Our adoption journey has been an amazing experience that has led us to many neat encounters and moments of decision.

The first seed was planted in 2001 by our then-seven-year-old son, Joshua (now 13). We had taken him to see a Steven Curtis Chapman concert for his birthday. The tour, “Live Out Loud”, was his first tour since adopting his first daughter from China, Shaohannah. As he sang his song, “When Love Takes You In”, Josh looked at us and told us we should adopt. In our infinite wisdom, we patted him lovingly and dismissed this notion without a thought. Edith Schaeffer, in her book L'Abri, summed that moment up in an amazing way when she wrote, “The thing about real life is important events don't announce themselves...Usually something that is going to change your whole life is a memory before you can stop and be impressed about it.” How true!

From that moment on, God began to bring adoption across our path regularly, from a sermon or Bible study to people that we had not seen in years who had adopted from China (three different families from as far back as high school and college).

In early 2004, we made the decision to pursue adoption. Around that same time, we moved from South Carolina, to the Atlanta area. As we began to investigate where to adopt from and through which agency, we spoke with a friend who recommended Hope for Children. Melissa began an e-mail dialog with Sue Mathis and we attended an information seminar.

During that seminar, as we looked through Sue's China scrapbook, she told how many people kept saying "lucky girl". This phrase just seemed to stick in Melissa's mind. Later that week as Melissa was doing her Bible study using the Message Bible she read Psalm 10 which reads, in part, “I dare to believe that the luckless will get lucky someday in you. You won't let them down: orphans won't be orphans forever.” OK, God, we understand.

From that moment on, we moved forward in earnest with our paperwork to begin the adoption process with Hope. Actually, there is a side story involving another Hope For Children family, the Harknesses, but that is a story of God's grace for them to tell (see their blog).

Since our LID in January 2006, we have waited and waited. We have questioned God about the ever-lengthening time as we have struggled with our desire to complete our adoption journey. This process has been painful, but we do see God's hand in teaching patience and that as He is Sovereign, He is also sufficient.

God has continued to reveal His will for us in a move to Bloomington, Illinois. It has been part of His plan as he has brought us to many special friends who have adopted from China or who are in the process. These special girls have eased some of our anxiousness while we have waited.

Our journey took one giant step forward today as we learned that we had been approved by our agency to adopt Jin Xia (soon to be Sarah Beth). We now have some paperwork to complete and return to China for their blessing of our adoption as well. We thank each of you who has been a special part of our journey so far, and welcome you all to continue with us as we continue our journey to Sarah Beth.