"Read your Bible" week 1 review
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Preparing for March 29th!
We booked our hotel for the trial transfer in March - So exciting! It feels like we're really moving forward now! I also got my first prescription (Estrace) in the mail to begin taking in early March to prepare my lining for my trial transfer. In the meantime, the NEDC nurse has be taking BCPs to get my cycle where it will need to be in March. I must say, it seems counter intuitive to be taking BCPs while praying to become pregnant through this adoption. But, I know this is part of the process. I'm so thankful that I don't have to give myself hormone injections for the mock transfer, like I will for the real transfer! - NOT looking forward to those shots, but definitely looking forward to what they'll be preparing my body for! :)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Heavenly Implications of Embryo Adoption
I was hit by some of the weighty Heavenly implications of embryo adoption today, ones that have to do with the children that we adopt that perhaps won't get to experience birth.
During embryo adoption, several embryos, usually 2-4 are transferred at the same time. On occasion, all of the transferred embryos attach (implant) to the uterus successfully and twins, triplets and quadruplets get the birth that they were made to experience. However, this is not usually the norm. More often, at least one embryo doesn't survive either the dethawing process or the transfer itself.
Knowing this, we're not purposely sending a baby embryo to it's death. As it currently is, they sit frozen with no chance, none at all at experiencing birth unless they are adopted by a couple. It is our prayer that every embryo that we adopt will experience a live birth, and we know families for whom this has happened. However, we know that it is rare for God to do this and we have to prepare for the fact that some (and perhaps all) of the embryos we adopt may not experience a live birth. It is a "risk" that we have to take, but it is one that is especially worth taking - for the embryos and for us.
Now Jennifer and I believe that babies who die, while having an inherited sin nature, are part of God's elect people. We believe that the grace of God applies the power of the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf so that they immediately are ushered into Heaven. We don't believe this flippantly or sentimentally, but theologically. For great insight on the subject, take a look at this printed sermon by John MacArthur.
This being the case, we believe that God has a plan for each frozen child who is currently sitting in a storage container. That plan is either being birthed to a loving, adopting family on this current Earth or eternal life with a loving, adopting God in Heaven and on the New Earth yet to come. There is nothing but good in store for these children, even though most of the world views them as dispensable, good only for research and spare parts. The connecting line between their current state and the good that God has in store for them is an adopting family.
Now we pray and hope and think about our adopted babies experiencing birth, but what about the ones that God may have predestined for death during the transfer? Well, their entry into Heaven is dependent upon us reaching out to them and going through with the transfer. To turn that sentence around, God could be waiting for us to attempt this transfer so that some of his child(ren) can walk into the gates of Heaven and run into His arms. I guess when it comes to embryo adoption, I've always thought about either its Earthly implications or the future Heavenly and New Earth implications. I've seldom thought about way it could change Heaven before I get there. That I could be sending some of my children on ahead of me. That they could be showing me around Heaven when I get there.
What an awesome thought that Jennifer and I have probably been chosen as agents to literally bring children to God. Of course, death is a result of the Fall, but God is still sovereign over it and uses all of the results of the Fall and our sin for the ultimate good. He proved that by dying for Jennifer and myself and any of our to-be babies who may not experience birth. It is our prayer, and we ask you to join with us in this, that God will allow all of our transferred babies to experience birth. But if any don't, we know where they'll be. All of our babies will be adopted, either to our home in NC or to their Heavenly home with the Person for whom they were made to enjoy. Isn't God awesome?!
-Aaron
During embryo adoption, several embryos, usually 2-4 are transferred at the same time. On occasion, all of the transferred embryos attach (implant) to the uterus successfully and twins, triplets and quadruplets get the birth that they were made to experience. However, this is not usually the norm. More often, at least one embryo doesn't survive either the dethawing process or the transfer itself.
Knowing this, we're not purposely sending a baby embryo to it's death. As it currently is, they sit frozen with no chance, none at all at experiencing birth unless they are adopted by a couple. It is our prayer that every embryo that we adopt will experience a live birth, and we know families for whom this has happened. However, we know that it is rare for God to do this and we have to prepare for the fact that some (and perhaps all) of the embryos we adopt may not experience a live birth. It is a "risk" that we have to take, but it is one that is especially worth taking - for the embryos and for us.
Now Jennifer and I believe that babies who die, while having an inherited sin nature, are part of God's elect people. We believe that the grace of God applies the power of the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf so that they immediately are ushered into Heaven. We don't believe this flippantly or sentimentally, but theologically. For great insight on the subject, take a look at this printed sermon by John MacArthur.
This being the case, we believe that God has a plan for each frozen child who is currently sitting in a storage container. That plan is either being birthed to a loving, adopting family on this current Earth or eternal life with a loving, adopting God in Heaven and on the New Earth yet to come. There is nothing but good in store for these children, even though most of the world views them as dispensable, good only for research and spare parts. The connecting line between their current state and the good that God has in store for them is an adopting family.
