The journey begins

The words still echo in my memory...lifes always an adventure with Wendy! I don't think Russ knew what he was in for when he heard those words on our wedding day. We've been married 10 years. We have two beautiful, active, spontaneous, funny, crafty, bug lovin', nature lovin', anything water related lovin' kids. Kelly Grace is 6 and Coen will turn 5 September 10th. What more could a girl want? . You know how you have a plan. Two kids. A girl. A boy. Perfect. They each have their own room. Everything is just right. We can breathe! They can do alot for themselves now. Life is pretty easy.
Then creeps in a longing for another child.
Well in my desperation of raising kids that are 19 months apart I begged Russ to get a vasectomy soon after Coen was born and that wonderful husband of mine AGREED! No more babies for us. I knew I would have crazy days of wanting another one but why rock the boat. We have two healthy kids.
Cue guilt! Why? Why? Why? didn't we wait. Why did we make it so final?
The longing, stirring in my soul for another child would not go away! After sharing my feelings with Russ he agreed to a reversal! WHAT? If you know Russ you know he does not enjoy procedures of any kind much less, THAT!
Oh did i mention how expensive it is? 11,000.00 big ones! Well, Mr. Thrifty found some Dr.'s in other states who were willing to do the procedure for a cool $5000.00.
We were all set. We were planning on the procedure to be done in august. I just couldnt shake the unrest about the reversal. Something wasn't right. We still wanted another child. Something, someone, seems to be missing around here. So why the unrest? Vasectomy reversals are common and successful. Then the Lord whispered to my heart...adoption.
Russ has never been open to adoption. Another whisper...China. Oh Lord, he'll never go for that. Well all I can do is ask him...and I did, and he said yes and here we are.
We've been accepted into the China adoption program through America World Adoption. We are in the 'paper chase' part of this journey. We do not have an extra $30,000.00 in savings so we will be fundraising to bring our girl home.
And I thought $11,000.00 was crazy. I know That God is able to provide for what He's called us to do. Our last small group study was on growing your faith. We were encouraged to just get out of the boat. We're out of the boat. I thought the water would be calm once you got out of the boat but its the oppositte. A storm rages. We are reminded daily of the enemy who would love nothing more than to discourage us from bringing this child of ours, who happens to be in a chinese orphanage, home. Not only are we rescuing this helpless child from an orphanage we are offering Jesus to one who might not ever hear. We are teaching our children
James 1:27: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

I was encouraged to read Adopted for Life by Russell Moore. He describes adoption as a picture of the gospel. He writes "The gospel welcomes us and receives us as loved children. The gospel disciplines us and prepares us for eternity as heirs. The gospel speaks truth to us and shows us our misery in Adam and our glory in Christ. The gospel shows us that we were born into death and then shows us, by free grace, that we're adopted for life."

We ask that you pray with us and pray for Charis. Pray that God will provide to bring her home. Pray that we will trust while we wait. Pray that we will keep our eyes on Him for He is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine.(Eph 3:20)