The long and winding road

There's been a bit of a lull here in the Moore household as of late, hence the lack of posting.

However, there is one little thing that we've been working on for roughly 6-8 months that I can now sort of report on, and that is that we have been going through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) adoption process.  While there hasn't been much to update on with this over the past several months, largely because it's all paperwork and waiting, we finally received word that we have been confirmed as adoptive parents, or as they call it, Bridge Resource Parents.  So, translation - we're planning to adopt!

Here's a little history:

Towards the end of 2011, Jon and I had decided that we were ready to start a family.  We were in a great financial situation, largely due to the help of very generous and gracious family, and work and life were going great.  We were ready!  We officially began trying in Jan 2012.  We were both so excited and honestly thought that we'd have no trouble in this area.  As the months continued on however, that belief quickly diminished.  Skip ahead a very long, challenging, and sad 18 months, and we're in the same situation we were to begin with: childless.

When we reached the year mark, we decided to seek out medical help, as well as pursue adoption. With regards to the medical aspect, we ran the gamut of initial tests to see if there were any obvious issues going on, all of which came back negative.  Talk about frustrating.  On one hand, you're glad that nothing is horribly wrong with you, but then on the other, you're no closer to getting answers.  We're still working through this process, but I'm not really focused on it, so I'm reserving thought/hope/optimism for the time being with regards to all of it.  It's all in God's very capable hands and that's where I'll leave it.

With regards to adoption, we decided, after a lot of prayer and discussion, to pursue this method of bringing children into our lives.

I know people will think that perhaps we're jumping the gun too quickly, that we just need to be patient and see where the medical route takes us.  However, what people don't know about us is that adoption was ALWAYS going to be in our future.  Even before we got engaged, Jon and I had both agreed that we were going to adopt at some point in our life.  Sure, in our ideal plans, we would have had a child or two, gained some parenting experience, then added to our family through adoption.  But things haven't worked out that way, and honestly, I'm now OK with that.

I posted a blog few months ago about Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose", and how for the longest time, I couldn't envision how our struggle with infertility could have been used to my good.  Being several months removed from one of the toughest times in my life, I see how immensely arrogant, prideful, foolish, and silly I was to think that God couldn't trump my plans.  Seriously, I can be so utterly self-absorbed sometimes.

If we adopt and bring these little lives into our family, we're going to have one of the greatest opportunities a believer can have, and that's to share the Gospel and introduce someone to the INCREDIBLE Person of Jesus Christ.  We're going to show these little ones how MUCH He loves and cherishes them.  They're going to have parents who will love them unconditionally, who will be there for and take care of them, support them, and do whatever they can to give them a better life than they've already known.  I know that it's not going to be easy, to walk this path that we're on.  I know that the lives these children have had have been immensely difficult and that that will have a deep impact on them, but love is powerful.  Yes, at times it will be really difficult, especially to Jon and I who don't have any parenting experience, but we have wonderful families and friends who will come alongside us and help/support us.  And you know, there's something to be said for being selfless, and sacrificing one's own comfort for the benefit of someone else.  Adoption will stretch us, challenge us, and it's scary and nerve-wracking to think that we'll be entrusted with these little lives, to love, protect, lead, care for, etc., but it is absolutely worth it.  In a small, human way, we have the chance to mirror what Jesus Christ did, in adopting us as His children. 

So that's basically where things are at with us.  Some exciting things could be happening in the next couple months.  Soon, our profile will be viewed by case-workers of children and if there is a match, then we'll be meeting the kids and going from there.  It's going to be an exciting and nerve-wracking journey, but it is absolutely worth it.  

Oh yeah, one more update, Jon will be taking his comprehensive exams in the Fall, and when he's done with those and passes the oral part of it, he'll have completed his Masters, essentially, and will be considered ABD (All but dissertation).  Hello 2014 job market!  Things are about to get busy folks. 

Till I write again, peace out.