The Adoption of the Future

As we approach the two-year mark since we brought home her two children from Africa we can only give God glory to how well the children are doing, both biological and adopted.

I'm not going to lie, it hasn't been all easy and nice and neat. There is definitely a lot of challengesthat come with international adoption. One, the language barrier. Being that we spoke almost no French for Swahili made the first year a challenge because we got to know each otherand communication was a barrier. So there has to be a lot of love and grace as you grow to know each other into a family. 

In the last two years my oldest has gone from being a boy to growing into a young man. Probably the biggest challenge for him was going from having his own room all it is like to have share. But he is learning to be the oldest of his siblings and understanding that he is an example to them in more ways than one.

My sweet little girl has been amazing helping in so many ways. With watching the kids, playing with the kids helping with hair and just being a wonderful big sister.

And for the little man-he started kindergarten this year. He knows his letters his numbers and he's working on writing which is still a little bit of a challenge for him. But his smile will light up a room. I believe that is one of his gifts from God.

And my little girl-the charmer. She knows how to turn it on but has a very sweet spirit. I'm glad that her and her little brother have each other. I think that has been a great thing for them both.

So here's to another year of mercy and grace of God being shown to our family. We don't know what the future holds but we know that we want to walk in the Spirit and will of God. Whatever He wills for our lives we pray that we will give Him the honor and glory for it all. 

I have been blessed with a wonder wife, 4 amazing children and some of the best brothers and sisters in the Family of God. Looking forward to what God will do with us in 2015. Good bless you and your families, as well. 

The Adoption of the Present

Best laid plans... When we began the process  of going to the Congo I thought I would blog or at lest keep some type of diary. But I was so exhausted that I would fall asleep with only a few words written down.

The first day was exciting and new. We met and hugged and began our life together. The first day and night went fairly well. The next day, Tuesday, January 15th, we traveled to see the judge that was part of the court decision on the adoption. He wanted to see the families that we're adopting. After leaving the judge we had a little time before we were to meet a very important person at the DGM which is the immigration department. But Jedeiah suddenly did not feel well and fever spiked. We decided to take him back to the orphanage. But his fever seemed to get worst very quickly. We decided to take him to the clinic. As we sat there the person who runs the orphanage said to me that this was the clinic Jedeiah went to when he came to the orphanage because he could not eat and now he was leaving and he was at the same clinic again. I am sure that must have brought back memories for him. They gave Jedeiah a shot and we got medicine for malaria and some antibiotics. We took him back to the orphanage to rest and went to DGM. After waiting a few hours we appeared before a very important and powerful man. He said a few words and we were done. I expressed gratitude and his trust to the one who runs the orphanage.
We went outside and we were waiting for our passports and Keliah got sick. Within 24 hours all four children were sick with fevers. So we put the prescription to work and got medicine for the other three children.
So four otherwise healthy kids are sick within 24 hours with high fevers. Discouragement turns to fear as our leader comes and explains this is the enemy not wanting these kids to leave. My thoughts quickly race to the Ephesians 6:12: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Of course, he is right. But now I am full of fear and very scared. I have often been "back home" and have request from brothers or sisters requesting their greatest needs is for prayer. But now that was us.

We brought all the children inside and gathered for prayer. The children of the leader prayed for the children and we prayed. Tears filled my eyes as I cried out inside to the only one who could rescue and protect us. The same God who had rescued me from sin and death was the only one who could rescue us now and heal these precious children.
The pleads came from us for people to pray. My good friend, Bob Anderson, encouraged me with scriptures from 1 John 4:4-6: "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error." And Psalms 61:1-3 "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy."
My prayers turned from fear of harm to fear to the God who created the universe and is in control of all things to have mercy upon us. I quickly took spiritual inventory and began confessing my sins and needing God to be close by. I was now in constant prayer for anything and everything. I guess that is exactly where we need to be. These kids were part of God's plan and we needed to pray as if they were. As we left Lubimbashi Jedeiah was very excited as if he knew exactly what this meant. I am sure the full extent of being adopted has not, but I think he thought, "this is my turn to leave and go on the avian to America."

Up, Up and Away

Well- we are 3 hours and 45 minutes into our flight. I have listen to two John Piper messages on Romans 6 and watched a movie. The messsge by Piper was great. He was talking about our identification with Christ through baptism. He had a great analogy comparing baptism to the ring and vow we take in marriage.  Saying the words and wearing the ring does not keep us from "forsaking all others" and being faithful to our spouse. Good stuff.

