Thursday, September 24, 2009

news!!!

"Once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act."
Proverbs 24:12

we have some news!
the Cassada's have some news.

i'm not going to beat around the bush and make you guess {although that would be kinda fun!}

we are adopting.
2 children.
from Rwanda.

{!!!!!}

i know!

if you've read this blog for any amount of time i don't think that will come as a complete surprise to you. maybe you weren't expecting it today. but my heart has been "here" for awhile.

here's part of an email i sent to my closest friends "announcing our news" a couple weeks ago:
Pat and I have been blessed with so much…our health, and 4 healthy children, a job for Pat that allows me to stay at home with our kids AND that more than provides for our needs! Over the last couple years we’ve been talking/reading/praying/searching to see what God would have us do with all the blessings He’s bestowed on us. We’ve learned over the years, that if we keep pursuing His heart, He will guide us and bless us in ways we couldn’t have even HOPED for! And we want to be a PART of Him working. As part of that searching, Africa has become very close to my heart. I’ve never set foot in it, but I hurt for the people, and love them in ways that can only be His love. And the orphans…the millions of orphans…it’s not ok. And I LOVE being a mom. Is my life already full? YES. And crazy? YES. But does that mean I can’t open my arms and heart to more? My answer is NO (that doesn’t mean I think it should be everyone’s answer!) Adopting children from Africa has just seemed like “it”…what God wants from us at this point in our lives…where He’s been leading us the last couple years. It is clear to both of us. We’re both on the same page. We don’t expect it to be easy…the process, or the initial adjustment, or even down the road. There will be MANY issues/setbacks. But God is with us. And I just have to cling to that.

i hope to do a number of posts over the next week or so answering some of the questions we are getting. i can't answer it all here in one post.

but here are just a few answers.

why are you adopting?
the short answer: because we can.
that is not meant to sound "flip" or "sarcastic." our eyes have been opened to the suffering out there. and God has blessed us immensely. we've been seeking Him...asking Him what He wants us to do with what He's given us. and this is where we've been led. out of obedience we are stepping forward.

do you know who the children are?
no. we won't be referred the specific children for 6 months or more.

why 2 children?
i can give some reasons for this. but the biggest reason is because that's what we felt called to do. the "practical" reasons are: if we are willing to adopt 1, why not 2?, and they will at least have 1 other person in their family that "looks like them"

why Rwanda?
i have a heart for Africa. so we knew that's where we were headed. we decided on an agency that we felt comfortable with (this was very important to us!) and they are Ethiopia and Rwanda. the Rwanda program is much newer, riskier, not as smooth. so that's what we picked :-)

plus: 1 in 5 children in Rwanda won't live until they are 5 years old.
do you need much more reason??
this is not about giving them a "better" life...it's about giving them LIFE.

where are you in the process?
we started the process about 2 months ago.
we are just starting our home study.
the process should take 12-18 months.


i've had an adoption blog that i've been journaling through for the last 14 months or so.
feel free to check it out. {click on "check it out"}
i will be transferring those posts to this blog {in the dates they belong...for the blog book :-)}
and i won't be posting on that blog anymore.
i will be posting about adoption stuff here now {in addition to all the normal, everyday "Cassada stuff"!}
if you aren't interested...sorry!
i don't want to keep up 2 blogs!

let me know if you have any questions!
i'll try to answer them all here!
i'd love to encourage a "spirit of adoption"...whether you might adopt one day...or help support someone that wants to...or help orphans in need around the world in other tangible ways...and i'd like to be open to any questions or concerns people have about it.

we are excited for what God is going to do.
we count it a blessing to be used by Him.
we covet your prayers and appreciate your support!

29 comments:

Cassie said...

not surprised AT ALL, but no less excited for you because of that!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
and now....i'm going to go read your other secret blog!! :)

Jenkins said...

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!
What an amazing gift for your family and those children. We will be praying for your journey!

WOW!

Sarah said...

oh i have chills! i am so happy for these little ones who will be joining your family...God is good...we will be praying for your whole fam during this exciting time!!! :)!!

Jennifer said...

WOW! Very cool, very exciting, very MUCH YOU! BOTH of you!

Blessings and prayers coming your way! Jennifer

anthonyandbeth said...

wow Courtney! I'm so excited for you and your family and I am so proud of you for taking this step of faith and moving in the direction you feel God is calling you. That is where you will find your greatest peace and satisfaction...right in the middle of His will. Even through the uncertainties and the waiting ahead and then the adjustments after you can KNOW that God has brought you to this place and HE will provide in ever possible way!!! So happy and so excited to see it all come together and be able to read about it through the blog! what wonderful news!!!

Kim Mattes said...

Wow! congratulations! that is awesome! i just finished reading the "other" blog! i have tears in my eyes. we are praying for you as you begin this exciting process. we are also praying for the two kiddos that will become part of your family. also praying for your 4 kiddos that and their adjustment/transition etc. lots of praying! :)

Mandy said...

Courtney - I've just started reading your blog, and saw this post. It brought tears to my eyes! My husband and I have been talking more about adoption these days, and I get so excited about the possibilty in our future. I'm looking forward to reading about your journey. I'll be praying for your family!

Mandy Bradley Gift

beckley said...

oh, courtney. i'm so happy for you. and so grateful that two more children in this world will not only have a home, but your home. two more children will get to grow up cassada. two very lucky children.

much love.
and thanks.
because people who have resources and choose them in this way- well, i am so grateful. so incredibly grateful.

i hope that one day we might get to follow in these footsteps. grace and peace to you-

Katy said...

i am SO excited about this journey and so glad that it's OUT now!! :) Can't wait to read the secret blog....and am already excited about the 2 new Cassadas that are out there somewhere!!! :)

Judy said...

