Adoption Day

In all of the Christmas season rush, I choose to stop and just take everything in, breathing in and out His goodness and feeling His presence surround me. Tears stream down my face as I sit here in awe of our Lord who gave us the ultimate gift, His son, on Christmas.

As I sit here and reflect on this last week I am reminded of Matthew 7:7-11, 

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Oh friends, He hears- so keep asking, keep searching, keep knocking…and He does know how to give wonderful gifts, especially at Christmas time! I want to share the events of the last week so you can see His hand and this scripture as clearly as we do today!

Wednesday, December 12- As you know, I posted here on December 3rd that we were told we would have a December adoption date. That all came to a screeching halt last Wednesday. We found out the very last lady we had to meet with before getting our court date was taking 2 weeks off in December… beginning that next Monday, December 17. So there it was Wednesday afternoon and we had to meet with a woman (I had never met, nor did I have any contact information for) by Friday if the adoption was to still happen in December. This lady serves a huge area and has appointments set up in advance. So unless we had some sort of miracle, the adoption would be in January. I was devastated and a mess; just so tired of waiting. I even told my friend (and preacher’s wife) that I was tired of God’s timing and tired of hearing people tell me that after two years. She began to pray. I considered hiding in my hole and even tried. However, a dear friend came into my classroom on conference time on Wednesday afternoon and wrapped her arms around me and wept and prayed with me for a miracle meeting and a December adoption date. Then 3 other of my teacher friends came in my classroom and the five of us joined in a circle and prayed.  I relayed the news to my family, and they all started to pray. At church that night, another friend prayed with me during prayer meeting for this meeting and I saw a few more friends at church and asked them to pray specifically about this as well. "For where two or more gather in my name, there I am with them." -Matthew 18:20

Thursday, December 13- at lunch…. the lady called!!! She had a cancellation and could meet with us on Friday! An answered prayer- a miracle! Kelsey said I sounded like a crazy woman on the phone with all my shouting for joy and telling the lady I had even googled her (yes, shameful I know, ha)! I told her there were a lot of people praying for an intervention from God, that she would contact us! Glory to God, all praise to Him!

Friday, December 14- We had a 2 hour meeting with the lady, just as we had prayed, right before her vacation time began! This was our very last CPS meeting; rejoice! Our attorney would call and get our court date on Monday!

Monday, December 17- We were given our adoption date ;it would be TOMORROW, December 18!!! Praise God! Isn’t that just like Him to show up and show off? He said to us, “You kept asking, you kept searching, you kept knocking. Let me open this door for your family. I love you, my children, let me show you what I mean in Matthew 7:7-11. He said to us, “My timing IS perfect for the good gift I want to give you for Christmas- a son!”

Tuesday, December 18- Exactly one week before Christmas, ADOPTION DAY! Oh what a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day! The courtroom was filled with so many friends and family! It was so special in that room that day and we will remember it forever! The judge's touching  and meaningful words, Caden's attorney holding my hand, our attorney's calm and joyful demeanor, our precious CASA worker, the CPS workers who have been on the case for so long, our friends crying in the background, the hugs, the joy, the cheers, the tears....that day was such a special gift! Thank you God!

So without any further delay, all praise and honor to Him as I announce…

After 2 long years, the wait is over!

Chad, Tammy, Kelsey, and Colton Greene

are happy to announce the adoption of our son and brother:

Caden James Greene

Welcomed to the world: 06/25/03

Welcomed into our hearts & home: 10/24/10

Adopted & Forever Ours: 12/18/12

Chosen by God, to be chosen by us!

Please bring your entire family and come help us 
celebrate this happy occasion on 

Sunday, December 30, 2012 at the Fellowship Hall at FBC, Rusk.

Program promptly to begin at 2 pm, followed by some family fun!

If you have a Faith Blue t-shirt, please wear it, otherwise just wear blue!

Thank you for your faithful love, support, and prayers over the last 2 years.

It’s time to celebrate with our new son; sincerely hope you’ll join us!

CADEN JAMES GREENE JUMPING FOR JOY!

What a HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!

"It's Christmas every time you let God love others through you." 
-Mother Teresa

My Whole Being Waits

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. -Psalm 130:5

I read that scripture over the weekend and started weeping because I have experienced this scripture for over 2 years, "My WHOLE BEING WAITS and in HIS WORD, I put MY HOPE"...

For over 2 years, Caden has been OUR son, not officially, but in OUR hearts, in HIS heart, and in YOUR hearts. Yet, throughout the long process of adoption, we have endured a very tough emotional journey.

We have sought the Lord for guidance, cried out, felt defeated, and then regained our FAITH in being sure it would all be final soon. Then quickly we would find ourselves having another pity party- just last week I had a friend meet me to cry and pray with me. "My WHOLE BEING WAITS and in HIS WORD, I put MY HOPE"...

We waited on God's timing when another 3 months of false hope had passed. We’ve met with countless people from CPS caseworkers to attorneys to CASA to FAD workers to fictive kin advocates to firemen to doctors and even had psychological exams.

For two years, we’ve had to run home to make beds, wipe off the counters, and cancel plans or appointments when someone calls to have a home visit on the last day of the month. We've had the number of our couches counted, drawn a floor plan of our home, installed a smoke detector in every single room, took all locking doorknobs off our inside doors, and locked up all medicines. "My WHOLE BEING WAITS and in HIS WORD, I put MY HOPE"...

We’ve written essays on our childhood, essays on discipline policies, and essays on how we handle stress. We have been asked every question imaginable and we’ve all been finger printed and background checked, and so have many of our close friends and family. We have attended countless court dates, visitations and phone calls with Caden’s birth family and the hardest part...in the depths of our souls, we've worried, questioned, prayed, and trusted HIS WORD.

And yes, we have even withdrawn from a lot of activities, service, and ministries during the past 2 years as God has challenged us to live James 1:27 in our very home; our greatest ministry.  "My WHOLE BEING WAITS and in HIS WORD, I put MY HOPE"...

You may even find yourself TIRED FOR US or possibly TIRED OF US and TIRED OF hearing about our adoption process.  Because yes, IT. HAS. BEEN. OUR. ALL. ENCOMPASSING. LIFE.  for over 2 years. Loving, praying, hoping, living, worrying, trusting...roller coaster of emotions for two long years.

Unless you've been through a lengthy adoption process, it's probably hard to truly understand the emotional strains we have been through in the last two years. However, we do so much appreciate so many of you who have gone through adoption and come beside us or those of you who just simply TRIED to understand or sympathize. You have just BEEN THERE for us (even when we have withdrawn into a hole) because WE HAVE NEEDED YOU desperately- to pray for us and with us, to listen to us, to love us, and to encourage us! Some of the sweetest friendships have grown during this time, people we didn't even know that well have given such encouragement and love to us. Thank you all for joining alongside us as we have waited, my heart is so grateful for you all. "My WHOLE BEING WAITS and in HIS WORD, I put MY HOPE"...

I can honestly say this has been the longest continuous season I've ever endured. Speaking of seasons, they end! Hallelujah, praise God seasons end... and I am READY for a celebration!!!!  Last Friday you may have heard my screams and tears of JOY (no matter where you live), we were told...IT IS COMING…IT IS COMING VERY SOON…our ADOPTION DATE WILL BE THIS MONTH!!!! Can I get an AMEN, PRAISE GOD?!?! 

I have several friends who volunteered to help with Caden's Adoption Party; please come celebrate with us! DETAILS COMING SOON!  

By FAITH, this little boy will officially 

be a GREENE THIS MONTH! 

 “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope." -Psalm 130:5