Ready....is an understatement

Families in DRC right now from our adoption agency
We have families within our adoption agency that are in DRC right now...they are patiently waiting on their "exit letters" from the US Embassy. I mean this all just continues to blow my mind. Once they have the exit letters they can leave the next day.

Where the Garlington Family is right now
My child is ready for me to come and yet the US Embassy does all their paperwork on the back end. Interesting, huh?

We are 1.5 weeks away from our lawyer turning in the all of Eli's paperwork. After that we will have visas within days hopefully and then await permission from the US Embassy that they are ready for us to come. From all the families ahead of us they said that we will receive an email from the US Embassy to say come get your child.

I love the good 'ole USofA but mercy me I am going to have to have a backpack of just Eli's paperwork to take with us. Also, the fact they are holding me back from our child is frustrating but that is just how it is. I keep my head up and just pray exahaustively!!!!!

Being an Expectant Mother in an Adoption Process
I feel so overjoyed and honored to be traveling this journey with our Lord and Savior. Being stretched, at times, is not fun at all. Adoption stretches you....HE is molding me. I have hurt and ached over things, over processes and sometimes literally felt so sick that I couldn't control it. I have cried excessively. I have rejoiced. I have danced. I have shouted for joy. I have jumped up and down. Thru all this Jesus has been at the center of my marriage to Andy. Andy and I have been challenged waaaay beyond what we thought we could handle. Though I am still physically at times beyond tired....I sit here and reflect on how grateful I am. I am grateful for every piece of this process. You know why? Because I have felt closer to my Lord and Savior than I have ever before. I know He is with me. He wants all of us to be close to Him. So I leave you with this question,"What are you saying "no" to today or have been for a while just because you think you can't?"

Before we said "Yes" to Adoption
Before September 2011 Andy and I could have given you every excuse in the book to say no to this adoption process. I am grateful we stepped out in faith even when those closest to us told us it was impossible and that we should not do it. Many times those closest to us thought that they were protecting us. Many comments were made that will be forgiven but will never be forgotten. Sorry folks, when the Lord tells you to confidently take a journey with Him....it does not matter who you are or what you say to try and change our minds. Andy and I are listening to Our Lord. Not you. This process is not about you. It's about HIM! :)

Adoption is not just about a child becoming a part of your family forever. It is about grasping the Gospel. It is about understanding that we don't need "things" to fulfill us or make us happy. It is about not caring what this world thinks. It is about standing on THE SOLID ROCK. It is about loving every minute that you breathe and being thankful even when you hit years of grieving or super hard times. It's about REJOICING even when its hard. Its about loving a child who has NEVER been loved but by our Heavenly Father.

Bold Statement regarding Adoption
Andy and I were presented with a very bold statement when we first started our process. We met with two different families and the dads of those families stated the following:"I can standly firmly on the fact that I believe that every God willing, Christian family should adopt." I still don't know if I can completely agree to the full extent but I now understand what he was trying to say.

This is what I think he was trying to say: If you love the Lord, if you are physically and mentally able.....YOU SHOULD do everything within you to care for the orphans and widows. "Do everything" sometimes might make no sense at all......Do everything you can to give up your selfishness and embrace ALLLLLLL that the Lord has to bless you with on this short time on Earth. The Lord is waiting to pour His GRACE all over you and yet sometimes we just frankly say no subconsciously. Pray out aloud daily that the yuck that is all over our earthly bodies and in our minds...... that the Lord would cleanse you from the "earthliness!"

Be Blessed
Do not sit around staring at the wall wondering what the Lord is going to do for you. If you are I pray you open up your Bible because you are just missing it. You are missing it!!!!! Work hard in everything you do to MEET THE LORD there. When I have felt so helpless and I was staring at the wall trying to figure out what to do about Eli. The lightbulb went off in my mind that I should be doing something. If I cannot get Eli home yet.....WHAT AM I DOING TO IMPACT THE KINGDOM?

Accepting the plan Jesus has for us
If you have a planner like I do I pray you are only using it for a reminder. Because if you are trying to plan out every single bit of your day...STOP! Look at that calendar and see where the Lord is in all that you are doing. He better not just be listed on Wednesday and Sunday. I am just sayin'.

Adoption is not about You
I have heard the following reasons why people don't want to adopt even though they have pondered it and seriously considered it. (I am not kidding on these.)I may ruffle some feathers....so hear me out.

-My wife and I are "getting on up in years" and we just want to relax and enjoy this time before retirement. We have already raised our children. We "think" we are done.
-It costs too much.
-My adopted child won't look like me.
-It's too hard.
-We don't have room.
-We want to have a biological child first.
-We want to wait until we "stop" having children.
-We want there to be an age difference. That would just be so difficult.
-I only want a baby.
-I only want children that are younger than the current.
-We are getting so close to retirement ....it just doesn't make sense.
-Another country is just too far away.
-My passport has expired.
-I cannot and don't really want to figure out how to speak another language.
-My husband and I were unable to have children and we just don't think it makes sense to adopt when we couldn't even birth a child.
-I wouldn't have much vacation time.
-I am waiting for the "right" one.
-I would have to pay for another college fund.
-My 401k is perfect.

Can't never woulda, shoulda, coulda......Why would you not want to experience the sweet, precious, joys that our Father has to offer us? Why would you only have tunnel vision for only one path? Why would you want to plan every single moment of your life? Why?

This is my point.....I cannot get enough of my Lord and Savior. I want to know Him as closely as I can. I want to grasp as much as I can in this lifetime about Him. I want to be able to share this with others. If you are not going to share and are not willing ....then you might ask yourself....well then who is? If you are a Believer then what in the world are you sitting around for?

There is too much to do for our Lord and Savior. Yes we all need some rest but I would rather go to sleep exhausted everyday for the rest of my life and say "I did something today to introduce or reflect my Heavenly Father." HE DESERVES OUR PRAISE!