Vision always precedes preparation...

This was so needed this morning. With everything in my life - our adoption, my work, all the different passions and ideas God has given me...I can so easily feel overwhelmed and that I'm not equipped. Well, I'm usually not. But that's where God moves the most. So encouraging to remember:

"Vision always precedes preparation. Initially, your vision will exceed your competency. Within the context of that tension, God will go to work on you." (Andy Stanley)

Nostalgic flashback....

When I was running yesterday, I ran by a park where one of those little kids soccer leagues was practicing, with a few dedicated dad coaches doing their best to wrangle them into formation. As I passed, I heard one of the dads say, in an exasperated voice, "Guys, try not to poke each other...." Haha it made me laugh and instantly transported me back to my own little kid soccer days, and my own dad who came multiple evenings after work, I'm sure already weary, to stand for a couple hours and try to teach crazy little kids how to kick a soccer ball (and I STILL have zero hand-eye coordination...so I can't imagine me as an 8-year old...). Though watching those dads and kids made me laugh, it also made me want to say to them, and my dad again (and mom): thank you for doing this. To all the weary moms and dads who are at their kids' practices and meets and everything else - thanks for showing up. I've seen personally in my own life, and in the lives of so many over the past few years - it makes a difference.

Stephen and I don't yet know a lot about parenting, but we know we want to just be PRESENT. We're going to be there, we're going to show up, we're going to let our kids know how loved and valued and important they are to us. And we're going to teach them to love and invest in those around them in a similar way. We can't wait.

Look! I'm a mom!!!

My first big emotional I'M A MOM moment - seeing this sonogram of OUR BABY!!!

So wild and beautiful. I KNOW that this is OUR BABY. (gender reveal coming soon... :) This is still so surreal in so many ways....happening so quickly, so much to do, so much to figure out...but WOW - look at this. It blows my mind to think that God created this child with Stephen and me in mind. He created this child to be in OUR family. To be loved fiercely by us, to be cared for, to be protected.

I really don't like fundraising. Really, really don't. But this has happened on a much quicker timeline than we expected, and we do believe this child is meant to be in our family. So we also believe that God will provide. Stephen and I know that this whole process is a part of our faith journey - that God is using this time to teach us to trust him in deeper ways. So we are seeking each day to remember that God does more than we can ask or imagine, and that if he created this baby to be in our family, no monetary issue will stand in the way. He doesn't ask us to figure out all the logistics - he just asks us to be willing to love as he calls us. So we're looking at this tiny miracle in the sonogram, thanking God for choosing us, crying a bit, and seeking to trust him above ourselves.

We still need to raise just a little bit more to be able to move forward with the homestudy. If you feel at all led to be a part of God's provision in this way to help us reach this goal, you can go to our fundraising page below. I really don't like asking. But if you feel led, go for it :)

https://www.adoptalovestory.com/family/scott

Officially matched!!

In case I forgot to officially say - we are OFFICIALLY MATCHED with the birth mom in Florida!!! There is so much to do, so many logistics to figure out, but we are so excited! We truly believe God created this child to be a part of our family, so we are moving forward, asking God to help us trust him in deeper ways and believing he will provide for us to bring this baby home.

I keep reminding myself of this truth - He just asks us to be willing. He does the rest. He has changed the world. He moves mountains with his fierce love. He overthrows kingdoms. He does more than we could ever ask or imagine. A few thousand dollars will not stand in his way if he wants this baby to be a part of our family.

If you do feel led to be a part of God's provision for us financially, you can visit our fundraising site. Again, we know not everyone is called to partner with us in this way, so PLEASE, no pressure. Just if you feel led :)

We flew down a few weeks ago to meet the birth mom, and it went really well. Though really hard in some ways - she has been trapped in so many harmful and unjust cycles, and gone through so much in her short life - we are so thankful for her good heart and commitment to doing what is best for her baby. So many things about our meeting with her caused us to thank God even more. It also deepened out commitment to helping break the cycles that trap so many - and we know adopting this child into our home is one of the main ways God is calling us right now to love this mother and help break cycles. (I am happy to try to answer any more questions about the birth mom privately, as well as the adoption process - just shoot me an email or text!)

Thank you all for your love and support. Keep our baby and this mother in your prayers.

Adopt a Love Story facebook page --> www.facebook.com/adoptaLoveStory/

Our adoption website --> https://www.adoptalovestory.com/family/scott

Adoption is deliberately walking into the pain of another

"Adoption is deliberately walking into the pain of another" ...I've read variations of this statement in adoption-related things the past few weeks, and I agree completely. Adoption is hard, it's scary, it's choosing to intentionally enter into a child's hurt and pain and trauma and many other often unknown things. It's definitely a calling, and I know there will be many, many hard days ahead in Stephen's and my journey with this child and all others we bring into our home.

BUT adoption is also beautiful and joyful and I know there will be so many moments of holy awe and happy tears and redemption playing out before our eyes. I have already experienced both sides in just the past few weeks - amidst all the paperwork and logistics and headaches and praying through fears about birth mom, Stephen and I have experienced such joy and excitement from friends and family - and many others we don't even know that well, or at all - loving us and supporting us and celebrating with us. We are SO thankful to you for reminding us what a joyous calling this truly is, and being excited with us! Thank you for helping us spread the word - we have had people we don't even know reach out to us with support. The community we've already experienced near and far is one of the great JOYS of adoption.

