Big News from the Woodworth Family

I want to take a few minutes to share with you some big events going on in our family.  It is an exciting and scary time for us and we would greatly appreciate your prayers!

Since our dating days, Oran and I have discussed adoption.  And when we experienced infertility issues, we had actually begun to research our options and then found out we were pregnant with our precious oldest daughter. The next few years were filled with baby, baby, and baby and for that we are so grateful!  But, the call to adoption never really left our hearts.  After learning about orphans during Christmas time 2012, our sweet 5 year old began to ask us when we were going to “bring home an orphan.”  It was a sweet sentiment and we smiled about it, but over the next few months she kept asking.  Sometimes before bed she would ask me to pray and ask God to bring us an orphan who needed a home.  

During Christmas time 2013, Oran and I started talking seriously about it again.  Our Little Guy was 1 and was finally sleeping through the night, our new home was pretty much done being remodeled and there just didn’t seem to be anything left we needed to wait for anymore.  So we began to talk and pray.  For various reasons, that would take too long to explain, we settled on trying to do the Foster to Adopt program through the State of Missouri.

To be honest, this option has always scared me.  I think I have always been afraid of the “baggage” that might come along with a child in foster care.  I am pretty comfortable in my little life and I have struggled to give up control of whatever may come.  But the Lord has been persistent in working on my heart and has brought me great comfort.  And Oran continually reminds me that maybe that is the exact reason this is what we should do.  Those children need homes, they need love and they need the Lord.  We have all three of those things in abundance and we just simply feel God calling us to step out on faith and trust Him.

Here is where things stand.  We sent in our application and completed fingerprinting in February.  From March through April we completed the 9 classes required for Foster parents and also completed the set of home studies.  Lots of paperwork, references, medical releases, etc. followed!

We are now officially licensed by the state of Missouri as Foster parents and are waiting for a placement.  We are looking for a child under 5 (we have decided it is important for “Butter” to remain our oldest child). While we aren’t looking to be “Foster parents” in the typical sense, with children sort of coming and going all the time, we do know that there is a very good chance that the first child who comes to us won’t necessarily be the one we are able to adopt.  Our plan, unless God leads us differently, is to just take one (or two if it is a sibling set) at a time and continue through the whole process, whether it leads to adoption or reunification. Our ultimate goal is adoption, but it doesn’t always happen quite that easily.  We are available to welcome a child into our home starting in July due to our big vacation that has already been planned for June.

Will you please join us prayer?  Here are 3 specific things we would appreciate you praying about:

1. Our future child(ren): Please pray for our precious little one, who may or may not already be born and enduring awful things.  Pray for God to guide each step to lead him or her to our family.

2. Our other kiddos: This is a difficult process to explain, and while we have tried to be open and honest about all the possibilities, our children are going to be affected by not only the addition of another child to our home, but also by the goodbyes that may happen. Please pray for God to protect their hearts and to give them compassion and understanding beyond their years.

3. Opportunities to share Christ:  This process is opening up a whole new world of people to us. We will be having interactions with not only children, but birth parents, caseworkers, lawyers, juvenile officers, etc.  Please pray that we would be faithful to share the gospel and bring glory to God each step of the way.

We so appreciate each of you that have walked this journey with us so far.  We will keep you updated as best we can, and are so thankful for your prayers. While there is much apprehension about the unknown to come, we also are resting greatly in the knowledge that God is Sovereign over everything, even where government agencies and other people are concerned!  We know that our child will always be in His hands, even as we wait for him or her to be in ours.  

Soli Deo Gloria,

Jessica

It's hard to imagine adding another one to this group of sillies!

Things I Learned From My Mother

In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought I would write a post about things I learned from my mom.  I actually had to limit my list, because I kept coming up with more things, so I settled on 10.  Enjoy!

