The Beauty of God's Love

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Wow, when I read this passage today it absolutely pierced my heart! Kevin and I have been so blessed by experiencing the heart of God through our adoption. Our relationship with God will never be the same now that we’ve tasted and seen His beauty through our adoption journey. We know that with any adoption there are going to be times of waiting and waiting and more waiting. Now that we are at the beginning of the referral process I get anxious because I don’t know how long it will be before we can travel to Africa to scoop up or child in our arms and call them son or daughter. This scripture is so beautiful because it says “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” and it reminds me of God’s absolute perfect timing. God knew the perfect time to send our Savior to rescue us. Jesus came “so that we might receive adoption as sons.” God has known the right time for us to receive our much awaited child. At the right time, we will rescue a Congolese orphan and they will become part of our family. God’s Word also says that ‘because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father”’. HE is my Father and I am HIS daughter!! I can call out to Him and I am “an heir through God.” I am rescued and adopted and I am a child of the Living God! We love our child in Africa so deeply. I cannot imagine what our lives would be like if we would have never stepped out on faith to pursue adoption. The beauty and peace we have experienced leaves me speechless and fills my heart with joy. Pray for a speedy referral and continued financial support!

P.S. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GIVE 1 SAVE 1 VISITORS AND SUPPORTERS! WE ARE ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY AT HOW GIVING EVERYONE HAS BEEN! PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD TO DONATE $1. 

Give 1 Save 1! Donate $1 to our adoption fund!

Greetings to our friends, family, and new visitors! We have been selected to be the 'featured family' of the week with Give1Save1.com! Click here to learn more about their awesome ministry! We are the Weldons and we are so glad that you have visited our blog to learn more about us! We are adopting from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and we are currently waiting to receive a referral of a child! Kevin and I have chosen adoption to be the way that we grow our family. We truly believe that adoption is a beautiful display of the Gospel of Christ!  As Christians, we all have our own adoption story. It is a beautiful story of how our loving God adopted us as His children. We were orphans destined for death but God chose us to be His children and He placed us in His family through Christ. Ephesians 1:5 says, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” It is our desire to rescue and adopt a child into our home.   We believe that God will make us a family Forever by Grace!

Please watch our adoption video!

Please consider helping us bring home our child by praying for us and helping us financially! Donating $1 will go a long way! God's kindness towards us continues to overwhelm us as we continue on this adoption journey! We wanted share some of our adoption pictures with you in anticipation of our arriving bundle of joy!

                                                        

Questions, Answers, & Encouragement

I have recently met a very special friend via Pinterest and I was delighted to answer a few questions she had for me. I wanted to share this Q & A session with you because I hope it helps my fellow sisters know more about the gift of adoption and more about our story.

Q: How did you and your husband decide that adoption was for you? How did you decide that would be the path to start your family and not another? 
A: We asked God to help us decide if we needed to go to more extensive measures of conceiving. The more I looked into the options the more uneasy I felt about putting my body through different treatments and spending more money visiting doctors and clinics. Honestly, I just felt emotionally spent. I didn’t feel like I had enough energy in me to go through fertility treatments. We knew that we wanted a baby. We knew that having a biological baby would be costly from doctor visits and fertility treatments. We prayed and we came up with 2 solutions: 1) We could pour our time, energy, and finances into fertility treatments that could be unsuccessful or 2) We could take those same resources and pour them into rescuing a child from a desperate situation (this option would without a doubt result in us being parents). All of this led us to researching adoption and foster care more extensively. I quickly decided that foster care would not be something that I would be able to do. I believe that it would absolutely rip my heart out every time we would have to give a child back to their parents or the foster care system. Foster care parents are truly gifted by God to fulfill this call on their lives. I just knew that it wouldn’t be something I could handle! We decided that adoption would be the way we would grow our family. We looked at agencies, countries, domestic or international, cost, etc.

We saw that adoption cost SO much money! Honestly, it sort of made me depressed because I began to wonder if I would ever be a mommy! We just began to pray about the cost b/c there were some points where we also decided that adoption was too much for us. The beautiful thing that we began to see was that it was costly for us to become part of the family of God. It cost God His son, Jesus. There was a price that needed to be paid to rescue us and unite us with our Father. Jesus paid that price and we are able to have full fellowship with our Father and we are His children. After much research we found that there are many many ways to fundraise, receive donations, and apply for adoption grants and interest free loans.