Financial update: in just a few short days, many of you have helped us raise almost the entire amount we needed for our next milestone (getting our homestudy completed)! Please keep spreading the word so we raise the last little bit we need for that!!

https://www.adoptalovestory.com/family/scott

My thoughts leading up to November

Disclaimer: Long post, but as I'm cautious about what I post on social media, this will be one of the few very detailed theological and political things I'm going to be posting this election season. So maybe read it in a few sittings if you're interested ;)

First: I try to be very intentional about what I post on social media. My purpose as a follower of Christ is not to advocate for a certain political party, or promote my biases or personal opinions on an issue...my purpose first and foremost is to show Christ to this world. And I see social media as a wonderful platform we've been given to do that - as well as a platform to encourage and challenge the Church to be more the Church we were created to be. I strive to not post anything (serious) unless it does those two things.

I am not a Republican or Democrat, a "conservative" or "liberal." I am a follower of Christ first and foremost, and all my politics fall in line behind that. Dear friends of mine who are Christians thoughtfully and prayerfully think through the same things I do and arrive at different places - and that's fine. :)

As long as we are truly THINKING and PRAYING....it is so crucial that we are being faithful to the call Christ has given us to be salt and light in this world, to further his redemptive purposes, to bring more of His Kingdom to this earth. It is SO CRUCIAL that we are not dismissive of current events or politics, but that we intentionally and prayerfully engage. Being engaged in public life and policy is an important part of our call as Christians - these are crucial areas where our voices are needed to reflect Christ's heart, to further his purposes and priorities of love and life and justice.

All this to say: friends, we need to care what is going on in our world today, including our upcoming election. Our faith and hope is not in this world, certainly not, but while we are still on this earth our calling is to daily strive to be like Christ, joining with him in his work and furthering his purposes in the world around us. We are called to be like him, to be his voice, his representatives where we are. This is a serious calling, not one to take lightly. We are not to simply espouse the political opinions that make us most comfortable or that sound the most right to us as middle-class Americans (or upper or lower class). We are not to take sides or vote a certain way based off our parents or friends or a party that we have always identified with. We are not to let certain personality leanings or biases or prejudices or insecurities or fears.....ANYTHING, determine who we are and the opinions that follow, other than our identity as Christ-followers. That identity is first, and everything else falls in line behind. Every opinion, everything we post, how we vote, etc, should be determined by that. So let's make sure we are being thoughtful of this very serious, very holy calling Christ has given us, and that everything we say and do comes out of an awareness of this calling.

This is something I am constantly praying about for myself....I in no way live this out every day! But as I'm striving to follow Christ as best I can, I thought I'd share my journey with you all as well :)

Finally: I'm sharing the below link because it falls under what I've mentioned above. I'm careful not to say that a certain candidate is the "Christian" one, "chosen" by Jesus (because I don't think that's ever biblical to do that). But through a lot of prayer and thought and reading and talking with wise people, I feel very strongly that we must NOT vote for Trump. This will (hopefully) be the only time I feel compelled to come out so strongly against a candidate. This man's character, his policies, everything is so opposite of who Jesus is and what he calls us to do in this world...I believe it is a justice issue to vote against Trump. The work Christ has called us to as believers would be seriously hampered if this man were president. He would hurt the very people we are called to protect. He would significantly hamper our ability to do the work Christ has called us to do.He would continue to deceive a lot of people, and continue to smear the image of my Christ and what the Church is supposed to be by claiming to be a Christian himself.

So please see the below link in context of everything I've already said here - under normal circumstances, as a Christian I would never endorse, or tell anyone to vote against, a specific candidate. But these are not normal circumstances. I am posting this thoughtfully after much prayer, as a Christ-follower, not as a liberal or progressive. Please join me in prayerfully and thoughtfully thinking through our role as believers in sharing the love of Christ with this world, furthering his work of redemption and justice - and what a vote for Trump means in relation to that call.

For those reading this who are not followers of Christ: please know that the god Trump claims to follow is not my God. It is not the true Christ. Know that there are many Christians who separate themselves from Trump and are working hard to make sure he is not elected, and that his voice is not seen as the representative for our Savior's. If anyone wants to talk more about what I posted here, what some of this Christian-ese language means, and who Jesus really is, please let me know. I would love to talk.

For those who are Christians and voting for Trump: please know I am not saying any of this out of a mean spirit...and ultimately if you feel God leading you to vote for Trump, though I strongly disagree, my voice does not "trump" that. ;) I feel so strongly that we need to understand why so many of our friends and neighbors are voting for Trump, talking lovingly and with grace, and move forward from this election year with a better understanding of each other and how we can change things for the better in our country. My request is just that before you vote for Trump, you would have thoughtfully and prayerfully researched and examined who he is, his policies, his history, and his plans for the future, and how that coincides with our calling as Christians.

Finally, I for sure have some thoughts on alternatives to Trump. Hit me up if you'd like my thoughts - this post is already long enough!

Even more finally: if Trump does win this November...the world will not end (I don't think ;) I'm not posting this post to be apocalyptic or dramatic. Christ's power is stronger than any elected official, and God will accomplish his purposes, whoever is in office. I think things would look very different, would be harder...BUT, "in Him all things hold together." God will still move. My prayer - whatever the outcome of the election - is that God uses this time to bring people to himself, and also causes needed shifts and refinement in his Church, so that we more closely resemble him.

http://www.calledtoresist.org/