Now we pray and hope and think about our adopted babies experiencing birth, but what about the ones that God may have predestined for death during the transfer? Well, their entry into Heaven is dependent upon us reaching out to them and going through with the transfer. To turn that sentence around, God could be waiting for us to attempt this transfer so that some of his child(ren) can walk into the gates of Heaven and run into His arms. I guess when it comes to embryo adoption, I've always thought about either its Earthly implications or the future Heavenly and New Earth implications. I've seldom thought about way it could change Heaven before I get there. That I could be sending some of my children on ahead of me. That they could be showing me around Heaven when I get there.
What an awesome thought that Jennifer and I have probably been chosen as agents to literally bring children to God. Of course, death is a result of the Fall, but God is still sovereign over it and uses all of the results of the Fall and our sin for the ultimate good. He proved that by dying for Jennifer and myself and any of our to-be babies who may not experience birth. It is our prayer, and we ask you to join with us in this, that God will allow all of our transferred babies to experience birth. But if any don't, we know where they'll be. All of our babies will be adopted, either to our home in NC or to their Heavenly home with the Person for whom they were made to enjoy. Isn't God awesome?!
-Aaron
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Trial/Mock Transfer Scheduled!!!
To our astonishment, the NEDC called this morning to schedule our consultation appointment for March 29th! This is crazy because when I spoke to the NEDC last month, they said that they were completely booked through March and that we were #25 on the waiting list for an appointment after March. We weren't expecting our trial transfer to be until May or June at the earliest! We're still not sure how we got this appointment so quickly... Aaron and I have been praying that this adoption would progress as quickly as God would allow and this is confirmation of answered prayer. How kind of God!
So, since the trial transfer will be done in March...hopefully, we will be able to have a real transfer in the summer.
As always, please continue praying for us (and the babies that will be transferred to my womb).
Jennifer :)
So, since the trial transfer will be done in March...hopefully, we will be able to have a real transfer in the summer.
As always, please continue praying for us (and the babies that will be transferred to my womb).
Jennifer :)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Hello 2010!
Happy New Year! I have been meaning to blog for awhile now, but life has been too busy! We spent Christmas with my family in Atlanta and New Year's with Aaron's family in Columbia. Nothing has progressed with our adoption at this point...we continue to wait for the NEDC to call and schedule my mock transfer. Since I know that they book appointments MONTHS in advance, I would think that if I were to have it scheduled during the summer, that I'd know by March. If we don't hear from them by mid-late February, we will probably call and touch base to see where things are. But, for now, we are just waiting...which is SO HARD! I hope and pray that 2010 will be the year that our babies are transferred to my womb with a successful pregnancy!
Below are some pictures that we took on New Year's Eve - Aaron's family bought a murder mystery game, taking place in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. He was Chef Cayenne Pepper and I was Maid Elise St. Gresch - and neither of us were the murderer. :)
Below are some pictures that we took on New Year's Eve - Aaron's family bought a murder mystery game, taking place in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. He was Chef Cayenne Pepper and I was Maid Elise St. Gresch - and neither of us were the murderer. :)
Monday, December 21, 2009
Celebrating 4 Years!
On Thursday, Aaron and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary! (Though we had to wait until Sunday to make it to Outback to celebrate due to work on Thursday, and being snowed in on Friday and Saturday) I am married to the best husband ever...I LOVE BEING AARON'S WIFE! :)
AND - His little sister, Bethany, got ENGAGED on our anniversary! We are so excited for her and her new fiance, Matt! They will have a year and a half engagement so that they can finish up college and we're praying that by the time they get married in June 2011, I will be (Lord willing of course) pregnant from a sucessful embryo transfer! That would be so perfect. We'll see what God has in store, though!
Have a Merry Christmas - as we celebrate the joy of God becoming a man to save wretched sinners such as ourselves!
AND - His little sister, Bethany, got ENGAGED on our anniversary! We are so excited for her and her new fiance, Matt! They will have a year and a half engagement so that they can finish up college and we're praying that by the time they get married in June 2011, I will be (Lord willing of course) pregnant from a sucessful embryo transfer! That would be so perfect. We'll see what God has in store, though!
Have a Merry Christmas - as we celebrate the joy of God becoming a man to save wretched sinners such as ourselves!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Home Study Approved!
We found out this week that Bethany Christian has officially approved our home study and sent it to the NEDC! Now, we wait to set up my trial transfer in Knoxville and I hear that there's a rather long waiting list at this point. I had originally thought that my real transfer would be around May, but now I'm thinking that May is probably when the trial transfer will be. We'll see! In the meantime, I'm glad that we're one step closer!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Christmas Thoughts about Embryo Adoption
Well now that Thanksgiving is over, we are officially into the Christmas season. Of course, working in retail I've been experiencing the Christmas season since September. I'm glad that everyone else is now catching up.
