the beginnings

jon and i talked about adoption when we were dating. we both felt like it was something that we wanted to do. at some point, out there. after we got married, there was a time when we talked about becoming foster parents at one of the Chick-fil-A homes. we both realized quickly that we had neither the life experience or parenting know how to attempt that. so the dream lingered in the backs of our minds waiting for God to say, "now."

on july 4th, 2009, julia was two and napping. i had sat down to read my Bible and journal (one of my favorite ways of conversing with God) when julia woke up crying. she was two, but on that day she wanted to be held and rocked. so NOT the norm. as i was rocking her, i felt like the Lord said, "now. it's time to adopt now." at first, i protested. surely He wanted to talk about something else. surely we weren't going to begin this process now...not when money was tight and jon was getting ready to go back to school. wasn't i going to have more biological children? wasn't that where we were headed?

so while i rocked julia, we talked. i did alot of protesting, and He gently led me through each protest to show me that He would lead and guide. by the time julia had woken up, i was settled. and ready to tell jon. but it was the 4th of july. there was a family picnic and fireworks to go see. this wasn't going to be one of those, "oh by the way..." kind of conversations, but for those of you who know me, my ability to hold something like this in isn't great.

the next day, Sunday (yep, i waited one whole day), jon and i talked. i was fully prepared for him to be taken off guard (i certainly was). i was fully expecting him to put the brakes on the whole thing. i was fully expecting it to take him months to be ready. nope. he said, "wow. that's funny. because i feel like the past week, God has been telling me it's time too." and so, we began.