Nothing philosophical - Part 1

Okay, so those of you who read the posts here regularly have probably noticed that I normally come and type when I am feeling particularly introspective.  I've decided, however, that to lighten the mood a bit I should sometimes just write when I feel like writing.  So, that my friends, is what I have decided to do today.  Just write.  For the fun of it.  And to share a long overdue story...

When I first started this blog thing one of my initial comments was that I needed to share how we got started in this new (third) adoption process, but then of course I went off to talk about something else.  Today, however, I have a little time so I thought I'd go back and cover some ground that seems to have been skipped.  To tell what I can about how the Lord introduced us to Jim/Jack and how we came to the decision to adopt again.

I suppose to really tell the story right, I should start at a different beginning so newer things will be in context.  Way back when, in 2002, Dan and I were working through the beginning stages of Jolene's adoption.  As luck would have it (if you believe in luck - which I don't...), one of my students happened to play basketball on the same team as Caleb and Will Franklin Chapman.  After hearing me discuss our adoption and our interest in Shaohannah's Hope (now Show Hope), which was just coming to be at that time, this student offered to ask Mary Beth Chapman about the grant program for me.  Mind you, this was a 5th grader, so this was a huge offer.  After checking with his mother, a fellow teacher, and having her tell me she thought it was a great idea, I said "Sure."  And so our connection to Show Hope was established.  From that initial contact we were able to apply for and receive a sizable grant toward Jolene's adoption.  Then, about two years later, we were again blessed with a grant, this time helping to bring Becca home.

Our initial response to the generosity and support of Show Hope was the desire to give back.  We were thrilled when they began to take monthly sponsors through the Stevey Joy Club and jumped on board immediately.  And we have been fascinated to watch the growth of this organization over the years, as well as blessed to feel as though we are a small piece in their giant puzzle.  One thing that always bothered me, however, was that I couldn't find a way to do more.  In the beginning, Show Hope was based out of Virginia so even though I contacted them with my willingness to volunteer where needed, I was too far away to really be of service.  Eventually, Show Hope moved their offices to Franklin, TN, just a few miles from our home so this lifted my spirits a bit.  Then, as they grew larger, they started to periodically send out a call for volunteers for one event or another.  Each time they asked I would quickly respond "yes" if at all possible, but since I lived so close to their Franklin offices there was never a need for help in the local venues as their regular staff had already chosen to help out.  I was glad they had the help, but I was still frustrated by how little I could do beyond being a monthly sponsor.  Here was an organization that had given us so much, and I just wanted to give back!

Then, something happened.  Suddenly I had the chance to do something with Show Hope.  Shortly after our family moved to Maryland this past winter I received an email from Show Hope advertising their summer missions projects - and one of them was just for me.  Finally!  For a few years they had been conducting missions trips for young adults, ages 16-25, and I had even asked for them to let me know if they ever needed more chaperones, but these new trips were specifically aimed at sponsors - those people committed to supporting Show Hope regularly.  Yeah!  That was us!  There were three trips listed - one trip firmly planned for August, and two more potential trips in the months following.  I talked with Dan about the possibilities and we both agreed this was something I should do.  We didn't see how we could quite pull off the fees to meet the August trip deadlines, but the October trip looked promising.  Then, a few weeks later, after I had spent many days wishing and wondering how I could possibly make the August journey work, we received word again from Show Hope that they had slightly lowered the fees for this first trip.  We still weren't sure how we were going to manage the cost - it wasn't that drastically different, but after discussing and praying again we decided to jump in and I signed up for the trip.

And so, without us having the slightest idea He was doing it, God put this new adoption plan in motion...