Checking into agencies & changing hearts!

7/2/09 (backdating still) Well, we are really starting to delve into this, or so it feels to me, and it is overwhelming trying to decide on an agency. So, we actually sent an e-mail to some families that have adopted through different agencies to get feedback, and I am really appreciating the responses we are getting. It has been really neat, and eye-opening to read of some of the joys and challenges these parents have faced. And also incredible how they make it through with the grace of God, and help from some knowledgeable people who are experts in dealing with the issues of adopted children. 7/3/09 Hannah has been excited about adopting from the moment that we spoke of it, once dad agreed. I want to add in here, however, that Mallory has struggled with this whole adoption possibility from the beginning. She is the one that I have to light a fire under for most things, but once we get her going, she really enjoys whatever it was she didn't originally want to do. Well, as she stated when we were all talking together about an adoption as a family, she "likes our family just the way it is, and she sees no need for us to change it." SOOOO, not exactly what we were hoping for, but okay, some people just have a certain type of personality that you learn to work with. Quietly, after our prayers one night, I ask her if she would please start praying that God would help her with this, and she agreed that she would. Oh Lord, I really need her heart to be open to this! Please help us to be understanding and give her a change of heart! UPDATE We had gone to the library one evening, Diester, me, and Mallory, while we were waiting for Hannah. It was for the sole intention of checking into adoption websites, etc.; and while doing so, we came across a website that showed a picture. Now if you can picture this in your mind, it was of about 15-20 little boys around the ages of 3-4 all standing at a picture window looking out at the rain, and the rain was just running down the window, but you could make out the faces of most all of the boys. They were SOOOO cute! ! And, so I said to Diester (who was standing behind me at the time) "Aren't these boys adorable? They are so cute." And then Mallory, who was sitting at the computer next to the one we were using, looks over, and notices the boys. Her eyes just starting sparkling and squinting (as her eyes do when she starts to smile, and I could tell her heart was softening just from looking at the picture.) I think God planned that. But, I didn't say anything, we just commented on the boys we thought were especially cute. Mallory and I were partial to a couple and Diester was partial to another. But, they were all adorable. So, Mallory hasn't really said she was moving in any direction, however. . . @ the dinner table tonight, a friend of Mallory's (Emily) was with us and we were talking about the adoption ~~~Mallory then brought up about the picture we saw of some boys in an orphanage, and how they were soooo cute. Emily made a comment about Mallory not being to into the adoption, and Mallory replies saying, "I'm starting to get used to the idea." Thank you God!