From 4 to More

You know that conversation couple's have about family; that "the factory is closed," "how about one more?" "don't even think about it!" conversation?

Well just over 12 months ago Harold and I had one of those, which God also piped in and added his two cents. I (Wendi) was done with being a human hotel and restaurant for 52 months. I love my beautiful children, don't get me wrong. But loving your children and becoming an industrialized baby factory are two seperate things. Harold on the other hand was open to having more kids. Men. With all the many orphaned children I had been exposed to in my pre-tie-the-knot, globetrotting days I light-heartedly rebutted that adoption would be the way to go then. Convinced that adoption was not his calling (and more kids was not mine), we concluded the conversation and went about our normal day.

Well normal soon met up with God and our lives will forever be impacted when He piped into the conversation a few days later; a conversation we had thought was long over. We were visiting family in Seoul, South Korea when we attended an English church service at Onuri. It so happened to be international Orphan Sunday and we were touched by the message and testimony of how God has adopted us into His Kingdom family and we are all called to care for others in the same way he demonstrated his love for us. Was it simply a heart-stirring message or were we sensing God's prompting to the outragious notion that WE should actually consider adoption? After all, think of all the costs, the risks, the added responsibility.

"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 (NLT)

Inspired, but not convinced, we carried on with our day - enjoying visits with family and tasty Korean cuisine. We awoke the next day and began to tell each other about the dreams we both just had... about how we were to adopt. How could we go back to our "normal" when our hearts had been exposed to the invitation of adopting orphaned children into our family? We were ruined for the ordinary.

Are we doing this out of charity? duty? or self-gratification? How will this affect our children? our finances? and our lifestyle? Is this faith? or is it feeling? These past 12 months we have asked ourselves many questions of our motivation and faith before taking the first outward steps this Fall in the adoption process. There will continue to be many unknowns, although what is faith without the mysteries of following the One who ultimately knows what is best for these chosen children?

Yes, you read correctly... these chosen children (pl). Harold and I are not the only ones on this journey. Our two biological children have been in this conversation too; well, particularly our articulate four-year-old son Kehlen, who has long been praying for children without families, even before we were considering adoption. When we talked to him about the idea of adoption, it was a no-brainer to him. Of course he thought we should be adopting, duh. He also was convinced we should be adopting more than one, because the child likely has a sibling too you know. Thus our adoption application has a big checkmark beside the option 'sibling groups.'

So we invite you to come on this journey with us; be part of this ongoing conversation, both with us and in prayer with God. Together let us all be ruined for the ordinary.

But wait there's more... and that we'll tell you next time :)