The Stewart Family

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Finding Our Son in Haiti

Stew and I just returned from Haiti. There is honestly so much to tell and so much that we can't express in words. I journaled while I was there and wanted to share some of what I wrote and take you through the process we went through while there in Haiti. I will blog each day of each day in Haiti. I will not leave you in suspense as to who our son is. Here is a short video. Our son is 3 yrs old. He is precious. I will give you my perspective before and after knowing he was our son. and then give you more of his background.

Day 1

On the plane for Haiti. Finally. First of many, I am sure. The last week seemed to give things I couldn't handle, but His grace came and hope and trust came once more. I am continually reminded that this minsitry, to orphans, is God's ministry. I can't do this, but He can. I wonder what I will be thinking or feeling as we return on this flight. The days to come...i am in wonder of them.

We just lifted in the air. In 1 hr and 35 minutes I will see Haiti with my own eyes. I find myself as I have before. In one moment I am looking at my flesh...finding nothing to move me forward. It feels lonely and I want to quit...i can't do this. But then I see light...I see Jesus and know this is why He came. Taking care of orphans, adoption and our family has always belonged to Him. I find grace, hope and love rise and I find my steps to move forward.

He alone is able. And He is faithful.

I will go.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Starting the Adoption Journey

Ephesians 1:4-6

⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

June 23^rd 2010. It was our youngest daughter’s 2^nd birthday and Stew and I were in Chicago. We went out for dinner and Stew pulled out a map of the world and said, “it is time.”

For both of us, adoption had been a part of our lives. Many of our mentors have adopted children from all over the world. We ourselves had been adopted into God’s family as we both came to the saving faith in Jesus Christ, whom all salvation is from. Adoption was a part of our own lives. And we both desired to adopt a child when the time was to come.

So over dinner as Stew said those words to me and we looked at the map of the world, I knew that the time had come. So we prayed over all the countries asking God where our child was. We asked God to do the “impossible” and lead us forward no matter where that may be. We were excited and scared at the same time. The “timing” didn’t fit our “readiness” according to human logic. We were in the middle of paying off all of our debt. No savings for adoption fees. Not perfect parents or people. (that one is totally ludicrious) but, we continued praying.

And God has been faithful.

In September my husband met a man in a work meeting who was starting an adoption agency. That day he was getting license and needed families to begin the process. “where do we start”, stew asked. “I will send you an application”. Thus, we started the second step. We filled out an application and attended an adoption conference the next week.

Our steps have not been magical. They have been ordinary. And God has done the extraordinary before us along the way.

We are now in the process of adopting from Haiti. Everything about us adopting from Haiti doesn’t fit, except in God’s plan. We are learning that adoption has always been His ministry and His plan. And it is changing us each day.

We have a running list of what God is doing. He has given us favor with those in Haiti…shown us a few children to be praying for…provided over $4000 in 2 months…and sending us there in a week. And it keeps going with small stories that show us that this is HIS plan. We pray that God will do all things so that when times ahead get hard, we can look back and be certain God called us to this and will provide ahead to the end. We pray that our story will tell other, ordinary, unfit families, that God’s gift of adoption can be their journey too.

To be continued....

Monday, January 3, 2011

Christmas 2010...and into a new year!

Celebrated 7 year anniversary in Denton/Dallas area remembering our first steps towards this journey together! A sweet memory!

Brought in the new year with great friends!

Love all the families in our lives and especially when we get to keep their kids when mom and dad are away! or sick in the case of the truss'...

Grand parents and great grandparents gave much to us this year!! So thankful for their lives! (this is stew's dad who came to visit us from Georgia)

my grandparents (82 and 81 yrs old!)

my dad...the kids love Pa and Gammy!

December gave much to us! We love continuing to grow our traditions each year! This coming year we look forward to Stew's trip to Israel and Haiti to find our son. We look forward and wonder what 2011 will bring! happy new year!!