Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, it's a perfect day to start the Easter weekend. I spent a little of my morning on the back porch, pruning my ferns that had been neglected all winter. The green foliage is popping through and I needed to trim away the old brush, give them fertilizer, water them, and rehang them to display their vitality. I finished 3 of the ferns and made my way over to the 4th and last. I stood on the bar stool and took down the last fern. I looked inside and noticed 3 baby birds, fragile and tiny, breathing deeply. Immediately, I thanked God for new life. Thank you Lord for this season of rebirth and growth. I marveled at these precious birds who weren't even old enough to make a peep, then quickly hung the fern back up before the momma bird could see me. I spent the next several hours peeking through the window, waiting for the momma to return. She never did, not yet anyway.
These helpless babies, left to fend for themselves, are reminders to me. I am reminded of the orphan we so desperately desire to adopt. Appropriately, today is good Friday and I am reminded of the abandonment Jesus Christ felt when he went to the cross at Calvary. Not only was he abandoned by each of the mocking sinners in the crowd and his own friends, but he was abandoned by God the Father himself! "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). We will never have a grasp on the pain Jesus felt when he was abandoned by his father for 3 days. The relationship between Jesus and God the father is an infinite, perfect one. This was the ultimate and most painful sever. Abandonment is painful and Jesus knows this pain personally.
As I peek out my window hoping momma bird returns, I remember the orphans, our broken and hurting world, and Jesus' abandonment and pain on the cross. But I look onward to Sunday, a day that secures our hope. What Jesus accomplished on the cross many years ago was enough for all who have been abandoned. Jesus' blood was shed and He was forsaken by God the father in order that He could adopt us as his sons! Then his resurrection, 3 days later, sealed the deal! I rejoice in knowing that there is hope for the daughter we will soon be united with. Her earthly abandonment will be but a speck of nothingness when she comes to realize the love Christ has for her.
I love Easter and all that it brings. I love the new life that is ushered into the world around us... the budding flowers, the baby birds, green grass, and oh so many allergy attacks. ;-) More importantly is the new life that Easter brings for US because of Christ's death and resurrection! His resurrection is ours as well. We are made new in Him! Happy Easter to each of you. Rejoice! He's alive... and so are we!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Adoption Doughnut Day
I am so excited to kick off our very first fundraiser to help bring our baby girl home! And what better way to do it than eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
Our "Adoption Doughnut Day" will be Saturday, May 4th. We are pre-selling glazed doughnuts ($7 per dozen) now through April 26th.
If you would like to place a glazed doughnut order to help with our adoption expenses, please send me an email at lauraloman@yahoo.com to let me know how many boxes you'd like.
On Saturday, May 4th, you will pick up your doughnuts at our home anytime between 6:00-10:00am. If you do not live in our area, consider purchasing a certificate from us, redeemable for one dozen glazed doughnuts at any Krispy Kreme location (Metairie, Baton Rouge, and throughout the US). Simply indicate in your email that you are purchasing a certificate rather than a dozen to pick up. Certificates make a great gift idea as well! We can mail these certificates to you at no charge.
You can pay for your doughnuts one of two ways. Either mail a check, made out to Seamus Loman, to 70452 Hwy. 21, Suite 200-130, Covington, LA 70433 or click on the "donate" button in the righthand column of this blog. Simply enter the cost ($7 times the number of boxes/certificates you order) and donate through paypal or with a credit card. Please be sure to write "Doughnut Day" on the donation description. (If you are viewing this on a smartphone or other mobile device, you will need to go to the bottom of this page and click on "view web version" in order to locate the "donate" button on the right)
Please consider ordering a dozen glazed doughnuts for our Doughnut Day! We will be serving complimentary freshly-brewed coffee at our home that morning! I mean, really... how can you resist?
Please help us spread the word! Feel free to post this link on your facebook page, your blog, or email to everyone you know! :-) Thank you for your support!!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Birmingham - The Base of our Mountain
We took a very important step last week, in our adoption process. On Friday, Seamus and I drove to Birmingham, Alabama to meet with Lifeline adoption agency. We had the privilege of spending a good bit of time with the international social worker as well as leaders from the China and Ethiopia teams. We acquired a tremendous amount of necessary information. More importantly, we connected with Lifeline on a personal level. This agency is gospel-centered in everything they do. Their number 1 priority is the welfare of orphans. They are interested in families who have been called by God to serve in this capacity. They are not interested in families who simply believe this is the easiest way to grow their family. Our values are perfectly in line with theirs and it's clear that God led us to Birmingham according to His will. We are thanking the Lord for such a Godly group of people to lead us through this process.
Beyond connecting with Lifeline, we made some exciting and important decisions. We have decided to adopt a baby girl from China! Based on our parameters and qualifications, choosing China was an easy decision for us.
Through much prayer and discussion, we've also decided that we now want to adopt a baby with minor, correctable special needs. Originally, we didn't feel called to this but are convinced now that it's where God is leading us. A minor special need could include something as small as a heart murmur or cleft lip. These are not things that could ever prevent us from loving this child to the fullest or would take away from the attention to our other children.