Oh I'm not surprised, but I am crying as I read this and as crazy as it sounds I feel a tiny bit jealous. A huge part of me wants to do the same thing, but we're not there yet. I don't know if we ever will be...so in the meantime I'm excited to be on this journey with you. Excited to contribute in any and every way that I can!! Praying for those two sweet babes out there who will one day be yours!

Tammi said...

Congrats!! Make sure you pick up "The Bishop of Rwanda" by John Rucyahana (in fact I think everyone should read it :-)) -- it gives a great insight into what is one of my favorite countries on this great big planet!! And one you sure won't hear on mainstream western media, but that's a whole other story!!

http://www.amazon.com/Bishop-Rwanda-John-Rucyahana/dp/0849900522

jody said...

congratulations! so happy for you...people forget sometimes that the parents are the blessed ones.

Yet I still get that simultaneous sheer joy mixed with a deep pit in my stomach when I hear news like this. :-)

So excited to follow your journey...

Colette said...

Praise God for your willingness to follow Him.

You all are amazing parents...I'm so excited for you all!

LOVE!!!

Beckysblog said...

so awesome! I dont have time to really comment now but I will be praying for you through this whole process.

What blessed children to have you guys as parents!

Renee said...

Congratulations Courtney! I hadn't heard any more about it since you sent in your application so I was hoping everything was moving along. We're still on the journey ourselves, but I can promise that it will be an incredible experience. You'll learn to trust and rely on God in different ways than you have before. You'll learn more about yourself (ha, I thought I was a patient person before we started this). I know for us and you there are beautiful and difficult times ahead, but it's so exciting to know people who have the same heart as we do. I hope that we can experience some of the sames joys and pain together - even if it's a sort of long distance togetherness :-)

Ali said...

love reading the feedback and excited you'll have so many great families praying for you in this journey. I know you'll inspire lots of people. Can't wait to watch it unfold.

Christy said...

totally agree with Ali!
We just love all of you so much...
thanks for letting us be a part of this amazing adventure, girl!...
we LOVE you!!!!

Julie said...

YEAH... I am NOT surprised at all!!!! I am so excited to read your secret blog and hear about your heart. It is funny you just posted this because I have been emailing Renee a lot about this and Zach and I have been talking too. We are open but we are finding it difficult to possibly do where we live and we know this is where God called us. It is huge on my heart now. And our small flat would never pass a home study. So, we would need to move first...but that is just details...but there are so many of them, and the first is a huge one...being able to do it here.... I will be praying for you during this. Thanks for sharing... and letting us know how to specifically pray for you in this regard!

K said...

Holy Cow! Totally excited for you guys and so amazing to read through your posts about the last year or so and where God is leading you! Our kids were getting ready to get on the bus this morning when I told them, "You know Ms. Courtney, whose blog we read (they like to see the pics of your kids) - well, she just wrote that they are going to adopt 2 children from Africa!" My oldest, Megan, said, "Wow! That is so cool! They get to have 6 kids in their family instead of 4!" And Jack asked what "adopted" meant - so Megan explained that when kids don't have a Mommy or Daddy they go to the orphanage to wait until God gives them one...and a family! You guys are the one's the God has chosen as their family!!! We'll be praying for you!

Michelle said...

Oh my goodness, WOW, how amazing are you and Pat. Congrats will be praying for all of you, and I can't wait to read the other blog. Good to see that this is where God has your heart and you are being obedient.

Abi said...

So excited to hear where God has you in this. I love that He developed this heart for Africa in you. I love that He will take you through all the steps. I love that He knows all the details of the adoption that you don't.

Alden and Dorian said...

Oh how excited the grandparents are ~ such an exciting adventure you are on. We can't wait to meet these two precious children, who will join your family [and ours]~ picked "specially" by God! Walking with you in prayer and love. Yahoo!

Kim said...

Am very surprised, but happy for you both, know it well work out. also in our prayers. So cool, wish i could have seen your faces

Holly said...

I have been trying to come up with a way to word my response to this news since yesterday.

don't have one ;-)
here's my list of what was going to be in it though:

Happy, OVERjoyed, scared, envious (in a healthy way ;-), anxious, peaceful....ALL for you.

CONGRATS.
I'm not surprised either -
what an incredible journey for your family!
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

beckley said...

oh, did i mention that i'm excited?

cuz i am.

and i pretty much can't stop thinking about how excited i am.

and nice scripture.

jim's preaching through proverbs for 3 months, and i was working for a magazine this summer doing exegetical work through proverbs, and really-- a bust up book. if only i were cool enough to really slip and slide with proverbs. as a whole.

shalom in this, court. shalom.
and thank you.

Catherine said...

congratulations! these 2 children are already so blessed to have you chosen as their parents, even though you haven't met them yet. i look forward to reading the rest of the story as it plays out! I'll be praying for your family.

Mandy said...

oh wow. so excited for you and so excited to get to follow this story :)

Amy said...

Wow! How exciting for all 6 of you... someday to be the 8 of you! Congrats and best wishes on the whole process!

Leighann said...

catching up today... and i'm so happy for you; tears of joy. my heart is overwhelmed. i know God will bless you and these children as you walk this journey. thank you for following HIM.