November = "National Adoption Month"!

Every November, the adoption community celebrates a whole month dedicated to creating awareness and reminding others of this amazing family-building option.  This year is especially exciting for Mr. C and I since we are now fully embroiled in the details of an international adoption.

I am so grateful for adoption; because without it, I would most likely not exist.  I wish I could thank my biological grandmother for choosing life for my mother; so that I could, in turn have a life.  And now, to know that our child(ren) is half a world away (already alive or about to be born soon) waiting for us is just so wonderful I could burst into a fit of happy tears!  We are blessed beyond belief.

Father God has a true heart for adoption; for are we all not adopted ourselves through our trust and belief in him?  We are His children through the most powerful adoption process available; and we are so loved.  I know God is looking out for us and blessing us on this journey, because he is so truly in love with orphans:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:14-16

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-6

You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

Psalms 10:14,17-18

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.

James 1:27

I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

Matthew 25:40

Adoption is going to make me a mommy - FINALLY!  A brave and selfless woman, half a world away from where I sit typing this in Missouri will make an adoption plan for her child(dren) very soon.  After 6 months in the child's native country's foster care system, s/he will be eligible for international adoption.  Our adoption agency will review our file and the files of several available children; and out of that process (which we believe is guided by God) we will be matched with our child(ren)!  We will be the perfect parents for them, and they will be the perfect child(ren) for us.  What an amazing miracle this is!

We are celebrating National Adoption Month by sending in the last of our paperwork and (*hopefully*) our home study fee.  We only have one more paper to get from our accountant, then we will have every last required document needed for the adoption to be official!  How will you be celebrating/spreading the news?  Are you going to events or hosting some of your own?  Whatever you decide, I hope you are blessed beyond compare and over-flowing with love as you contemplate the beautiful gift of adoption!

All the Love in the World,

*mandie*