A New Kind of Father's Day!

Yesterday, Father's Day, was one of those days that gave me a chance to really reflect on the last 7 years or so.  The two little boys in my life, Isaiah(7) and Mikah(4) have been an amazing blessing!  We have truly been through a lot with them both and yet I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.  Through the good times and the really bad we have become a stronger and more devoted family than we ever would have been had life been smooth sailing!  Our resolve and strength as a family has really amazed me and maybe even some that have been along for the ride. 
However, as much as I try to think back on the past years I keep getting drawn to the future.  The past has presented it's challenges and celebrations and yet as I sit here thinking, the future has thrown out it's own!

Isaiah and Mikah 2010

For the past four years people have always asked when Anne and I would have baby number 3.  Our response every time has always been surprising to most I would imagine.  Our two boys were NOT fun babies between colicky nights and sickness and acid reflux, so to have another of our own was just not really ever a consideration.  So our response was that we would love to have another but it would most likely have to be "not ours", and more detailed a "Haiti baby".
We really had no serious intentions and just felt that if God wanted us to take that leap it would happen.  So it sat.  On the back burner.  Just tugging at us once in a while.
When someone would talk about their mission trip to Haiti and show pictures of the children...our hearts would beat a little faster.
At concerts when the artist would ask people to sponsor a child in another country...our hearts would beat a little faster.
When our pastor talked about his own sons adoption from Ethiopia...our hearts would beat a little faster.
Finally, when a friend of ours talked about the things happening in Haiti and how her own daughter was moving their full time to take on the challenges, our hearts starting beating faster.
I haven't ever really been one that reads into things too much and can honestly say that God needs to speak to me pretty clearly in order to get his point across.  A fault I am not always proud of!  But all of a sudden God started talking to Anne and me pretty loudly!  Call it crazy or what you will, it has not stopped in the last two months.
As we sat with our friend and listened to her talk about her daughter leaving a few weeks later she began to tell us of some of the kids she has come across.  Very subtly it came up that we had always thought our next child would be from a situation like that.  God began to talk!
"You should check out Job!" she said.  Job?  Who is Job?  She began to tell us how a little boy named Job had broken her heart several months ago.  His dimples.  His excitement for life.  His giant smile and laugh.  His four year old body still wearing 18 month clothes.  And his battle with Malaria and overall lack of size for his age. 
The conversation went on and became a little more serious but was just chalked up as conversation that night.  Until God started to talk!  Upon returning home that night Job was on our hearts.  Anne couldn't escape him and I was trying to be the "sane" one.  It didn't seem like a very realistic thing anyway.  We have things going right how we want them right now.  Life was finally clicking along.  We are at a point where all of Isaiah's bills are almost gone.  The boys are in soccer and both will be in school very soon.  No more daycare is just around the corner.  We couldn't possibly afford the adoption process or even come close.  It would just never work logistically.  But God talks, ALOT!

Job, 2011

Anne began to feel that tug daily and couldn't escape it.  We found out that Job has no papers of record and was just dropped off at an orphanage.  Making it even harder to become adoptable but not impossible.  So Anne called a lawyer on a whim.  He just happens to have experience with situations like this.  She began to talk more with our friend that fell in love with Job and they began to put a plan together.  What seems like an impossible task has loopholes and possibilities.  But also the process is discouraging.
Being the voice of reason I told Anne to slow down and see what happens.  God will show us how to do this and if it is really supposed to happen.  I was leaving for a weekend serving at a Prison Ministry for five days and told Anne to take it easy and just see what happens.  I also prayed that God would clear my head of this situation so I could focus on Prison, but if He had a sign for me to make it very clear!  Something I had never asked for before.
Guess what? God Talked.
Within fifteen minutes of arriving at my five day getaway I ran into my friend Joel.  We have known each for 4 years and stay in pretty regular contact.  Joel knows who I am!  Joel, like everyone else in the world, didn't know anything about my prayer or what was happening in our home.  However, as Joel and I hauled supplies into the prison Joel said, "Hey Job, hold that door for me!"  Not Jon, JOB!  He quickly apologized for the mix up when I asked what he had called me.  I think I offended him a little with my response, but seriously!?!  There is no logical explanation for him calling me the wrong name, let alone Job!  God talking?  I think so. 
That was the sign I had praying for! 
It also is one of about 25 that God has smacked us in the face with.  A donation by the prison inmate church council to help with the adoption process was made.  Completely not asked for.  Just a group of men that want to help a child less fortunate than them!  Along with that we have a lot of family, framily and friends that are stepping up to walk beside us on this journey.  And Isaiah has saved $14 so far to help fly Job home!
We aren't completely sure where God and Job are leading us.  We would love to welcome Job into our home someday soon of course, if that is what God has planned.  It will be difficult, and a long journey we know.  But for the moment we feel that there is a plan for our family to grow and that it will be through the adoption process!  We pray it is Job, or that Job is leading us to someone else, and that the process is a smooth one. 
We ask that you would join us in prayer for Job and our family as we take these next steps.  Anne and I have scheduled doctors appointments for physicals and have Home Study papers sitting on our table waiting to be filled out.  Soon they will be filled out and mailed in! 
Until then will you join us in prayer?  For Job!  For Isaiah and Mikah!  For Anne and Myself!  And for those that will be joining us on this journey!!