We found that God was glorified in every aspect of adoption. We have confidence that if we are following Christ with all of our hearts then He would lead and guide our paths (Prov. 3:5-6). In light of all of these things we found in scripture, we decided we would adopt a child no matter what the cost. This process has been so absolutely beautiful and faith building and my heart is full of joy and peace! Now that we are on the other side of the paperwork and we are waiting to see our child’s face I know that I wouldn’t trade in this experience for anything!  So far, God has provided all the money we need for this stage in our adoption journey and he continues to bless us every week! Just last week my husband found a $600 anonymous donation on his desk at work. Every time we get another donation I am reminded of God’s absolute provision and love for not only us but for the child he has chosen to be in our family! We have applied for 3 grants so we will see what happens in the coming months! :)

Q: Which agency did you guys go with? Do you have any suggestions in that aspect?
A: We chose to work with an agency called Children of All Nations based out of Austin, TX. Children of All Nations is a branch of Great Wall China adoption agency. Great Wall has been the leading adoption agency in the US for China adoption. Children of All nations does adoptions for several different countries and we have found them to be EXTREMELY helpful and very knowledgeable about every step of the process. They are also always available to help us when we hit a snag in paperwork!

Q: I have a few friends who have struggled with infertility....some that got pregnant, some who are still in treatments, but none that have chosen to adopt a child. Do you have any suggestions for us?
A: I know the heartache that comes with infertility and my heart aches for the women out there that have felt the loss of a child and the pain that goes with unmet desires. I pray that each of you would experience the love and peace that I have experienced by falling into my Heavenly Father’s arms broken and tired. He has mended me. He has comforted me. And most of all He has loved me through all the hurt and pain and I am coming out of this trial a stronger woman of God. My suggestions: pray, pray, and pray, read scripture and memorize verses that dispel lies from your mind, be an active part of a church family, have Godly women in your life that would be willing to cry with you and pray for you, have open communication with your husband about adoption or about what you feel God is calling you to do to grow your family. Here are some resources of books and a sermon that helped us in our decision: http://www.foreverbygrace.blogspot.com/2012/01/adoption-resources.html.

Ladies, please know that you are loved by your Heavenly Father and that He desires to give you good gifts (Matt 7:11). Jeremiah 33:3 says that He will answer us if we call on Him and He will show us great and mighty things! Matthew 7: 7 says that if we seek then we shall find! And if we knock then it shall be opened for us! Romans 8:28 says that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose! May God's blessings flow through your heart today! Be encouraged! :)

What can we do to change the world? Will you adopt an orphan?

The Greatness of God’s Love

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and I have been thinking about the people in my life that I love! I love my husband, my family, my friends, my church, my child in Africa, but most of all I love the Lord. Each day the Lord is showing me His love and grace and peace through this adoption process. I am so blessed that God has chosen my husband and I to experience the joy of building our family through adoption. 1 John 3:16-18 hit me like a ton of bricks. I experience real Love because Christ laid down His life for me. It also says “if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” I hope and pray that I would be the Christ follower that uses the resources and love God has given me to help my brothers who are in need. Verse 18 tells me that I show Love by ACTION! Kevin and I truly believe that our adoption is one of the ways that God has called us to show love by Action. Not everyone is called to adopt a child but everyone IS called to love “in deed and in truth.” We pray that God’s blessings and love would flow through you as you walk through life. Show God’s love today. Jesus is worth our time, energy, and lives!



Think about the ways that you can demonstrate Christ's love to others today.



WHERE WE ARE IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS:

WE RECEIVED WORD ON FEBRUARY 7^TH THAT OUR PAPERWORK IS GOING THROUGH THE LAST CERTIFICATION STAGE IN WASHINGTON D.C. PROCESSING TIME IN D.C. IS 1-2 WEEKS. ONCE OUR AGENCY RECEIVES EVERYTHING BACK FROM D.C. THEN THEY WILL SEND OUR DOSSIER TO THE CONGO AND THE IN-COUNTRY STAFF WILL BEGIN WORKING ON MATCHING US WITH OUR CHILD! WE DESPERATELY DESIRE TO BRING OUR CHILD HOME SO PRAY FOR QUICK REFERRAL TIMES! PRAY THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE THE FINANCES. PRAY THAT GOD PROTECTS OUR CHILD FROM DISEASE, HARM, AND HUNGER.

Dear Lord, I pray......

Dear Lord,

Lord, I thank you for your beautiful grace and your kind heart. Thank you for allowing me another day to serve you and minister for your glory. Lord, I pray for our child in Africa today. I pray that you would protect them from disease, hunger, and starvation. I pray that you would surround them with your love and help them to have the assurance and peace that we are coming to rescue them. I pray that somehow their birthmother would come to your saving grace if she has never met You. Help her to know that her child is loved so deeply by people she will never meet. Thank you for helping us finish all of our paperwork so quickly. I pray that all the certifications would be processed quickly so the paperwork will reach the Congo soon. Protect our child until we can bring them home. Hold our hearts as we must wait for them. Give us patience and grow our faith. Provide the finances we need to bring home our baby. Move the mountain in front of us. Help us to trust in You. We praise you for your kindness, love, and awesome peace! We rejoice in your salvation and we bless Your Holy Name!

