GIANT step in faith

Well, after nearly two years of praying, thinking, wondering, learning, and talking, we are doing it! Marshall and I have decided to begin the journey to adoption! What happened to push us over the edge? Glad you asked! One Sunday a couple of weeks ago, one of our Elders said something from the pulpit that was like a bell ringing! He said that we as Christians should be actively seeking to fill our quivers. Marshall and I talked about it at lunch, and we decided there. Now, does "actively seeking" mean that God will grant us more children? No. And I'm OK with that. But He does require us to be obedient. Believers are called to care for widows and orphans. Slots have helped other adopting families by praying for them, helping with fund raising, and financially. But now it's time for Slots to help with actual hands and feet! When we told the kids, do you know what they had the nerve to do? They all said, "Oh, OK" with a shrug of shoulders and eyes on the Brady Bunch re-run they were watching! What?? When I kinda pressed them-well more than "kinda"-they said that it was about time! They had been ready long ago!

So, here is what we have done so far:

Talked to a bazillion friends who have adopted and gotten some great support. Our beloved church family at Grace Family Baptist Church is very supportive! So many brothers and sisters are praying for us. Something for which we are very thankful!

Decided to look at Chinese adoption. It seems that I am too old for most other foreign countries. And, bonus! I had already sent off for the application months ago so I had it handy to start filling out as soon as Marshall gave the OK-no way was I letting him re-think that one! ;)

A friend from church mentioned to me one Sunday that she had heard of an agency here in Texas. I sent an email that night and received a call on Monday morning. I was told that they have a process: they send questionnaire, we fill it out and send it back, they approve and send a longer application, we fill it out and send it back, they approve it and then invite us to the annual orientation. "BUT, the orientation is in 4 weeks" she tells me. OK, God's plan is fine with me, especially since it is my first time out there in all of this. I'm thinking that this is not what we need to do. Wait! She says to me, "So, what I'll do is send you everything and you can fill it out and send it back in" What?? God is so funny like that!

We attended an orientation for the agency here in Texas this weekend. We totally fell in love with the agency and the workers there and decided to go with that one. Yeah, OK, so we didn't really do a whole lotta looking around, but we really felt that God allowed this one to happen.

So, we will be filling out some paperwork to send in this week, and see about getting a home study. This part terrifies me, but I am praying that God will multiply my time and the work of my hands to get the house prepared for more children. (yes, I made that plural-just to freak Marshall out a bit)

OK, so, want to know the crazy part? As if it all isn't crazy enough, right? This is what has happened this weekend: I posted on Facebook that we were taking our giant step of faith and was totally blown away by the love and sweet words that were sent to us! On the drive, we listened to the audio CDs from Vision Forum's Baby Conference, we heard the orientation, at church on Sunday, the message was from Exodus 2:1-10 (Moses's adoption by Pharaoh's daughter), we listened to more Baby Conference, turned the radio on to hear a talk show about adoption, and got home to find a Facebook message from a friend about some adoption possibilities.

So, here is the beginning of our journey. We have no idea where it will take us or what we will learn, but I can guarantee that it will be a ride that we will never forget!

Please join us in prayer for the children that God has for us, out there somewhere-Texas, China, or maybe even both!