"In you the orphan finds mercy." -Hosea 14:3
Dear Kevin and Sheba,
Just thinking about being adopted would be scary enough. Learning that you will be adopted is even scarier. Moving to a new culture, leaving everything and everyone you know, new language, new ways of doing things, and a new family. I can only imagine the looks on your faces learning that we will be your new family. I imagine you were excited... at first. Looking at each other thinking "there is hope", when your whole life you've been waiting for "the break that will make it okay".
But then you began to truly think about it. "If I do something wrong will they give me back?" We must seem like the greatest gift and the scariest night mare to you. But in GOD the you will find mercy. You were adopted because we love you. You were adopted because GOD loves you. But until now, you were adopted by the world. Now you will be adopted for the last time until it comes time for you to meet your father.
Love,
Marlyss
Dear Marlyss,
Just thinking about being adopted would be scary enough. Learning that you will be adopted is even scarier. Moving to a new culture, leaving everything and everyone you know, new language, new ways of doing things, and a new family. I remember the look on your face when you learned that you will have a new family. You were excited... at first.
But then you began to truly think about it. "If I do something wrong will they give me back?" They must seem like the greatest gift and the scariest night mare to you. But in Me you will find mercy. You were adopted because they love you. You were adopted because I love you. But until now, you were adopted by your mom and dad. You will live with them until it comes time for you to meet your father.
Love,
your dad
Almighty GOD
I thought about adoption one day and wondered what it would be like to be an orphan and here that there is a family that wants you. Then I thought about it more and realized we are all adopted. We have the family we have because we were adopted because our parents wanted us. And not just because they didn't give us up for adoption when we were born, they wanted us because they wanted a child. They wanted us. We were adopted so that through our earthly family we can come to know the glory and mercy of GOD through the eyes of an orphan.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Trust
No kids yet. Just a meeting over the phone with HOLT. It went a little like this...
"Hello. So we know you are currently trying to adopt two kids."
WAIT! Hold up! we don't have any kids to adopt at the moment.
"No we had two kids but they told us due to recent findings in behavior and such they weren't fit for us to adopt. Is there something we're missing?"
"We had two Americans in the area who evaluated Kevin and Sheba further, and more thoroughly. They said they would be ok to adopt, that is if your willing."
I wasn't home during the meeting, I was at swim practice, so I had no idea what was going on. My mom takes my brother to a friends house that night so while they are gone, my dad fills me in. He says we may be able to adopt Kevin and Sheba again. All these thoughts go through my head. 'God does have a plan! He knows exactly what he's doing. After all the heartbreak I went through before just trying to decide that God wanted my family and I to adopt, getting kids, having them taken away and being told they wouldn't fit with our criteria... . Faith is what I'm being taught through all this. Faith, patience, acceptance,forgiveness, and love.'
Now came the hard part. Deciding as a family that we were willing to adopt them.... again. It seems odd that we would have to go through the process of choosing kids again when we chose them before, but when your in this situation, new things come up the second time around and you can't help but pray your doing the right thing. I think we're all scared. Scared for the new things that could happen, the new challenges we might face, the beautiful hardships that will teach us things we can only know by adopting kids. It's nerve-racking yet thrilling. And I can't wait to see what will happen next and the new things God will teach us.
Check out My mom's blog about it: www.vhoeksadopt.blogspot.com
"Hello. So we know you are currently trying to adopt two kids."
WAIT! Hold up! we don't have any kids to adopt at the moment.
"No we had two kids but they told us due to recent findings in behavior and such they weren't fit for us to adopt. Is there something we're missing?"
"We had two Americans in the area who evaluated Kevin and Sheba further, and more thoroughly. They said they would be ok to adopt, that is if your willing."
I wasn't home during the meeting, I was at swim practice, so I had no idea what was going on. My mom takes my brother to a friends house that night so while they are gone, my dad fills me in. He says we may be able to adopt Kevin and Sheba again. All these thoughts go through my head. 'God does have a plan! He knows exactly what he's doing. After all the heartbreak I went through before just trying to decide that God wanted my family and I to adopt, getting kids, having them taken away and being told they wouldn't fit with our criteria... . Faith is what I'm being taught through all this. Faith, patience, acceptance,forgiveness, and love.'
Now came the hard part. Deciding as a family that we were willing to adopt them.... again. It seems odd that we would have to go through the process of choosing kids again when we chose them before, but when your in this situation, new things come up the second time around and you can't help but pray your doing the right thing. I think we're all scared. Scared for the new things that could happen, the new challenges we might face, the beautiful hardships that will teach us things we can only know by adopting kids. It's nerve-racking yet thrilling. And I can't wait to see what will happen next and the new things God will teach us.
