In my open letter to waiting families, I talked about how important it is to make Christ known in every step of our adoption adventure. Here are 4 practical things every waiting family should do!
1. Research. Books, videos, articles, blogs, podcasts - there are a plethora of ways to get information these days! Choose your favorite way to learn, and get to it! Adoption trainings are necessary, but look for resources that allow you to learn from the experiences of others. Following along someone else's journey, while learning ways to cope with adoption related issues, provides experiential education. These are the things you will most likely remember when you need them most!
2. Develop your support system. Ask trusted friends and family if you can add them to an email list. Let these people know specific prayer targets, practical needs, and updates on your process. The journey does not end once your child is home. Rather, it is a life long display of the Father's love through the beautiful building of a family through adoption. You will need your people - find them, and invite them to join you on your adoption journey.
3. Make time for your people. Your spouse, kids, friends, extended family. Create memories and moments. Fill love tanks to overflowing. Once your child is home, inevitably, there will be a pull on your attention and time. Things will change, as they do any time another person is added to a family! There won't be less of you, but there will be less of your time available to those you love. Prioritize time to deeply connect. Be open about the way your life - and theirs! - is about to change, but don't allow the adoption adventure to consume every conversation. Remember that this time is a gift that allows you to strengthen your relationships with loved ones!
4. Be intentional with your time. It is so easy to get sucked into compulsively checking your phone or email. Or, if you're like me, checking photolistings! (I had a serious addiction to checking the listings several times a week! And not just AdoptUS, but individual states' and counties' lists, too!) The excitement and anticipation is natural - and even important! But there is much preparation of the heart - and home - to be accomplished during this waiting season. If you are consumed with searching and what (who!) is to come, you can miss the opportunities God's given you to prepare.
In Don't Waste Your Wait: Embracing the Journey of Bringing Your Child Home, I discuss 8 ways you can actively engage in - and embrace! - the journey of bringing your child home! Today, you can enter to WIN a copy of the book! Use the Rafflecopter below, and take advantage of the daily ways to earn extra entries through January 11th! *Book available for purchase January 12th!*
8 Comments
This is such a great post with practical ideas. It is so hard to adopt in Australia but our church in Brisbane is becoming actively involved in petitioning and praying for the government to change the laws, as so many Christians want to adopt but can't because the laws are ridiculous. 1/5/2017 07:21:43 am
Lizzy, I have to admit, I had no idea what adoption laws were like in Australia! That's certainly something I'll be adding to my prayers! So glad to hear you are part of a congregation that is engaged in bringing solutions to the orphan crisis! Please feel free to email me any specific prayer requests! 1/5/2017 07:22:49 am
Yes! I cannot believe I didn't have that enabled! Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I'm glad you like the graphics - please pin away! :) 1/5/2017 12:30:08 am
Embracing the waiting is so crucial!! Of course in my case, God waited until I surrendered my waiting, we got the call our baby was on the way! Prayers for your adoption journey! Yes! It took me nearly 18 months to stop trying to control the situation and surrender to His will! Just when I thought it may never happen, a series of miracles brought our son home just before Christmas in 2013! God will use any and everything He can to teach us, won't He? :) 1/5/2017 01:25:28 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this Naomi because it has given me a glimpse into what adoption is like. What a selfless act of love. My heart bursts at the thought of people like you so willing to give a part of themselves in such a great way. God bless you! 1/7/2017 07:25:06 pm
Natalie, thank you for your kind words! Truly, God has taught me so much through our adoptions! It isn't always easy, but it's definitely a gift from Him! <3 Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Hi there!Here you will find the musings of a homeschooling, work from home, adoptive Momma of 6! Adventures in faith, family, adoption, and training up a tribe of little people to follow hard after Jesus are spilled into these posts --- most often written with a cup of coffee in hand. I hope you'll stick around a while and find something - more likely SOMEONE! - that brings you hope! upcoming webinar for prospective and new foster & adoptive parents!
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