We love the name Emily Hope Loman. We also love the name Margaret Hope "Maggie" Loman. Hope has special meaning to us (see my previous post). ;-) I'll keep you posted when we decide for sure!
She will be around 12-18 months old when we bring her home. The adoption process will take 12-18 months from start to finish, which means she is probably alive at this very moment. If not, in utero at least. The thought that we may have a child halfway around the world gives me very mixed emotions. I feel a sense of helplessness at this moment but so relieved that we will be united with her very soon. Please begin praying for our child, for choices of the birth mother, for conditions in the orphanage, for the caretakers, and for our anxious hearts to rest in knowing that God is in control of the entire process.
On our way home from Birmingham, we had to stop in Tuscaloosa to take a sweet picture in front of the University of Alabama stadium. Yes, that's me in an LSU shirt, with thumbs down next to Bear Bryant. I'm pretty sure I almost got shot.
Another stop on our way home was at the base of a "mountain". Seamus came up with the idea to take a rock from Birmingham to place in our garden to remind us of this journey. The rock represents our mountain climb that we are just beginning. We are at the base of our mountain right now. Our climb over the next year and a half will be long, steep, exhausting, exhilarating, humbling. We'll need rest along the way, and encouragement from friends. Our mountain may look huge right now but victory is ours! "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt... you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:21-22) Here's a picture of Seamus picking out our rock. I'm calling it our bigger "hope" rock. ;-)
Here we go, y'all!!!
Beyond connecting with Lifeline, we made some exciting and important decisions. We have decided to adopt a baby girl from China! Based on our parameters and qualifications, choosing China was an easy decision for us.
Through much prayer and discussion, we've also decided that we now want to adopt a baby with minor, correctable special needs. Originally, we didn't feel called to this but are convinced now that it's where God is leading us. A minor special need could include something as small as a heart murmur or cleft lip. These are not things that could ever prevent us from loving this child to the fullest or would take away from the attention to our other children.
We love the name Emily Hope Loman. We also love the name Margaret Hope "Maggie" Loman. Hope has special meaning to us (see my previous post). ;-) I'll keep you posted when we decide for sure!
She will be around 12-18 months old when we bring her home. The adoption process will take 12-18 months from start to finish, which means she is probably alive at this very moment. If not, in utero at least. The thought that we may have a child halfway around the world gives me very mixed emotions. I feel a sense of helplessness at this moment but so relieved that we will be united with her very soon. Please begin praying for our child, for choices of the birth mother, for conditions in the orphanage, for the caretakers, and for our anxious hearts to rest in knowing that God is in control of the entire process.
On our way home from Birmingham, we had to stop in Tuscaloosa to take a sweet picture in front of the University of Alabama stadium. Yes, that's me in an LSU shirt, with thumbs down next to Bear Bryant. I'm pretty sure I almost got shot.
Another stop on our way home was at the base of a "mountain". Seamus came up with the idea to take a rock from Birmingham to place in our garden to remind us of this journey. The rock represents our mountain climb that we are just beginning. We are at the base of our mountain right now. Our climb over the next year and a half will be long, steep, exhausting, exhilarating, humbling. We'll need rest along the way, and encouragement from friends. Our mountain may look huge right now but victory is ours! "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt... you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:21-22) Here's a picture of Seamus picking out our rock. I'm calling it our bigger "hope" rock. ;-)
Here we go, y'all!!!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Our Decision to Adopt
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
Seamus and I have decided to adopt a child from another country! We are convicted in this decision and know that God has personally placed this call on our hearts. We also know that many people will not understand our decision. I’m hoping to shed some light on our journey so that everyone involved can encourage us, pray for us, and support us through this long and difficult process.
The journey begins deep in my heart. I have had a passion for the ministry of adoption for at least 2 years. It has been a recurring theme in my life, through friends, testimonies, sermons, music, billboards, you name it, but especially in listening during prayer. God began by softly nudging me to realize the need. Over time, he has convicted my heart on a much deeper level. Most recently, I spend time laughing at his overtness. I have mentioned it to Seamus many times, but only casually to see how he would respond. He never dismissed the idea but never (until recently) showed a deep connection to the idea. Several weeks ago, I was praying about adoption and where God wanted me in this. I turned to my end table to grab a pen to write some thoughts down and I grabbed a stone that I hadn’t seen since I acquired it. The stone says, “hope”. I knew God was speaking to me so clearly and reassuring me of ”hope”… The hope I have in glorious eternity because of what Christ has done, the hope that a child in need will have when they are brought in to a family who loves them, the hope that God would soften Seamus’ heart, and the hope that God will always provide for us. His speaking to me was clearer than ever. It’s at this point I brought it up to Seamus again and not only was he open but he was clearly feeling called to this as well! Since that talk, we have had many more like it, and many precious moments praying together, asking God to use us to further His kingdom. Seamus shares that God continually places 2 questions on his heart. “Is there a need? And, are you available?” It’s that simple. Adoption is not only loving a child in need but loving God himself. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ” (Matthew 25:40)
My longing to adopt comes from my knowing that I was graciously adopted by my Father in heaven. "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." (Ephesians 1:5) He sacrificed His own son who bled and died, paying the ultimate price, so that He could adopt me! Wow, I was purchased with the most valuable item ever. Do I have doubts? Do I fear the unknown? Do I question my ability to parent another child? Yes, yes, and yes. But I don’t have to be capable, only willing. God is way bigger and way more sovereign than my little mind can comprehend. He promises never to leave me and he assures me that I need not fear. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut. 31:8)
Why have we chosen international adoption? The reasons are numerous but here are a couple. Most importantly, the need is greater in other countries. For every baby up for adoption in the US, there are about 4 adoptive families waiting for a child. If we had a heart for foster care or older children, which we don’t at this time, there would be plenty of opportunity for us in the US. Also, the conditions for an orphan in the US far exceed conditions for an orphan in most countries. Beyond need, we are interested in a closed adoption. This means we do not want to have any contact with the birth parents after the adoption has been finalized. Closed adoption is difficult to accomplish in the US and the risk of having a child taken from your family is much higher. We don’t open ourselves up to this possibility by adopting internationally.
