Update 9/20/12

Hello Friends! It has been way too long since I have updated the blog (more on that later). First, I wanted to reiterate how truly thankful we are for your prayers, financial support, and sincere love to us throughout this 2 year process of adoption. We have seen FAITH BLUE t-shirts in the newspaper, on airplanes & airports, in Florida & even at the Olympics!!! Also, you have told us that you have worn your FAITH BLUE shirts to the hospital for a surgery or Dr appointment, or worn it on a difficult day to remind you that FAITH is the confidence in what we HOPE for and assurance about what we do not see! We also have some precious friends who have a new foster daughter and they purchased one for her as they are on their own journey of FAITH to adopt her as their own daughter!!! Love, love, love it! If you have a FAITH BLUE t-shirt, wear it and share your story of FAITH with us when you get a chance & let it serve as a reminder to pray for us as we still do not have an adoption date. 

Philippians 1:3-6 “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I sincerely mean that scripture- Oh how I thank God for YOU for your partnership! And can I get an AMEN, on that last part?!?!?!- We are so ready for the completion of our adoption!

 “The great test of faith is that we can wait on God...not push a button and get whatever we want now.” –AW Tozer

Oh how I relate to this quote tonight at 12 midnight! It's been a long day- breakfast duty at school, teaching 20 third graders, a parent conference, a staff meeting, a 2-hour home visit with an adoption worker, and then sitting at the table for another 3 hours filling out paper work that she left for us (I really do love her, by the way). To say “I am exhausted” is an understatement.

As you know, it has been quite some time since I have given an update on the blog. I will be honest; it is because I am tired. I am weary. I am exhausted. We really need your prayers in this process. No, there are not problems with the adoption- even though it has been a truly difficult case in regards to Caden’s birth family. They continue to be supportive- as I said; there are no problems between us or in the case.

I will refrain from speaking negatively about the process we have been through in the last two years. It has definitely been a journey of FAITH. We took a leap of FAITH, and we continue on this journey of FAITH because we were called to do so. When I am weary of the process, I remember that His timing is not my own- but always on time! He is sufficient in everything & not limited by time!

We were really, really aching to have Caden’s adoption finalized in November for National Adoption month, but that won’t happen due to things beyond our control. Believe me, if I could push a button (or email a judge, or call a supervisor, or ….) Oh again, the Tozer quote  keeps ringing true. We ARE on a great test of FAITH as we know that God has given us Hebrews 11:1 as our confidence two years ago when Caden moved in with us.

As I told a dear friend tonight, I don’t want to become jaded by this process. I want JOY in this, even in the midst of long-suffering, and I mean loooooooong-suffering.  I want to be an advocate for adoption when this is over because it IS worth it. It is not about the system, or certainly not about me, but about staying focused on God – because He is not limited by time. And it IS all about that little boy asleep in his FAITH BLUE room- that makes it worth it all.

Many have asked in the last five months for an update. I honestly didn't know what to say because I truly want God to receive GLORY in this! However, after being told things that didn't line up correctly in "the timeline", disappointment and frustration set in deep in my heart as we moved onto our 5th caseworker in 2 years. I felt like if I was honest, my exhaustion/frustration in the process would squash out any glory God could possibly receive. But you know what? I am pretty sure I can be authentic with you because I know YOU fight similar struggles such as these as well. So I am going to be real and know that God will still receive His due glory because He is God!!! May He receive glory even in the midst of my frustration. So here it is-  it’s been such a long, complicated, and grueling process that I temporally lost the beautiful story God has given us in this! Do you ever forget the beauty in the story He has done in your life? We forget to see it as He does- He sees the ENTIRE journey and not just the point you are stuck in, for what seems like years (literally)! 

So Lord, remind me… sing it to me again- the fragrant aroma of the offering of adoption and how You Lord, have adopted US- You brought us into Your family and loved us! Thank you Lord, I am forever grateful.

Friends, will you make a commitment to pray daily for the completion of our adoption? Will you pray for urgency within the department to tie this up with a pretty FAITH BLUE bow? Will you pray for God’s favor upon us?

We are not alone- will you pray for other families and children waiting for adoption? Will you pray for families that have adopted, fostering, or in kinship care right now- they need your support and prayers. Will you pray for the social workers, attorneys, CPS & private agencies that deal with such heavy & emotional cases? Will you pray for the children across the U.S. growing up in foster care, and others that face life without their fathers and/or mothers? Will you pray that the church (worldwide) would grasp and reflect God’s heart for adoption and orphan care?

  

We are weary tonight, but know JOY comes in the morning! 

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Psalm 82:3 "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed."

Hosea 14:3 "For in you [God] the fatherless find compassion."

James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…."

By Faith,

Tammy for the Greene's 

PS Please comment here or on Facebook if you are making a commitment to pray. Again so thankful for each of you; Philippians 1:3-6 “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”