Answering Prayers

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

I know it's been several months since we last posted, but we have been waiting for somethings to happen and a few things to fall into place the last two months are so. Here's a quick run down of the steps we have made.
1. We finished all of the paperwork and turned it in to the FBCH in February.
2. The end of March (actually our anniversary when we were dealing with Bobby's shoulder stuff), the social worker called to schedule our first home study.
3. We have complete the home study and are waiting for the written report to be submitted.
4. We finished our adoption profile movie. This is what birthmothers will view when selecting an adoptive family. It's pretty cool!!!
5. We have 95% of our letter to the birthmother written as well. It's one of those documents, that no matter how many times you read it, edit it, rewrite it, edit it some more, it will always feel like something could be said better. Until we actually turn it in, I don't think we will ever feel that it is finished.
6. We bought a stroller/car seat travel system (SCARY!!!!)

Now . . . we wait some more. There are a few more things we need to complete, but things have moved more quickly the last two months than they have the 24 months before then.

Most importantly, we continue to see God's hand in every step.  In February I was faced with this devotional.
Have you ever doubted My heart for you? Is that why you find it hard to ask for My help when you are in such great need? Have faith in your heavenly Father. Know that My promises to you are true.

If you ask of Me, you will receive. Not on your terms, but on Mine. If you seek Me you will find Me; I will come to you. If you know, I will open the door for you. I have spoken; I have promised; I have invited you to come to Me. Now I am awaiting your response.

I long to spend time alone with you, My beloved. Sometimes it is hard for you to be transparent with Me when others are around. So get away somewhere private, in your room or in a quiet garden. And when you come to Me in secret, I will demonstrate My goodness to you before many. They will know of My love for you. 

If you wonder whether I desire to bless you, think about this: Even evil people know how to give good gifts to their children. So just imagine how much more I not only want to do, but also can do for you, if you will just ask Me. For I am your heavenly Father, the Lord who delights in those who put their hope in My unfailing love. 

I still read this and can feel God speaking directly to me. It's a heavy message, but one of hope, faith, love, trust, and encouragement. It was one of those "Okay, I heard you God" moments.

Well, last year, Bobby and I prayed that God would slow down the adoption process and that if He could just hold out until the summer of 2014, financially adopting a child would be significantly easier. We all know, that I really struggled, when everything stopped last spring, but now I can look back and see God's hand in everything. We made it to summer of 2014! Now, that we got here, our next big question was where will the large chunk of the adoption cost come from. He came with an answer before we were even ready to pray about it. Just before spring break, I learned that the school district is setting up new summer school programs. One of the K-5 programs will be hosted at my school 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Teachers will be paid at their normal daily rate, and not the cheap hourly rate the district likes to pay for professional development, tutoring, planning, and other qualifying activities. I haven't wanted to share a lot about this incase it didn't work out, but today I learned that I will be teaching this program. By working this summer, Bobby and I can save 75% of our adoption cost that remains.  I can not explain how amazing it is to realize that God had answered our prayer and then provided a clear answer to our next prayer. It overwhelms me sometimes how incredible everything has fallen into place.

At the end of the day, we are truly blessed. God listened to our prayers (even if He didn't work in the way we thought it should go) and was ready with the answer to the next question before we were ready to ask it. He is ah-mazing!!!

Once again, we continue to ask for your prayers that God's presence will continue to be felt and made known through this journey. Prayer for the birthmothers who is having to make an extremely difficult decision for her son or daughter.