The cost of international adoption is not cheap, to say the least. This will not keep us from being united with our precious baby. God has plans for another Loman and money will not prevent his perfect will from unfolding. Look for updates on my "Fundraising" tab for opportunities to help. We have no doubt that the resources of money, love, energy, patience, and discernment will come. If I really believe in a God who created this universe, who created ME, then I have the faith to know that He will provide all things through this adoption.
I stumbled across a video that sums it all up for me. “Depraved Indifference”. That’s what I am feeling, uncomfortable in our perfect life and I want to serve Christ with all that I am.
I am humbled and honored that God is choosing us to serve Him in this capacity. I am praying that you will lovingly join us on this journey. We look forward to sharing more with you soon!
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Seamus and I have decided to adopt a child from another country! We are convicted in this decision and know that God has personally placed this call on our hearts. We also know that many people will not understand our decision. I’m hoping to shed some light on our journey so that everyone involved can encourage us, pray for us, and support us through this long and difficult process.
The journey begins deep in my heart. I have had a passion for the ministry of adoption for at least 2 years. It has been a recurring theme in my life, through friends, testimonies, sermons, music, billboards, you name it, but especially in listening during prayer. God began by softly nudging me to realize the need. Over time, he has convicted my heart on a much deeper level. Most recently, I spend time laughing at his overtness. I have mentioned it to Seamus many times, but only casually to see how he would respond. He never dismissed the idea but never (until recently) showed a deep connection to the idea. Several weeks ago, I was praying about adoption and where God wanted me in this. I turned to my end table to grab a pen to write some thoughts down and I grabbed a stone that I hadn’t seen since I acquired it. The stone says, “hope”. I knew God was speaking to me so clearly and reassuring me of ”hope”… The hope I have in glorious eternity because of what Christ has done, the hope that a child in need will have when they are brought in to a family who loves them, the hope that God would soften Seamus’ heart, and the hope that God will always provide for us. His speaking to me was clearer than ever. It’s at this point I brought it up to Seamus again and not only was he open but he was clearly feeling called to this as well! Since that talk, we have had many more like it, and many precious moments praying together, asking God to use us to further His kingdom. Seamus shares that God continually places 2 questions on his heart. “Is there a need? And, are you available?” It’s that simple. Adoption is not only loving a child in need but loving God himself. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ” (Matthew 25:40)
My longing to adopt comes from my knowing that I was graciously adopted by my Father in heaven. "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." (Ephesians 1:5) He sacrificed His own son who bled and died, paying the ultimate price, so that He could adopt me! Wow, I was purchased with the most valuable item ever. Do I have doubts? Do I fear the unknown? Do I question my ability to parent another child? Yes, yes, and yes. But I don’t have to be capable, only willing. God is way bigger and way more sovereign than my little mind can comprehend. He promises never to leave me and he assures me that I need not fear. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut. 31:8)
Why have we chosen international adoption? The reasons are numerous but here are a couple. Most importantly, the need is greater in other countries. For every baby up for adoption in the US, there are about 4 adoptive families waiting for a child. If we had a heart for foster care or older children, which we don’t at this time, there would be plenty of opportunity for us in the US. Also, the conditions for an orphan in the US far exceed conditions for an orphan in most countries. Beyond need, we are interested in a closed adoption. This means we do not want to have any contact with the birth parents after the adoption has been finalized. Closed adoption is difficult to accomplish in the US and the risk of having a child taken from your family is much higher. We don’t open ourselves up to this possibility by adopting internationally.
The cost of international adoption is not cheap, to say the least. This will not keep us from being united with our precious baby. God has plans for another Loman and money will not prevent his perfect will from unfolding. Look for updates on my "Fundraising" tab for opportunities to help. We have no doubt that the resources of money, love, energy, patience, and discernment will come. If I really believe in a God who created this universe, who created ME, then I have the faith to know that He will provide all things through this adoption.
I am humbled and honored that God is choosing us to serve Him in this capacity. I am praying that you will lovingly join us on this journey. We look forward to sharing more with you soon!
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:15-17)
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