Check out My mom's blog about it: www.vhoeksadopt.blogspot.com
Friday, August 27, 2010
Night Strike: My first encounter with the real world
This post has nothing to do with our adoption, I just felt like I should put it up.
Seven o'clock, Thursday night. Worship, then serving the Homeless Under the Burnside bridge. There's something for everyone: Hair cutting, Prayer walk, Walk-abouts, Table host, Serving food, clothing station, Dignity station, Foot washing station, Disney duty... the list goes on. You try to sign up for the thing that you would say, "I'm not doing that" or, "Definatly not that" to. You do those so you can stretch yourself and grow.
I was working at the dignity station. Handing out shampoo, soap, tooth-brushes, tooth-paste, comb's, razors, floss, lotion, and my favorite part, giving manicures to those who asked. Now I know, painting nails, that sounds really stupid! But it's amazing how much these people enjoy it, and how grateful they are for complete strangers to come take care of them and just talk to them. They love know that there are people out there that care enough to come do they're nails, or, wash they're dirty feet, or to cut there hair. I did the nails for all guys. My favorite encounter, was the guy who wanted gold nails. He sits down, and I wash his hands and he pics out what color he wants. "I want a gold color" he says. We do a yellow, and then a gold sparkle-like top coat. I ask him his name (typical conversation starter) and we begin to talk. He tells me of some of the recent events of his life, and we talk about that while I'm painting. it was amazing how much he was willing to share his story with a compete stranger, just because their willing to listen. Then, I ask him his story. He says he was in a band, then one of the band members died and he had a nervous break down, for him, the economy started getting bad he lost everything. He's been living on the streets for a couple months - one year. After that he asks about my story. I tell him of course (but you all know me so i don't need to go into detail). I finished his nails, and he thanks me, gets up and leaves.
Later, He brings out the buckets he uses for drums, and starts playing, in the middle of all the noise. It was the buckets that caught my eye later. You see on the way back to the car after all this was over. I look over to the left, and see several people sleeping against the wall of a building, and i notice one of them has a stack of buckets in front of them. Roby. Under the old dirty blankets he uses as sheets, that was where he would be staying tonight. It dug into me. I complain about stuff I want and don't get, and ask my parents for other stuff, and I keep getting all this crap I don't need. Then there's Roby, who had a good paying job, and now has to make do with what he can get. How selfish I feel!
Another guys nails I did, had just had his feet washed and what not, he comes over and is looking at all the stuff we had set out, and I ask him, "Do you want your nails painted?" and He's clearly either drunk, or he's not all there, but as I sat there talking to him, It was like talking to a little kid. He washed up his hands in some hot water, and I was about to let him dry off his hands with a towel, but something kept me from letting him take the towel and letting him dry his own hands. I sat there drying his hands as he just smiled at me and laughed. He was happy about everything! He wanted purple nails, with gold sparkle on top, and (we also had lotion and little hand massages for people who wanted it) he wanted a massage and lotion, and he just loved it! It's hard to think about leaving them out there in the cold to just sleep and fend for them selves.
I'm not going to go into detail on this one, because this was the hardest one by far. I did the nails of This "guy in a girls body" as his "brother" put it, and They just kept talking about "I need to get prettied up for the boyfriend I might have tonight" and that was so incredibly difficult, that i was about to get up and excuse my self for a moment. We now people like this exist, but we just try to ignore it and act like it's not there. Let me tell you, I think living like that and ignoring what is reality, is like acting like someone your not. I'm not saying it's a bad thing because it's totally human nature to act like that, I'm just sharing my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time, it's just really deep, and opens your eyes to what does happen in our world.
Seven o'clock, Thursday night. Worship, then serving the Homeless Under the Burnside bridge. There's something for everyone: Hair cutting, Prayer walk, Walk-abouts, Table host, Serving food, clothing station, Dignity station, Foot washing station, Disney duty... the list goes on. You try to sign up for the thing that you would say, "I'm not doing that" or, "Definatly not that" to. You do those so you can stretch yourself and grow.