Amen.

Pray for the children of the Congo today.

Ask the Lord to watch over them & protect them from harm.

WHERE WE ARE IN OUR PROCESS:

OUR AGENCY HAS SENT OUR DOSSIER DOCUMENTS TO BE COUNTY, STATE, AND U.S. CERTIFIED. ONCE THOSE DOCUMENTS HAVE RETURNED TO OUR AGENCY THEN THEY WILL COMPILE OUR DOSSIER ACCORDING TO THE CONGO REQUIREMENTS. ONCE THE CONGO RECEIVES THE DOSSIER THEN THEY WILL OFFICIALLY BE WORKING ON MATCHING US WITH A CHILD!

What’s new with our adoption?

Kevin and I have been busy the last couple weeks trying to get our last steps completed before we could submit our dossier to our agency! Finally on January 20^th we mailed our dossier to our agency with a check of $4838! Whew! Our agency will compile all the documents according to the standards of the Congo government and they will send it off! Yay! Baby Weldon, we are going to get you soon! We have not gotten our I600A Immigration approval but the Congo doesn’t require that approval to be sent with the dossier so we can send our immigration approval to our agency when we receive word that we have been approved! We had 7 months to complete our dossier and we have gotten it done in 1 month! That means we will be put on the waiting list sooner than we had thought! Praise the Lord!

Goodbye Dossier! Hello Congo!

We are now in the process of applying for grants to help reduce the cost of our adoption! We should have 2 grant applications submitted to Lifesong for Orphans and to the Southern Baptist Minister Grant Fund this week. Also, we have been accepted to be the featured family the week of February 26^th with an organization called Give1 Save1. Basically, people donate $1 towards our adoption fund and if 1000 people give $1 then that’s $1000 that goes to bringing home our baby! It is such an awesome idea and we are privileged to be part of this ministry!! 



Give $1 to the featured family this week! Click here!

NEXT STEP: FUNDRAISE, FUNDRAISE, FUNDRAISE!

OUR NEXT PAYMENT $3500.    

God's Perfect Timing

Over the past several weeks our blog has had a sudden burst of views largely due to people connecting to it from Pinterest from some of our Adoption Photos being pinned. (If you don’t know what Pinterest is then you NEED to check it out! It’s AWESOME!) I have been absolutely amazed at the adoption community out there. People from all over the world have visited our blog and my heart leaps for joy at the thought of God’s people praying for our child in Africa! This week we have had visits from Canada, Germany, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, Uganda, and South Africa!

Who's reading our blog!?

I have also had several emails from some pretty amazing sisters in Christ who are also experiencing the joy of adoption! We don’t know each other but we know what it feels like to be on this adoption journey. Sometimes we begin the journey because of infertility or because we feel the call from God to expand our families through adoption. Nonetheless, we are all Mommas to children somewhere in the world. God’s grace is sufficient and God’s heart is kind. I feel His love everyday when I pray for our child. I see His provision when we get another donation. I know God is working! Sometimes when I get discouraged I just feel like giving up! Throwing in the towel and saying “I can’t do it!” You know what? I can’t do it! But God CAN! So I rest in the fact that God has perfect timing! God’s word tells me that He makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecc 3:11). He tells me that I can plan my life but HE establishes my steps (Prov.16:9). The most beautiful evidence of God’s perfect timing is His Son, Jesus, coming to earth! In ALL of time, God chose the time for Jesus to be born to Mary when her and Joseph were very FAR away from home registering for the census (Luke 2). When they were in Bethlehem the Bible says that “the time for her to give birth” came. At THAT time, in THAT place, in THAT city Jesus was born. Oh how beautiful God’s timing is! When I have heart ache that I must wait for our baby in Africa to come home then I remind myself of the story of Jesus coming to earth! It really puts things in perspective! To my fellow adoptive Mommas: Be patient, love the Lord, and be full of faith! The time will come when we can hold our children!

Here are a few things that have helped me when I struggle:

* Fill my heart and mind with God’s Word! Memorize scripture!

* Limit my time researching on the internet!

* I don’t get on Facebook and read the newsfeed! I usually just check my messages and then log out! Sometimes seeing pregnancy announcements, baby shower pics, and maternity pics can get my focus off of God’s kindness towards me.

* Find 4 or 5 Godly women to be your prayer partners! Text them when you struggle! Text them when you rejoice! Let them keep you accountable!

*Daily Quiet Time and Prayer.