1. Jesus - first and foremost, my mother taught me about Christ.  My earliest memories involve church, Bible stories and singing praise together as a family.  I never knew a time that Jesus wasn’t part of my life, even before He saved me personally.  I am so grateful for that, because I know it is rare.  My testimony may seem “boring”, but I wouldn’t change it for anything!  More than anything else, I am so glad my mother showed me Jesus.
2. How to serve in ministry alongside your husband - for my entire childhood, my dad was a minster of music and so I watched my parents serve God and his people together for all of those years.  I saw them in the good times and the bad times of ministry and I learned so much from seeing my mom support my dad.  She served with him, sang with him, prayed for him, and encouraged him in the rough times.  I learned so much from her in that area and now that I am the wife of an Elder, I think often about her example and try to be like her!
3. Stage presence - I have no memories that don’t involve my family singing together.  I sat and watched my parents sing together and lead worship hundreds of times, and then when I got old enough, I joined them. One thing that has always stuck out to me is that my mom truly shows on her face and with her hands the words she is singing.  She is beautiful to watch and I learned a lot about how to lead others in worship by watching her.
4. Teaching Skills - I am not exaggerating when I say that I believe my mom is one of the most gifted teachers I have ever known. I have seen her teach a lot throughout her 30 year career and I so appreciate that she is still using her gifts not only in her job but at church by teaching Sunday School, Family Quest and VBS.  ANYTHING I have learned about teaching pretty much came from watching her. As I begin this homeschooling adventure, I am so thankful to know I can go to her with questions anytime.  She has such a special ability to interact with children in a way that makes them feel special, but also sets high expectations for their behavior and learning. I want to be that way with my kids!
5. Emotions are ok - If you know my family at all, you know that we are an emotional group! And, while sometimes I wish I had more control over my tears, I am thankful for a home that was always a safe place for tears, hurts and fears.  My mom was always the main person I talked to about about the things going on in my life and I never felt belittled in any way for my feelings.  I am a better person because of that safe space she created for me.
6. Affection - My mom was very affectionate with us.  Hugs, kisses, holding hands, rubbing our hair, it didn’t matter. She made me feel loved every day.  One of my favorite memories as a child is that EVERY week in church, mom would stroke my head during the sermon.  If she ever stopped, I would grab her hand and put it back on my head :) because I loved that feeling so much.  I am trying to be this way with my kids.  Affection shows love, and I never doubted that I was loved.
7. Cleanliness/Order - As much as I hated chores as a kid, I am so glad that my mom set such a good example in keeping a home. She was orderly and consistent and taught me all about cleaning, laundry, etc.  I know how to keep my home because of her and even though I went through some messy years as a teenager, I am a neater person now, because of her.  
8. How to shave my legs (and other girly things) - My mom was the best at helping me through each step of becoming a woman.  Even the scary parts were easier because she was honest, open and helpful.  I know that not every girl has a godly woman to guide her through those changes and so I don’t take it for granted that I did. She always spoke highly of womanhood and helped me to see what a gift God had given me in my femininity.  With two daughters of my own, I am grateful to have had such an example as I begin to navigate those same waters. (Yikes)
9. Manners - Both of my parents were raised in the south and because of that, they were sticklers for manners.  Yes mam, Yes sir, napkins in laps, elbows off the tables, and on and on it went.  As a child, it often annoyed me, but for the most part they made the learning process fun and I am not a savage animal because of their training!  And more specifically, my mother showed me daily how a classy, graceful woman should carry herself.  Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit her grace and instead am the clumsy type, but I learned so much from watching her.
10. Redemption - If you have heard my mother’s testimony, you know that God redeemed her out of so much.  Her story has always meant a lot to me, first because I am so thankful to the Lord that He called her to salvation. But, also because it reminds me that there is no hopeless situation.  Our history is NOT our destiny.  Her life has been a constant reminder to me of God’s redeeming power!

My mom would be the first to point out that she wasn’t perfect.  Just like all of us, she has her weaknesses. Any good in her life, is from Christ alone!  But, I do want to take this moment to say: Mom, I am so grateful for you.  I know that you have struggled with hurtful comments and doubts about who you are.  Please hear this: You were a wonderful wife and mother, you are a still a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, and you are becoming more like Christ each day.  I look up to you and I love you.  All of your work and effort has not been in vain, and it hasn’t been unnoticed.  I am who I am because of you.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Jessica