~ Leap Of Faith ~




The Collins Family
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Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Leap Of Faith

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The Collins Family in May 2007
Perfect & Complete...well almost.

I have started this blog so I can journal our experiences as we take a Leap of Faith towards the miracle of adoption. I want to share with our family, friends and our child how he/she became a part of our family.

We have already been tremendously blessed with two beautiful biological daughters, and at one time thought our family may be complete. This was until April of 2007 when God began to put on my heart the desire to adopt. I was drawn to Dateline and Oprah shows about children living in poverty stricken countries. I began having dreams about our family not yet being complete. Every time I turned around, I was meeting families who had already built their family though adoption or who were in the process. Not able to sleep one night, I got online and requested adoption packets from several different agencies. After sending off for these packets, I fell asleep instantly and had the best night sleep that I had had in over a month.

Over the course of the next week, the adoption packets began to arrive in the mail. They were all filled with many pictures of children, the agency history, the countries that they worked with and their criteria, and most of them sent a DVD with family adoption stories. Wes was working nights during this time so when the girls went to bed, I began looking through the packets. My heart ached for all of the children without families and yet I found joy in every happy ending story. I knew that God had put adoption on my heart and I was ready to take this Leap Of Faith and follow his calling. Now for the tough part...getting Wes on board.

At first Wes was shocked that adoption was even something that I wanted to consider. Why would we want to adopt when we were able to have children of our own? How could I possibly be thinking about adding on to our family when we had two little ones under the age of 2 1/2? Then when I got to the part about how much international adoption costs it was pretty much an immediate NO. Of course, finding the financial means was a huge concern of mine as well. I knew that Wes wasn't going to be easily persuaded, but asked him to take some time, think about it, and pray about it. Within a week he gave me the okay, "Let's Do It!" Wes has been so helpful with all of the paperwork. He got all our papers notorized, rearranged his work schedule so that he could make all medical exams and homestudy appointments, and I have to admit he got all of his needed reference letters back first.

So why have we chosen adoption? Wes and I have come to the realization that this is what God wants for our family. We feel that we have more love to share with another child and that God has called us to notice and feel the needs of others through the miracle of adoption. As Christians, we are reminded of God’s love for orphans. Adoption is one means of caring for these orphans. Adoption is a gift of love on everyone’s part with the child’s best interest of security, belonging, and happiness for the future at heart. We will always have a special place in our hearts for the birthmother and birthfather of our child as they truly made the ultimate sacrifice of love. We pray for their health often. We know that there are a lot of unknowns in the adoption process, but also know that God is with us every step of the way. God has already blessed us as a family in so many ways. We feel that if we didn’t follow this calling from God we would be missing out on another one of his blessings. We are unconditionally committed to sharing love with our child and including them into our forever family. And so here were are, taking this Leap Of Faith.

We would appreciate any prayers as we embark on this adventure. We wait expectantly for all that He has for us along this journey and we would like to welcome you to come along for the ride! Feel free to visit and share comments to our postings.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jenny and Wes. I truly admire you both and am so proud to say I know you. My family, our Sunday school class, and friends will pray for you during this awesome journey! God has truly blessed you and will continue to do so. I am so excited for you!
Sarah Wall

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 NIV

PaPa JR said...

Jenny & Wes;

I just read through your "Leap of Faith" site and I am sitting here in joyful tears. I want you two to know how truly blessed our entire family is by your decision of adoption. Please know Lauretta and I extend to you our encouragement, support and never ending love as you proceed through this process. We will be praying for you every day, as well as the children of the Phillipines.
Love and Prayers,
PaPa JR aka: (the tan one)& MaMa LaLa

Anonymous said...

I want you to know that I am so so proud. Your "Leap of Faith" is truly inspiring to me. I can't wait to meet the newest member of our family. Hunter, Haven, and I are joining you in prayer for this little miracle, his/her biological parents, and of course you. Your growing family is such a blessing to us. We miss you and love you all. xoxo The Toombs fam

Ron and Andy said...

Dear Jenny and Wes,

Congratulations! I am so excited for your family. I am very familiar with the HOLT organization as I have lead seven groups of nursing students to their orphanage for the disabled in Seoul, Korea. I regularly correspond with Molly Holt, daughter of the founder. I believe you have chosen a quality organization. Please keep us informed about your progress. We extend our love as you work your way through the process. Best wishes, Ron and Andy

Anonymous said...

Wes, Jenny, Jaidyn, and Addy,

Your website is amazing but of course we wouldn't expect any less. Though we have only had the pleasure of knowing you for the past three years, we do know how blessed we are to have you in our lives. Knowing you makes us smile! How much better can it get than that! Always know we are here for you. God Bless and good luck! We can't wait to help welcome your new addition.

Maybe you can tell Jaidyn her bear is now with a little one who needs it more than she does. She probably won't buy that will she? I don't blame her, I wouldn't either.

Grandma Penny said...

Wes, Jenny, Jaidyn & Addy

Thank you for the opportunity to share in your wonderful and exciting “Leap of Faith” journey. You have our entire families love and support in your decision to adopt. We will welcome our newest addition to our family with unconditional love. I am very proud of both of you. This child will be very blessed with you as their loving parents, and twice blessed with two little girls who will openly share their love with this child. I will continue to keep you in my prayers, and add you to the prayer list at church.

Lots of love

Grandma Penny
XXOO

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. Matthew 18:5