Hello everyone, Shane here. I've decided to finally begin contributing to our adoption blog. I thought it would be nice to disclose how this adoption all came about, to share some of the events that led up to this moment in the life of our family. The following remarks are found in my January 24, 2011 church newsletter article. I write one every week for church. If I ever become discouraged during this process, I remember moments like these...
I met my wife Ashley at Union University in the fall of 1998. We met for the first time through the Student Activities Counsel and I learned very quickly that she was very different from most of the girls I’d ever encountered. She wasn’t shallow. She had faith and character. She loved Jesus and was actually one of the funniest girls I’d ever met, not to mention she was a hottie.
I decided to randomly call her on the phone one afternoon. After finally figuring out who I was, Ashley chose to not hang up on me and our first real conversation literally lasted for two or three hours. We talked about everything! We were like reunited friends catching up on all that we had missed while apart. Above all, the thing I recall more than anything else was our discussion on international adoption…I told you we talked about everything. Ashley and I both felt strongly that at some God-appointed time in our lives we would each adopt a child of another nationality into our lives. I didn’t imagine then that God would lead us into marriage, but he did. And even now, after three beautiful children of our own, we both still have a desire to adopt some day.
As I drove my children to school this morning, my seven year old son Elijah and I talked about the importance of saving money. Emma, my six year old girl, joined in the conversation too. They decisively concluded during our commute that they wanted to save up their money to help mom and dad “buy a baby sister.” Now I can envision Emma wanting a little sister, a new playmate, an ally in her fight against her two brothers and their nerf guns, but Elijah! Wow, even as a young child he’s beginning to understand the value of life, the worth of a person created in the image of God. He’s seen the mission’s videos at church, the children that are plagued with poverty, suffering, and sickness. Ashley and I have spoken to him about his peers in other countries that are in need of a Savior and his love. And Elijah’s response…he wants our family to reach out and raise up one of those children. How cool is that!
Now the Groves’ won’t be filling out adoption applications this week, but there’s no doubt that God has given our family a common craving to embrace the addition of an international child. It may be a year. It may be five years from now. But I’m confident that God is close to opening this new and exciting chapter of our lives.
Thank God today for his sacrifice and that he made it possible for you to be adopted into his kingdom.
Living in expectancy,
Shane
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