This weekend was a special reminder of how thankful I am to the Lord for so many things in my life. First, I'm blessed beyond measure to have a Father who is full of grace and mercy. When I've fallen, He has been there to pick me up, when I'm unworthy, He still is there loving me everyday and every step of this journey called life. He is Comfortor, Sustainer, Grace, Mercy, Love! I love Him and adore Him! I'm thankful that He so blessed me with such a Godly earthy father who loves His people and who is a daily example of His love to all. He raised me according to God's Word and showed me God's love each and everyday. I'm so thankful to be able to call him (Craig Montroy) "dad". I'm also very grateful for the special man He brought into my life, that I now am blessed to call my husband and father to my children. Trey is my best friend and the love of my life and reminds me of God's everlasting love through His love and devotion to His Savior Jesus Christ. Hannah and Noelle are a reminder of God's love each and everyday...their innocence and yet hunger for the Word, already, is so exciting! I pray that they grow up to know and love the Lord with all their heart!(-Ashley)
We as a family are so thankful to God for the blessing of adoption. We are also thankful to Him for the many opportunities He's given us in the past few weeks to share about our adoption. I want to now and always make it clear to all that this journey would not be possible if not for Him! We give God all the glory!!!
Well, most of you probably wonder where we've been this past couple of weeks? Well, we are still here...the adoption process is long and there isn't always something to share on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis, but I thought I'd update you all on where we are to this day. We have just a couple of papers left to hand in to our social worker, FBI clearences, and medical forms to have filled out and looked over and then it is on to our last set of paperwork. Our home study looks to be completed by the 1st of August..woohoo!!!! Thanks to our exceptional social worker, Kelly Matherne, it has been a wonderful experience!! She has not only been there to file and fill out paperwork, but to encourage us along the way (checking email at all hours of the night to make sure we had things in on time and to also just see how we were/are doing). After the homestudy is complete, we will then file the first part of a government form that will allow us to bring a 'forgien' child into the country (the 2nd part will be filled out once we identify the child we'll be adopting). Then after that is checked over (approximently 6 weeks after it's mailed in) then we can go to Malawi to pick up our child. Please pray for those who are in Malawi looking for a child eligible for adoption (this means a child who has no living relatives, or whose living relatives agree that they can be adopted-this may be an aunt, grandmother, etc.)! We know that God is in control of all things, and He already knows the right child for us (and we are so thankful for that)! So, we are 1/2 way there, I'd like to think, but the adoption process can be unknown as far as timing goes...we just pray for patience!!!!
My next post will either be when our home study is done (and APPROVED) or when a child is identified, so please don't get discouraged if you don't see a new post for awhile. Just remember to pray for us, pray for our child, pray for our social worker, and pray for all who have/will have a hand in this adoption!!! Thank you to all who are already praying for us daily, we def. feel your prayers!!! Thank you for the words of encouragement also, what a blessing they are to us during this time!!! Thank you, THANK YOU, to all who purchased a t-shirt...WOW what a blessing it was to have so many who gave in support of our adoption and who showed their love for us in a unique way!!! May your t-shirt tell a story everytime you wear it and spark a conversation about adoption that just may open the door to another family taking that next step towards starting their own 'journey' (I know our t-shirts have done just that for a couple families already)!!!!