I was working at the dignity station. Handing out shampoo, soap, tooth-brushes, tooth-paste, comb's, razors, floss, lotion, and my favorite part, giving manicures to those who asked. Now I know, painting nails, that sounds really stupid! But it's amazing how much these people enjoy it, and how grateful they are for complete strangers to come take care of them and just talk to them. They love know that there are people out there that care enough to come do they're nails, or, wash they're dirty feet, or to cut there hair. I did the nails for all guys. My favorite encounter, was the guy who wanted gold nails. He sits down, and I wash his hands and he pics out what color he wants. "I want a gold color" he says. We do a yellow, and then a gold sparkle-like top coat. I ask him his name (typical conversation starter) and we begin to talk. He tells me of some of the recent events of his life, and we talk about that while I'm painting. it was amazing how much he was willing to share his story with a compete stranger, just because their willing to listen. Then, I ask him his story. He says he was in a band, then one of the band members died and he had a nervous break down, for him, the economy started getting bad he lost everything. He's been living on the streets for a couple months - one year. After that he asks about my story. I tell him of course (but you all know me so i don't need to go into detail). I finished his nails, and he thanks me, gets up and leaves.
Later, He brings out the buckets he uses for drums, and starts playing, in the middle of all the noise. It was the buckets that caught my eye later. You see on the way back to the car after all this was over. I look over to the left, and see several people sleeping against the wall of a building, and i notice one of them has a stack of buckets in front of them. Roby. Under the old dirty blankets he uses as sheets, that was where he would be staying tonight. It dug into me. I complain about stuff I want and don't get, and ask my parents for other stuff, and I keep getting all this crap I don't need. Then there's Roby, who had a good paying job, and now has to make do with what he can get. How selfish I feel!
Another guys nails I did, had just had his feet washed and what not, he comes over and is looking at all the stuff we had set out, and I ask him, "Do you want your nails painted?" and He's clearly either drunk, or he's not all there, but as I sat there talking to him, It was like talking to a little kid. He washed up his hands in some hot water, and I was about to let him dry off his hands with a towel, but something kept me from letting him take the towel and letting him dry his own hands. I sat there drying his hands as he just smiled at me and laughed. He was happy about everything! He wanted purple nails, with gold sparkle on top, and (we also had lotion and little hand massages for people who wanted it) he wanted a massage and lotion, and he just loved it! It's hard to think about leaving them out there in the cold to just sleep and fend for them selves.
I'm not going to go into detail on this one, because this was the hardest one by far. I did the nails of This "guy in a girls body" as his "brother" put it, and They just kept talking about "I need to get prettied up for the boyfriend I might have tonight" and that was so incredibly difficult, that i was about to get up and excuse my self for a moment. We now people like this exist, but we just try to ignore it and act like it's not there. Let me tell you, I think living like that and ignoring what is reality, is like acting like someone your not. I'm not saying it's a bad thing because it's totally human nature to act like that, I'm just sharing my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time, it's just really deep, and opens your eyes to what does happen in our world.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
tick tock...
It has been nearly two months since my last post and I'm really sorry. I have been distracted and in all honesty, I forgot about it! It crossed my mind a few times but I just put it off.
So, right now we are currently open to adopting through Uganda or Ethiopia. Just waiting for a pair of kids. We will be going to Africa in October for a couple of weeks. Not to do anything to important, we will most-likely just treat it like a vacation. Wish us luck with raising money to get us there. I think we have enough for two tickets but we will need some money to get food and pay for other various necessities.
Other then that, there is nothing new to report. I'm very excited but kinda bored ust waiting to get a pair of kids. So you can pray that we will find a pair of kids who need us as mush as we need them. You can also pray that we raise the money we need to go to Africa this fall!
So, right now we are currently open to adopting through Uganda or Ethiopia. Just waiting for a pair of kids. We will be going to Africa in October for a couple of weeks. Not to do anything to important, we will most-likely just treat it like a vacation. Wish us luck with raising money to get us there. I think we have enough for two tickets but we will need some money to get food and pay for other various necessities.
Other then that, there is nothing new to report. I'm very excited but kinda bored ust waiting to get a pair of kids. So you can pray that we will find a pair of kids who need us as mush as we need them. You can also pray that we raise the money we need to go to Africa this fall!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Storms
"Don't tell God how big your storm is, Tell your storm how big God is."
We have two days until the cut off of May first. If we aren't matched with kids by May first, we will have to travel to Africa twice. Double the money, double the jet lag, and double the frustration. Please pray that we could pick a miracle out of a hat, and only have to travel once. This is our storm, and no matter how big it is, God is bigger.
That just reminds me, that my friends and I were saying, "I love you most," "No I love you most-est-er" "... I love you times infinity, Ha! Beat that! Nothing is bigger than infinity!!" Well I have an answer for you: "God is."
