On May 16, the Free Methodist Church ordained Jon. I am no theologian, and do not claim to be, so forgive me if this definition is subpar or incorrect but ordination is the setting apart of an individual as a clergy. While each denomination’s ordination process is different, the Free Methodist Church’s (by my definition) is rigorous. Jon spent three years in seminary, one year as a Local Candidate, and three years as a Conference Candidate.  I am so proud of him and am so thankful that I got to be by his side during this process.

It hasn’t been the easiest road to get to where we are today, yet I am extremely thankful for where we are together. Jon has worked to serve our church, our community and make an impact in his daily work. Above all of that, he has prioritized our marriage and home life. Because of health issues, Jon has taken care of me financially, emotionally, and sometimes even physically.

In retrospect, I could not help compare the rigorous process of ordination Jon just went through and the rigorous process of adoption we are in currently. Both have had countless difficult decisions to be made. Both have had a lot of emotional, physical, and spiritual stress. And most of all both have had COUNTLESS amounts of paperwork! But, Jon is now an ordained clergy. So, what are we as a waiting adoptive couple?

The process of adoption is such a unique situation. Most times we work for results: a prize, a diploma, an ordination certificate. This process is much different. We worked and worked just to wait to be chosen. There is no ETA on our family, there is no end date to the waiting, and the most difficult part of all, there is nothing we can do about it.

So how do we wait well? How do we not sit on pins and needles everyday hoping our phones ring? How do we focus on the right now instead of the future?

One of Jon’s favorite authors is Henri Nouwen. He said this about waiting:

“A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.”

Society teaches us to not wait well. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship knows this. As soon as you start dating the question is, “When are you going to be exclusive?” As soon as you are exclusive the question is, “When are you going to get engaged?” As soon as you get engaged and are married the question is, “When are you going to have kids?” As soon as you have kids the question is, “When are you going to have more?”

We always want something else. We always want to be somewhere else. So how do we, as Henri Nouwen asks, ‘wait for something hidden to manifest itself to us?’ Jon and I really stink at this part of life. When we want things, we want them now. And this process of adoption is everything but now. So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we try to wait well. Pray that we will learn patience. Pray that we will have hope. And pray that we can trust in Christ during this time.

We are so thankful for everyone who has already reached out to us with phone calls, text messages, and notes. We love our community of friends and family and we are so incredibly thankful for your love, prayers, gifts, and support.