Sunday, November 15, 2009

"Ask Me About Adoption" Adoption Sunday

Today our church celebrated Adoption Sunday (which was officially marked last Sunday)
I wore the above button and we had 4 different organizations attend the event.
(Bethany Christian, Olive Crest, WACAP and our own Adoption Support Group at Church)

I had been asked to speak this year at all 3 services so i shared a similar story that i wrote a year ago about adoption. The first service a girl named Ruth who is adopted from India sang - she is 11-12 and has a very angelic voice and sang an amazing song about adoption. I was suppose to be next after her. The song was so deep it just hit a nerve and i got emotional and as i started i was in tears and they had to bring me a tissue. But our pastor noted my emotion hit a cord with many. The next 2 services i kept my mind off the song and did well - and the last service the kids were out of Sunday School so they came up front when the pastor prayed for all who have been touched by adoption - it was a wonderful morning which i hope has touched many lives to consider adoption in one form of another - including just praying of helping a family financially.
(Below i have included my 3 min story)

He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:4-6)

November is Adoption Month which has many meanings to our family. Scott and I have had the experience of being adopted into God’s family and feeling His Grace in our lives. This is one of the most amazing experiences one can have in their life – to be a child of God and to know Him. I know I take this at times for granted and at this time of year when we celebrate Adoption, it is important to realize what a precious gift we have been given.

47 years ago in 1962, a teenage woman found herself pregnant and did not know what to do. She followed her boyfriend’s suggestion to drive to California to have the pregnancy terminated. Fortunately for this child it was at that time illegal to terminate a pregnancy at 4 months, so they drove back to Canada and she was sent away to have this child. In May of 1963 a little girl was born and was adopted by Christian parents and was given a life of hope and love. This little girl was me.

When at the age of 28 I learned about my birth parents attempt to have me aborted it hurt, yet deep inside I felt God’s GRACE. God had shown me that my life was precious and that He had Predestined me to be Adopted into His Family long before I was even born. There was a purpose for my life and it would unfold over the next 17 years.

Ten years ago, I married a wonderful man named Scott Dideon. We could not have a family of our own so we started the journey of adoption and after many roadblocks we were led in 2003 to adopt from China. God placed on our hearts the desire to get what they would call a “special needs” child and on February 4, 2004 we welcomed an 18 month old boy into our home named Reagan. With the one child policy in China, and the considered curse on the family in keeping a special needs child, our son would have also been aborted if his family would have had access.

We returned to China again in 2004 to get Kaitlyn, in 2007 to get Taylor and in 2008 on Father’s Day Scott was able to get our son Winston. All of our children would have been aborted if their families had the resources available to them.

Coming full circle – Grace has been a huge part of our family story. God had a plan long ago for me to be able to provide a
home one day for my 4 children. God has great plans for each of their lives to be used as a vessel by Him.

For some of you today God maybe gently prompting you to considering this path of Adoption. Today there are many of us passionate about Adoption who are here wearing these buttons and would love to talk to you more about Adoption.


Lavonne 11-15-09

2 comments:

Annie said...

Wonderful Lavonne!!! So glad it went so well!!

Teresa said...

I absolutely LOVE your testimony!!! God is using you in so many wonderful ways!!!