I don't make many blog posts, but I wanted to share something that occurred to me a few days ago as I was thinking about Christmas. I was making my hour commute to work and reflecting on all the activity that Christmas brings to retail and the real reason that we as Christians celebrate the holiday. My mind went to a picture of a Willow Tree nativity that we keep on top of our entertainment center year-round. As I'm passing it, I often like to look at the baby Jesus in Mary's arms and remember how God left many of the privileges of Godhood and humbled himself by entering into the form of a baby. I realize that I've always thought of the beginning of the incarnation in that way: that in a moment in time, God left his throne for a manger.
What occurred to me that morning is that the real beginning of the incarnation didn't happen on Christmas. God didn't enter into humanity on Christmas morning as a baby, he entered it nine months earlier as a human embryo. Matthew 1:18 says that before Mary and Joseph came together, she was "found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." Two verses later, God tells Joseph that "what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." That's Biblical grounds for the existence of life at conception right there, that God equates "what is conceived" to being a child. Doesn't that make the incarnation all the more amazing? Jesus goes from ruling the world in Heaven with his Father and the Holy Spirit and enters into the smallest, most dependent, most microscopic form of human life. I've always known that Jesus has a heart for all unborn children, including those who are frozen as embryos. How much more do I know that now, realizing that the same Saviour who submitted himself to death on a cross for my sake, first submitted himself to a womb.
Even more special to embryo adoption is the fact that this could have been exactly what Mary and Joseph did. Not to get too technical, but we know that Jesus' conception was not of result of Joseph's or any man's sperm. We don't know if the Holy Spirit brought about Jesus' conception by using one of Mary's eggs or if Jesus was conceived as one cell without an egg at all. The latter however, is certainly a possibility and if it true, it means that Mary carried and adopted with Joseph a child who was not biologically related to them. If this happened, then the first embryo adoption happened over 2,000 years ago.
Again, we don't know the specifics of how the Holy Spirit brought about the incarnation, but even if Mary's egg had been used, Joseph adopted a child that his wife carried who was not biologically related to him. Of course, this was a miracle and a unique circumstance, so we can't use it to justify ethically debated forms of reproductive technology that aren't in the realm of embryo adoption. However, we can know for sure that the wonderful truth of the Christmas story includes a couple's commitment to adopt a baby before birth. I know all the more that it is God's desire that all embryo's get a chance at birth. I know this because Jesus was once one.
-Aaron
I don't make many blog posts, but I wanted to share something that occurred to me a few days ago as I was thinking about Christmas. I was making my hour commute to work and reflecting on all the activity that Christmas brings to retail and the real reason that we as Christians celebrate the holiday. My mind went to a picture of a Willow Tree nativity that we keep on top of our entertainment center year-round. As I'm passing it, I often like to look at the baby Jesus in Mary's arms and remember how God left many of the privileges of Godhood and humbled himself by entering into the form of a baby. I realize that I've always thought of the beginning of the incarnation in that way: that in a moment in time, God left his throne for a manger.
What occurred to me that morning is that the real beginning of the incarnation didn't happen on Christmas. God didn't enter into humanity on Christmas morning as a baby, he entered it nine months earlier as a human embryo. Matthew 1:18 says that before Mary and Joseph came together, she was "found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." Two verses later, God tells Joseph that "what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." That's Biblical grounds for the existence of life at conception right there, that God equates "what is conceived" to being a child. Doesn't that make the incarnation all the more amazing? Jesus goes from ruling the world in Heaven with his Father and the Holy Spirit and enters into the smallest, most dependent, most microscopic form of human life. I've always known that Jesus has a heart for all unborn children, including those who are frozen as embryos. How much more do I know that now, realizing that the same Saviour who submitted himself to death on a cross for my sake, first submitted himself to a womb.
Even more special to embryo adoption is the fact that this could have been exactly what Mary and Joseph did. Not to get too technical, but we know that Jesus' conception was not of result of Joseph's or any man's sperm. We don't know if the Holy Spirit brought about Jesus' conception by using one of Mary's eggs or if Jesus was conceived as one cell without an egg at all. The latter however, is certainly a possibility and if it true, it means that Mary carried and adopted with Joseph a child who was not biologically related to them. If this happened, then the first embryo adoption happened over 2,000 years ago.
Again, we don't know the specifics of how the Holy Spirit brought about the incarnation, but even if Mary's egg had been used, Joseph adopted a child that his wife carried who was not biologically related to him. Of course, this was a miracle and a unique circumstance, so we can't use it to justify ethically debated forms of reproductive technology that aren't in the realm of embryo adoption. However, we can know for sure that the wonderful truth of the Christmas story includes a couple's commitment to adopt a baby before birth. I know all the more that it is God's desire that all embryo's get a chance at birth. I know this because Jesus was once one.
-Aaron
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