JustLoveCoffee

For anyone who tried the link on the right scroll bar this weekend, it wasn't working.  It is now, so feel free to check out this fundraising opportunity that we are pursuing.  Thank you again for all of your support and love.  We are truly blessed by the outpouring of love we have felt after announcing our plans to adopt. 

God places the lonely in families. Psalms 68:6

Our adoption journey did not just begin.  In fact, it can be traced back to an evening sitting in Jonathan's car in the parking lot of Dallas Baptist University talking about life.  We weren't engaged yet, but knew one day we would be engaged, and one day we would want a family of our own.  We were talking about what we wanted our family to look like.  What kind of parents we wanted to be.  It's funny to think now, but for some reason that night we made a decision that we would be a family that adopted.  It wasn't a controversial decision or one that honestly we gave a lot of thought to.  It was just a statement.  A fact.  We wanted to adopt.  Not only did we know that, we agreed that if possible we wanted to have 2 children biologically and adopt 2.  The agreement to have 4 children was a concession on  both our behalves. Theoretically I wanted more than 4 and Jonathan wasn't sure he even wanted as many as 4 :)  What we didn't know that evening was the heartache and despair we would go through first as we tried to start our family biologically. 

I talk about that night because it is when God first grew the seed of desiring a family in our hearts as a couple, but the seed was planted individually long before that night.  In fact, you could say we've been on this journey for almost 20 years.  God opened my heart towards Jonathan on a Wednesday night at Grace Baptist Church when a freckle faced boy waltzed into my life forever.  We were seven.  I didn't always know I would marry him, but I always knew I'd be sorry if I didn't.  The Lord was so kind to us to allow us a friendship with eachother before either of us knew anything about love.  I believe it is because of that friendship that we are confident in our decisions as a couple.  Not just because we know eachother so well, but because I know Who Jonathan goes to for guidance and he knows the same about me.  Which brings me to another adoption story. 

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."  Romans 8:14-16.  Jonathan thought it would be funny to name our blog, "When in Romans."  The adoption story of our Heavenly father to us as his adopted sons and daughters is a beautiful picture of what adopting our sweet baby means to us.  We have a common bond with this baby because of our own adoption as co-heirs with Christ.  Isn't the Lord so sweet to us? 

As we move forward on this exciting journey, we covet your prayers.  Our hearts are guarded because of loss we have experienced in the last several years, and because of the potential for loss and disappointment through this journey as well.  We ask specifically that you would pray for our marriage, the birthmom, and our relationship with the Lord as we learn what it means to be Godly parents.  Thank you for joining us on this journey!