Family Spuds – Moorhead family updates

Since my last post in September there have been no prospects for our adoption. The only news has been bad news.

There have been several “hiccups” in the system related to getting our re-certification to all the right people. It consists of the certification document and a home study write up for our file. The “hiccups” may have resulted in our state “red file” being pulled from consideration for CPS adoptions, but we’re not sure at this point.  We haven’t heard of any potential situations through the state.

Our other avenue for adoption, through the With Child ministry, has also netted zero matches. We are one of three families left from our With Child group that do not have adoptions in the works. So while we wait With Child is planning to start up another adoption parent group. We met the new director, Michelle Murney, at the With Child Christmas party (which was a lot of fun). Michelle is a great person and we have confidence that the mission of With Child will continue to be worked out and they will be a blessing to the community they serve. We’ve received a lot of encouragement from folks in the With Child group who believe we will have an adoption in 2010. Still, it’s hard to believe, especially when their book of adoptive parents will grow with the new class.

The fact remains that it will be difficult for us get a placement. The first reason is a function of opportunities. There are not many CPS cases of children three or younger available for adoption that are not being adopted by their foster parents. It’s rare, so the opportunities are few. Second, in the With Child scenario there are many couples in the book who cannot have children on their own for whatever reason. Understandably it appeals to many birth mothers to allow a couple who wants children but cannot have them to adopt her child. Other couples in the book may have children whom they have adopted previously and they desire to adopt again. Although this is not the case with us, some birth mothers worry that a couple with biological children will treat their adopted child differently because they are adopted. That casts enough doubt to make them continue looking.

All these circumstances together do make us wonder if we ought to broaden our search. I’ve heard it said that when God closes one door he opens another. I’ve also heard it said that all of God’s doors have “push” written upon them. We’re seeking wisdom to decide what direction we’re being led in light of the events of the past four months (I really should say in light of the events of the last year and a half) of our journey.

automatic door with hand written "push" sign

We continue to pray that God will expand our family this year.

JPM

We are being presented this Thursday during a CPS staffing for a 15 month old baby boy in need of a forever family. Please pray that we will receive favor in the eyes of the case workers. Above all, pray that God would give wisdom to the case workers so that they are able to choose the very best placement for this little guy.

This is actually the second time that this same little kiddo has been brought to our attention in the past two months. The previous staffing was postponed while CPS spoke with a family member about possibly getting certified to adopt. We have to assume that they were unable or unwilling to get certified or the staffing would not be moving forward.

The journey continues and has been a long one already. Our certification actually expires this month because it’s been 18 months already. We have put in the paperwork to have our cert extended another year and we’re waiting to hear back on that. We don’t anticipate any problems, but it demonstrates the length of the wait. We started this journey over two years ago and we pray that God sees fit to bless us with a child soon.

JPM

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The amazing Director of With Child and our dear friend, Kim Schmidt, was in a head on collision and went to be with the Lord on August 2nd. Needless to say we were not only shocked, but deeply sad. She was one of the most passionate followers of Christ that I’ve ever met. Her friendship inspired us and she will be deeply missed.

With Child is continuing and a new Director has been named. We look forward to meeting with the new director and continuing as part of the adoptive parents working with that ministry. We also from time to time hear of CPS cases for which we are being considered, but nothing has materialized so far.

There are no coincidences and nothing is a surprise to God. This included. We’re glad to have known Kim. Her love changed our life. This is a significant event for us in several ways because we were not only her friend but also a part of the ministry of With Child. We’ll continue to follow God’s lead and wait on Him to bring us a child through adoption.

One of the last things Kim said to Stacie was in a Facebook chat. It has encouraged us and the timing was nothing less than a God-cidence. She told us that she “knows without a doubt” that God intends for us to adopt a child. What a gift that the Lord gave us in Kim.

Slide presentation from Kim’s memorial service set to music: http://www.youtube.com/v/96QqvmGAy9g&hl=en&fs=1&

JPM

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