed money for Bethany, so anytime someone feels like giving they may gladly do so. There really is no "right" time. Those wishing to send money can send it directly to Bethany Christian services in Orange City, on our behalf, and then they will credit our account. Or you can send the money to us and we will forward it on to Bethany once we have received it. Either way will work. If you wish to give anonymously, send the check to Bethany and let them know that. We will be unaware where the money came from then, just aware that there has been a donation posted to our account. The Lord has blessed us so far in this journey, and though we may not know where we will get the money for the last half of the adoption we have faith and know the Lord will provide!

Thank you for your love and support that many of you have given us. Please pray that Abby and I will have patience and understanding as we wait on the Lord's timing for this adoption to take place. Pray for the other couples we have meet who are also waiting for a child to adopt. Pray for the pregnant mothers out there who are carrying these children and will be placed with a difficult decision. Pray that God will give them peace and wisdom as the make this choice for their child. One of the couples we met just adopted a baby girl from North Carolina after a very stressful stituation, so that is a definite praise item!!

Thanks and until later,

Stan, Abby, Keegan & Aiden

Pictures

Time to wrestle!

Lets get ready to wrestle!

Keegan and Aiden Easter 2008

Our Journey

Our adoption journey began in October of 2007. Adoption was something Stan and I had always talked about. There have been many different things that have happened to lead up to our decision to adopt including a serious of sermons in church on being adopted children of God, morning devotional, advertisement of an informational meeting at Bethany and the list goes on. We had talked about waiting a few years to adopt however the Lord was tucking at our hearts to adopt now.

Our home study has been approved and we are officially waiting. As the busy time for Stan and I winds down into summer we both find ourselves thinking about this a lot! Wondering when will we get the "call"? How will Keegan and Aiden adjust? We have to put our trust in the Lord that His timing is perfect and everything will work out. We pray each night for the child that will one day enter our lives and for the birth mother who has a very hard decision to make. One night while praying with Keegan before bed, Stan forgot to pray for the baby. At the end of the prayer Keegan said, "Dad you forgot about the baby!" Keegan is more intrigued than Aiden and has a little better understanding of what is to come. They are both very excited as are we!

Till next time...........