Orientation Interview and Uncle Keeks!

Friday, October 19, 2012

So, before we knew it, Friday was here and it was time for our orientation interview. Our case worker for Ethiopia is Sara - the Ethiopia Team of Lifeline resides in Kentucky. The distance is long and of course we have never met Sara face to face, but in just the few times we have spoken on the phone I feel at peace and encouraged by her.

        On a side note, I must say Lifeline Children Services has been incredible. Every person I have met or spoke with has been genuine. Each person’s heart for the Lord and passion for adoption is evident in only minutes. And as far as customer service, that have been “johnny on the spot” – someone says they will call, they do; someone says they will send you something, the do; they tell you they are there for you and praying for you, they are and you definitely can feel the prayers!

        So back to the orientation interview, it went well. We reviewed over many of details (some we were already aware of, some were new), we answered many questions, received encouragement, and felt accomplished to have finished it! The interview lasted about 2 hours. The questions included an array of topics: How and when did you decide to adopt? Why Ethiopia? How are your families responding to your decisions? Do you take any medicines, if so what? Any medical conditions? Any previous marriages or children? Have y’all been in counseling for anything? Is there anything you would ever divorce your spouse over? Lots of questions, for sure!

        And then as the interview wrapped up, God had more encouragement on the way. We were honored and grateful that God would give us fellowship with Keke for the afternoon! Keke had called Jeremy earlier in the week to see if he was available on this Friday (in Keke's quiet time earlier in the week, he felt as though the Lord was putting Jeremy on his heart and wanted him to visit us), and fortunately (total God thing), it was Jeremy's day off. 

        Our time with Keke was definitely God-ordained! Keke is one of Jeremy’s best friends from high school. We all went to college together. And even though we’ve been busy with life and with the different things God has us doing, we still keep in touch! It has been a privilege to be on the sidelines and see all of what God has done in Keke’s life. I’m honored that Keke shares his life with us. I’ve witnessed so much growth in his life over the years (as I am sure he has in both Jeremy and I too!).

There simply are not words to express the joy and “at home” feeling when you embrace a person who is a partner in the faith and whom you’ve shared life and grown together and both share the same fierce love and commitment to the Lord. Keke is one of these people in our lives!

We talked for two hours, and then once we realized we were starving, we headed to lunch and talked another two hours! After lunch, our time was done, definitely too short, but so coveted.

Thank you Keke for your friendship, transparency, encouragement, support, and mostly, love and commitment to Christ! We love you! The little ones God has for us simply don’t yet know how lucky they will be to have Uncle Keek’s in their lives!

 At Our Wedding 

(About 4 1/2 Years Ago)

College Years - Oldies but Good

I know...lots of pictures! But I love them all, so many good memories! And man oh man, do we need to take more pictures... I don't have anything more recent than these!

If You Say Go, We Will Go

Thursday, October 18^th, 2012

        So, tomorrow we have our orientation interview on the phone with the Ethiopia team. And…. the enemy finds a way to discourage me through words and opinions of others. The whole morning, I felt depressed, distracted, and heavy hearted. Lord please give me the grace to simply accept where others are. Lord I pray for peace and understanding in the hearts of those most closely affected by our decision to adopt.

        Well, I definitely had no desire to talk adoption anymore on this particular day. However, after a CPR re-cert class I completed in the morning, I went to the office to finish up some things. Right before leaving Trinvella noticed the necklace Jessica had given me. This naturally opened up adoption discussion and I end-up sharing our journey with her and a handful of other people! My prayer is that all the glory is yours, Lord! May all the glory be given to You! But my conversation with them brought such encouragement!

        Lord, you are so purposeful and intimately involved in my life, thank you! Satan works to discourage me and it never fails, you steadfastly respond with encouragement to affirm that we are right where you want us to be. Your presence is undeniable. Lord I pray for continued strength, encouragement and recognition of Your ever presence during this journey. Lead us Lord!

This is a simple song that I first learned during chapel at college, sweet but powerful worship. The words describe my heart better than I can articulate!

Time with Mama B!

Monday-Wednesday, October 15-18, 2012 

       

So, Carolyn (Jeremy’s mom) was here about a month ago. Our visit was fun and refreshing. It was much needed in the sense that we just needed time to sit down, share our hearts, and get on the same page about all the recent happenings and decisions. Jeremy worked a lot during the time she was here, so we had a lot of time with it just being us. I feel like our time was definitely God-ordained and I’m so thankful for a mom-in-law who comes to the “table to discuss”. About 30 minutes after she got here, we were driving through town, running errands and while talking about adoption in general, she opens conversation deeper by explaining that she was looking online at children through Compassion International and how many of the children from Ethiopia had HIV or AIDS, and that she wondered if that would be the case with our child. This is an honest question and concern that I think is one of the first concerns many people think about. I explained the health screening process and that we would not be referred a child with HIV or AIDS unless we had been approved during our home study to do so and we were willing.

        She then just said, I really just need to sit down and understand how y’all decided to go internationally, and then how and why you decided on Ethiopia. I’m so thankful this was her attitude! I welcome honest and transparent concerns, questions, and discussions! For the next few hours we sat and just talked the whole adoption thing out. I started from the very beginning and how God has been preparing us (for the past several years!), to reviewing again how we had received definitive answers of infertility, and lastly tried my best to articulate how our hearts and minds on why we decided to go internationally and specifically Ethiopia. She asked questions, voiced concerns, and we talked. By the end of the conversation, she lovingly accepted our decision and expressed excitement for us.

        I know that other people in our lives (especially our parents) who love us will have their own grieving to do about what they may have envisioned for us or themselves. I recognize that, accept and respect it. I give the invitation to do it!

But I can’t tell you how thankful I am for how Carolyn took the time to listen, discuss and then partner alongside in the journey. Lord thank you for blessing me with a mom-in-law who listens, discusses, and loves! I know it’s been a lot to accept, “a pill to swallow” as she would say, but I trust that as you continue to prepare our hearts, you will do the same for our family! Thank you for being such a mighty and compassionate Lord.

 

Amy, Carolyn, and Me! Blessed Buzhardt Beauties! :)

Adoption Journey - Thoughtfulness of a Friend

Wednesday, October 10, 2010

 

Today I received this sweet necklace from my college roomie! What encouragement! And I absolutely love it! Again, it’s through the simple things in life that God reminds me of His involvement in this entire process.

 "born in my heart"

Lord, thank you so much for blessing me with the friends you have. In my short 26 years, you have blessed me with true genuine life friends, people who I consider “partners in the faith”.

Thank you for blessing me with Jess! She is actually the very first person I told about the journey we were called to. She was the first to know about our definitive infertility. I know that had to be part of your design too! Jess brought such encouragement and joy to my spirit as a shared everything with her over chips and salsa. She joined in celebrating the plans you have for our lives. Lord, thank you for the friendship you have grown in us since we first met!

Jess and I met during our high school years. We both went out to Harding together and were college roomies the entire time until she went back to SC to finish school. We were each other’s home away from home when we first traveled 800 miles away from our South Carolina raising and families! We’ve got lots of memories and stories…some including weave from the $5 dolla store, canton spirituals, and vegetable oil to name a few!  

Weave, Canton Spirituals, and REVIVAL

Jess, just in case you are reading this....1.) Please don't kill me for putting up this pic and 2.) I will be showing your kids this pic when they are old enough to appreciate it! Love you!

An absolutely precious friend!

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3