ShayleeJoy: It's a Long Post

The miracle of ShayleeJoy began in out hearts as soon as we held our sweet EllaKate in China on March 27, 2006. The blessing of your child through adoption is no different than the blessing of a child through birth. I have experienced both and all have been perfect gifts from God. I can't put into words the feelings that welled up in me when I took EllaKate into my arms that amazing day, but I do know without a shadow of a doubt... she was born to be our daughter and our James 1:17 baby.

So in 2007, we began the paper chase for SJ as non special needs and logged in on June 20, 2007 thinking we might have a 24 month wait. We have now been waiting 31 months with no end in sight. For the last 6 months or so we have prayed about the whole situation. We have also prayed whether God would want us to adopt through special needs. Lots of friends along the way have encouraged us (you ALL know who you are!) and God has certainly given us many opportunities to be with other families for support. We have also had so many people praying for us along the way as well.

Just since the year turned to 2010, Scott and I have been in fervent prayer about what God's will was for our adoption. Along with the many prayers of family, friends, and even people I have never met, God began showing us His will. I had been praying for God to speak to me about what He wanted us to do. I needed to Hear from Him. Sunday a week ago while in the worship service, I heard God say plain and simple, "If you are just on the NSN track, you are saying you aren't willing to adopt SN." I had never thought about it like that. I felt like God was leading to SN for the first time and I shared this with Scott. Wish I could say God spoke those same words into Scott's heart and we could just tie it all up in a neat little bow... but it took a very painfully emotional evening of discussion to hear Scott say he was hearing God's will through me and if I felt so strongly about this, he agreed and we needed to move forward.

You wouldn't believe how many people told me God would tell Scott the same thing He was telling me if it were to be. I have learned God speaks in so many ways... through the heart, through other people, through His Word. I heard Him through my heart, Scott heard him through me and others, and now I have the most exciting part to share with you!!!

I have a very sweet friend in Atlanta that has been my mentor through these few weeks. She has listened and suggested and listened and suggested and yesterday, I finally stepped out in faith and made a call to our agency to switch our preference to SN. Now we wait for our social worker to update our home study and we have to update our fingerprints, all while God works out the timing for us to find our sweet ShayleeJoy.

GET READY!!!

After that was said and done, I sat down to my last day of homework for bible study. We are doing Beth Moore's rewritten study- Breaking Free. We are on week 2 and I was working on day 5: EnJOYing the Presence of God. I began working and came to the first scripture Isaiah 43:5, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your CHILDREN from the east and gather you from the west." Next to the scripture I had written... EllaKate's verse on her announcement and added ShayleeJoy- switched to SN today 1/25/10.

The next scripture took me to Psalm 139:9-10, "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Next to that scripture I had written 3/27/06 In China and God gave this scripture to me on the day I will hold her for the first time. I added 1/25/10 Shine the way to ShayleeJoy Jesus!

Next I was sent to Psalm 16:11, "You have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with JOY in your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand." Right in the middle of the verse was her name JOY. I had written by the verse... Joy- abiding in God. I added 1/25/10 I found my JOY by abiding in You and seeking Your will for our life.

Now go back to the title of the homework: EnJOYing the Presence of God... I have complete confirmation through God's Word He is sending us to China to get ShayleeJoy. I am so thankful He has called us to this amazing journey and look prayerfully to the day we see her face for the first time.

I have to copy exactly what Beth Moore said in her lesson... "I hesitant to say all this because I would be sickened to think I might sound proud of my relationship with God. Please hear my heart when I tell you that the greatest joy in my life is the very thing I have deserved the least. I consider the ability to love Him and enjoy Him an absolute gift of grace... one He will gladly extend to anyone who offers Him her whole heart."

If any of you know me... Scott, mama, Marcia, Amy, bible study girls, adoptive mom friends, you all know I have cried and anguished over wanting God's will over my will. I knew very well He might close the door and I was praying for Him to prepare me for that. I know full well there is always an answer... there was a time when He said No two times, then sent us for EK, then we waited for so long, and now He is sending us to get SJ! I am so humbled and excited to watch Him bring her to our family. We have just begun this journey and have an uphill climb to China financially. I know God is sending us and HE will prepare the way. More to come later of possible fund raising projects. In the meantime, let's give Him all the glory and praise Him for all His blessings!!!

Blessings,