We can because He does...

So how does a family prepare to bring a son home?  An 11 year old son.  How do we prepare?  You know what the beauty of this process is?  You can't.  WE can't prepare ourselves - any more than we could have come this far, this close to bringing Jacob home by ourselves.

Naomi- Christmas 2011.  You See.

Preparation.  It's what 'smart' people do.  The Boy Scouts tout that they are "prepared".  It sounds like practice, planning, being ready - attempting to control your own destiny or outcome maybe.  I have learned a thing or two about adoption.  You can read a book, watch a video of a nice lady that talks with her hands go on and on about what to expect. You can go to training(s), talk with other adoptive parents that have walked a similar road (it's never the same for anyone) and try to prepare, try to 'get ready'.  But at the end of the day, how does one really get 'prepared' to impact, to love sacrificially, feel a passion for a child that God made.

This is what is truly a 'God thing' about adoption:  -for what really matters - you can't prepare.  You can't plan for it- you actually can't as a fallen human being do any of these things in and of yourself.  But over and over again through willing, would-be parents these very things (love, impact, passion) happen or rather God gives both the child and the family - love.  You can't 'train' or prepare to love someone.  

I think that one of the coolest things about adoption, the biggest blessing -is this: God gives us what we need when we need it in short: he completes the work.  He is love.  He's in the middle of it, He stirs the hearts, He moves us to Love freely, He completes the work.  So to those who say "I can't love a child that is not mine"  - you're right.  You can't.  But if you entrust all those questions you have to Him and trust Him to complete the work - well then, He will and you...can.  More than can - you will. His love is the motive... IT IS THE REASON we...can.

So all we can do to 'prepare' is the little stuff.  We sent a list of questions to the Philippines a couple of weeks ago and today we got a snapshot of Jacob - basic stuff. And you know what, I think I am I am loving this little boy already. Try to picture him with us - I think you'll start loving him too.

Questions to help us prepare for Jacob to join our family 

1. What size pant is Jacob ?

• 7 Asian size (Marshall: I wonder what my Asian size is...) 

2. What size shoe is Jacob ?

• 4 USA size 

3. What is Jacob ’s favorite food?

• Fried chicken, fried fish, pork adobo, fried/ boiled eggs (Us too!) 

• Vegetables – eggplant, squash, (Wortheys: Really!?) 

• Fruits- apple, mangoes, grapes, pineapple, banana 

4. What does Jacob like to do when he is not in school?

• Sweeping floor (Serious?), washing dishes (Ok you're pushing it), reading books, playing/ running around (I'm thinking these things were not in order) 

5. What is Jacob ’s favorite color?

• red ( need to work the orange and blue)

6. Does Jacob know how to read English?

• yes 

7. What is Jacob ’s favorite game?

• Basketball (We have a court in our town - cool!) 

8. What is Jacob ’s favorite subject in school?

• mathematics (Must take after his mom) 

9. Has Jacob been around animals such as dogs and cats?

• Yes he love(s to) pet dogs and cats (Truly an international Kid trait)

Passing on the Love of the Father,

Marshall