9.22.2012

We have our Referral... Praise GOD!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

Many of you have been on our journey of adoption with us praying for our family and God's plan for it to be fulfilled.  Through that time God has taken us through a period of waiting on him earnestly and preparing our home for another little one.  He has brought us through a wonderful time of spiritual growth for our marriage, and also spiritual maturing for both Neha and Jacob.  

We have clinged to Jeremiah 29:11 as a family, knowing that God is in control. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  We have tried to take that control back many times but we have been humbled in that process of letting go and giving it back to God. 

Last week I went to a Secret Keeper Girl program with my girl friends and their daughters at a local church.  I was sitting with a dear friend and felt resolved in saying to her that we have left this adoption to God not being sure of its outcome, but comfortable with whatever God has in store.  I even went to breakfast on Wednesday morning with another dear friend and again felt resolved to say, "God I don't know what your plan is but I am OK with whatever you deliver."

On Thursday, September 20th, I went about my busy day preparing for my first Girl Scout meeting.  Yes, I am embarking on helping to lead a troop.... many of you are cracking up now.  Neha was released from school early and we were off to Girl Scouts and had a great meeting.  We go to pick up Jacob at his school and head off to our many after school activities.  I happen to be sitting down in the parking lot waiting for my kids as usual and I look down to see a message from our agency.  To tell you the truth I was a bit nervous to listen not knowing what the message would be.

My social worker at the agency left the most amazing message about a sweet little girl that could be our referral.  Of course, I could not get a hold of Kelvin to see if he could be on the phone with me so we could both listen.  I call our social worker, who has been so patient with me, and she begins to unpack the story of this sweet little girl.  At this point I am standing in front of Jacob's tennis lesson getting all of my information and just in shock of what God was about to bring our family. 

Kelvin finally responded and I sent him the referral emails and he came home later that evening full of excitement saying, "Lets go for it, we have already prayed and this is our sweet little girl."  Of course, I am still in shock that this is still happening. 

This became our long night of embracing God's plan of our lives with a new little girl in our family of four.  The two families who have been our mentors for adoption to Ethiopia were on the phone with us during most of the early evening advising us and helping us walk through this stage of referral.  We are so grateful and thankful for their wisdom and prayerful support. 

My sweet friends who have been praying were quick to respond in prayer and excitement.  My sweet pediatrician girlfriend was on the phone with me at 11:00 o'clock at night looking at our medical referrals and crying on the other line as we walked through everything with her.  So blessed to have her family in our life.  And then on the phone with my crazy Kingwood sister, who was already trying to name our daughter.  So blessed to have her family in our life. 

We accepted our referral with our agency at midnight that night via email.  Crazy enough they sent an email back at 2:30 am our time confirming us moving on at this point.  I did not sleep a wink that night looking at her picture and her paperwork, in tears of joy all night long.  Kelvin was still managing to study for his boards that are coming up through all of this and did get some rest. 

I have to interject that every time Kelvin has to study for his boards, we tend to have big life events.  For example the last time he was studying my father was initially diagnosed with Lymphoma and now our referral.  So we know that God will help him pass. 

We woke up the next morning to surprise the kids who thought they were going on a trip and being taken out of school for the weekend.  They have waited a long time and I think suppressed their anticipation.  When we told them that they would be getting a little sister, they were so excited and shocked that this day had finally come.  Then came the many questions.  Neha was ready to pack her bags and leave for Africa this week and Jacob was not sure about all of what was happening. 

The next day was filled with telling close friends and family of our joy and news.  It was so wonderful to see the support and excitement of our friends locally in Kingwood and family in many different places.  I even had some time of thinking of my sweet Dad who will not get to share this experience with us, but know that he would have been our biggest support in all of this.  I am so thankful to God for wonderful friends and family that uplift our lives each day with their prayers and encouragement.  We feel so humbled to be a part of your lives. 

So I leave you with this...  Please continue to be in prayer for our sweet little girl in Ethiopia, for her safety, health and well-being.  We are so blessed that God has chosen us to be her family.  The process from this point on will still take time and we will have two trips to make and need to be patient as a family.

Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lordhe turned to me and heard my cry." 

We will definitely keep all of you updated from this point on.  It will be easier to update you via the blog so please subscribe to our blog if you want to continue to follow our journey of adoption. 

Love and Prayers, The Shaw's
 

9.15.2012

Prayerfully Waiting...

Dear Friends and Family,

It has been some time since my last post.  We are well by God's grace.  We are back to school and busy as ever.  Neha is starting 4th grade and Jacob is in 3rd.  They both have adjusted well and are looking forward to an exciting year with great teachers and schools.  Neha has decided to follow swimming and Jacob tennis this year.  This keeps us on our toes and busy all the time. 

Many of you maybe wondering where we are on our adoption.  We are still waiting on our referral an prayerfully waiting on God.   Our agency is still processing referrals in Ethiopia,but it has been a very slow process.

We know that God has a plan in all of this.  We embarked on our journey to Ethiopia bathed in prayer holding on to Jeremiah 29:11.  I know that God is preparing our home daily and we are growing in our faith daily as a family.

In Him, Elizabeth