My thoughts also fast forward to a week from now, where, Lord willing, we will be our the last leg of our return trip. We will have logged about 20,000 miles and spent 3 days in the air of an 8 day trip. We will also have Keliah and Jedeiah with us and starting the process of bonding and learning each other's personalities. I pray that this will be a special time for the four of us.
But I am also thinking about my two precious kids at home, Justin and Kaitlyn. I pray they have a great week with my parents and that they are all safe. 
It really is only faith that gets us through, all of it. And it is grace that sustains us through the good and the bad. I have been dealing with a tooth issue and had a partial root canal before we left. I am on antibiotics but still having some pain. I am not sure what Paul's thorn in the flesh was, but this remains me of his words in 2 Corinthians 12:7;
"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

So like Paul, I pray and pled that God would remove this thorn in the flesh and I would rest in His grace if He does or doesn't. It's not bad. But is yet one more reminder of my need to depend on God. Romans 8:28-30

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

The Adoption of the Past

As we are between Sacramento and Chicago flying at 35,000 feet and 500 miles an hour I am reflecting on the past. I am so blessed to have a loving family. If you want to see tears of joy ask my Mom about adopting me. The story of almost not getting to adopt because of the process and cost. And the miricle of things working out (God's providence).
The stories of coming home from the foster parents (who was the Curruth's who was my boss during high school) and when she tells of my brother, who was 6, says, "You can hold him first mommy and then I get to hold him."
The point is- I experienced agape, unconditional love and care from people who opened their home and life up. I have often been asked when people find out I am adopted did I ever want to find my birth parents. I usually respond to that question with, "Why?" Maybe now in my mid 40s I wonder about health history. Every time I fill out that part of the form at a doctor's office I put unknown. But outside of that I have never had a reason to need or want that. I am a Gregg. Jessie and Mary Ann, Jamey are my family. All of them and all the other Greggs and Mathews and Cox have accepted me into the family.
My adoption was always shared and known to me. I just pray that I can be as good on the other side as my mom and dad were to me. I know we will have some challenges with us being vanilla and Jedeiah and Keliah being chocolate. But I hope that helps to open up and share some of my adoption past and how that relates to my Adoption Present and Jedeiah and Keliah's adoption future.

January 12th- The Journey Begins

The journey begins. We left and 3am for the 1 1/2 hour drive to the airport. As I left Kaitlyn posted a note to us on the front door (see pic).  The van is loaded with luggage but it is the two carseats that make it real. We have not used carseats in over five years.
We know that this is a major change in our lives. But as someone who has experienced adoption twice; once with my family who rescued me from beimg an orphan, the second the family of God through Jesus Christ who rescued me from hell, we are compelled to adoption. in a country where you have a 1 in 2 chance to make it to your fifth birthday I know that God is allowing us to help at least these two children know love and care and forgiveness and grace and mercy. Words we sometimes do not fully grasp.
I will do my best to blog what I can. Please do not expect too much. I will do what we can.

Paperwork Done

We have finished all the paperwork on our side. We now wait as there are two families ahead of us in the process who are going soon to get their kids. As soon as they are done our kids in the DRC will fly to the capitol to get passports and visas. When they are done we will get our visas and plan to go and receive our children.

It has been a process that we have seen God's hand throughout. We are continuing to pray that He will workout the details and provide for all who are involved. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Proverbs 16:9- Thanks Pastor Paul

Proverbs 16:9 "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

We have made the journey to Tahoe for an annual vacation with our good friends the Andersons. As we are so close in the adoption process and wait for referrals from the orphanage we begin to plan for the future. Pastor Paul shared with us recently, and I've been thinking about his comment, man makes a plan but God guides his steps. We know that each and every day is only by the will of God. As I think at this annual event for our family, there is a real possibility of having one or two more will be joining our family for next year's annual vacation. The thought starts to bring some focus in on our adoption journey.

This adventure has taken us in and out of potential adoption possibilities; foster-adopt, to a few potential private adoptions, and back-and-forth through each even looking at adopting internationally. And even now as I reflect it's all been in preparation from God to prepare us (heart mind and soul) for the things he has in store for us. Another thing that has my mind going was a video Kiana shared with me about the book Kisses from Katie. That with a friend that is in the Congo saying any kid would be fortunate and a blessing. So I am hopeful of the things God has planned for us. For now- Proverbs 16:9 will be our plan. Planning but allowing God to guide us.

Good Time with Friends

It was good to house some friends from Placerville up for the weekend. We hung out had a good time.
Both these families were in our original Bible study or than 12 years ago. Of course that was before kids for all of us. It was great to see the kids hang out and play and have a good time, also