We have two days until the cut off of May first. If we aren't matched with kids by May first, we will have to travel to Africa twice. Double the money, double the jet lag, and double the frustration. Please pray that we could pick a miracle out of a hat, and only have to travel once. This is our storm, and no matter how big it is, God is bigger.
That just reminds me, that my friends and I were saying, "I love you most," "No I love you most-est-er" "... I love you times infinity, Ha! Beat that! Nothing is bigger than infinity!!" Well I have an answer for you: "God is."
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mom says it best
I have been trying to think of the best way to put this out there. As I was thinking, I remembered my mom's blog. I went and re-read her post and figured she worded things about the same way I would. I would like to suggest you read her post: An Unexpected Word. I want you to remember though, after you read her post, that God has a plan, and we are trying to be patient and understanding. It hurts and is painful, but when you have God on your side, you can get through everything.
*There is a link to my family blog on the left side of the home page: vhoeksadopt.blogspot.com
*There is a link to my family blog on the left side of the home page: vhoeksadopt.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saul and David
You know, life's not always what you expect. It could be going great one day, and suddenly take a face first, diving plunge into the unknown. I found that out when our seemingly perfect, no-worries-yet, plan to adopt changed courses.
The children are picked and perfect. But, what if they aren't aloud out of Uganda. The person in charge over there must sign a visa in order to let them out of the country. At the time, she refuses to sign off on any visa. For anyone.
No visa, no kids.
Just because they have their own problems half way around the world, doesn't mean everything over here is happy go-lucky either. We are trying to decide if we want to move and by a new house. Along with that we learned that instead of following the law: you can have three months off when you get new kids, Holt requires that we have at least one parent home at all times for the first six months. Mom can take the three months off but in law enforcement six months off just might mean that she quits that job and recruits to photography full time. If not and she is aloud to take six months off, she might have to work swing shifts. Dad on the other hand is trying to start up his own business which has it's struggles. If and when we do get the new children we will have to change pretty much our whole schedule. Taking them to doctor appointments, counseling things I have no clue about, helping them get places, driving them from place to place. And for a while, everything will seem like it's all about them.
I've been thinking about this more and more. So much so I'm kind of surprised I have been able to keep up on school work. I am fine while I am at school, but when I get home it all floods my mind like a tsunami. I think about it more and more all the time i even start dreaming about it. I dream about them coming here and us just being a normal happy family. But then again, I also dream about them coming and us not being able to communicate, they don't like us, everything goes down hill. I dream. I day-dream. I can't get it off my mind. What if, what if, WHAT IF?! It's all I think about. The bad things. God help me see the good in this!
I was reading my bible this morning. I flipped to the back where it has the "How to read the bible in a year" section. I found the date and turned to: 1 Samuel 19-21. I ended up reading about Saul and David. How Saul wanted to kill David, but God always kept him safe... God always had a plan. God has a plan for me and my family. I just have to have faith that it will all turn out alright.
The children are picked and perfect. But, what if they aren't aloud out of Uganda. The person in charge over there must sign a visa in order to let them out of the country. At the time, she refuses to sign off on any visa. For anyone.
No visa, no kids.
Just because they have their own problems half way around the world, doesn't mean everything over here is happy go-lucky either. We are trying to decide if we want to move and by a new house. Along with that we learned that instead of following the law: you can have three months off when you get new kids, Holt requires that we have at least one parent home at all times for the first six months. Mom can take the three months off but in law enforcement six months off just might mean that she quits that job and recruits to photography full time. If not and she is aloud to take six months off, she might have to work swing shifts. Dad on the other hand is trying to start up his own business which has it's struggles. If and when we do get the new children we will have to change pretty much our whole schedule. Taking them to doctor appointments, counseling things I have no clue about, helping them get places, driving them from place to place. And for a while, everything will seem like it's all about them.
I've been thinking about this more and more. So much so I'm kind of surprised I have been able to keep up on school work. I am fine while I am at school, but when I get home it all floods my mind like a tsunami. I think about it more and more all the time i even start dreaming about it. I dream about them coming here and us just being a normal happy family. But then again, I also dream about them coming and us not being able to communicate, they don't like us, everything goes down hill. I dream. I day-dream. I can't get it off my mind. What if, what if, WHAT IF?! It's all I think about. The bad things. God help me see the good in this!
I was reading my bible this morning. I flipped to the back where it has the "How to read the bible in a year" section. I found the date and turned to: 1 Samuel 19-21. I ended up reading about Saul and David. How Saul wanted to kill David, but God always kept him safe... God always had a plan. God has a plan for me and my family. I just have to have faith that it will all turn out alright.
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