Having gone through the open adoption process, I can tell you that the movie Juno is probably the best portrayal of the process to come out of Hollywood.
Think of it as Napoleon Dynamite for adults.
Although not perfect (see my wife's critique here), I thought it nailed the emotions of both the birth family and adoptive family.
This scene in particular was extremely powerful - watch for some Oscars to go Juno's way!
I blog for essentially 3 purposes:
1) Stewardship of my life thoughts and learnings
2) Influence and encouragement for
Christ-followers and leaders
3) To leave a digital-footprint for my children and
grandchildren
Think about it - everything you ever post or blog will echo into the future. The internet will outlive you.
And so today I blog to an audience of one:
Josiah Nathan Herron.
One year ago today something happened.
You made your grand entrance into human history.
The ancient Hebrews would name their children using at least one syllable from God's intimate Name, YHWH. "Jo" and "iah" are both syllables from God's Name. You are special.
3 events have profoundly shaped my life:
1) Choosing to follow Jesus as my Forgiver and Leader
2) Meeting your mother my senior year of high school
3) Becoming a daddy to you
Because of you, my heart is larger. Your mommy is filled with joy. I've become a huge advocate for open adoptions.
My house is a mess. Power naps have become my friend. I'm learning sign language. Juliet the Wonder Pug gets to go on a frequent walks with you in tow. Bald is beautiful. I'm addicted to "Yo Gabba Gabba" on tv. I see Children's Ministry in a whole new light. I want to be a better man.
Thank you, Josiah, for one. Happy Birthday.
Can't wait for two.
I can't believe the Little Man is almost a year old! Emily Powers took these late summer pix last night - there's TONS more on her blog. And yes, she and her sister do travel for photo shoots, so hurry up and request their services!
"I'm learning that the only way to live is to love."
- Emily reflecting on open adoption...
Josiah Nathan Herron -
Your first name means "Fire of the LORD." King Josiah was a godly leader who advanced God's Kingdom in a time of spiritual darkness. May you grow up to be a warrior-prince.
Your middle name means "Gift of God." In 1 Samuel 1 where we see baby dedication, Hannah presents her infant son Samuel to God, saying that he was lent by God, and she was now lending him back for God's glory. Today your mother and I do the same by dedicating you to Jesus.
Your last name means you're family. You're stuck with us. And we count it all joy. We resolve to make Christ the center of our marriage, not ourselves. We pledge to strive toward modeling trinitarian love to you. We promise to teach you about Jesus of Nazareth, His love for you, and His supreme, eternal sacrifice made for your salvation.
May you choose to follow Christ, be baptized as a believer, and make disciples of all nations.
Beyond the Largest Easter Egg Helicopter Drop in Kent History this weekend, there's 2 additional reasons I'm primed for a very special Easter at Catalyst.
The first is that we're launching a new children's environment on the heels of our easter egg family event. KidMo is for 5th grade and below - a fun, safe, engaging environment that utilizes kid-friendly worship, high-energy DVD-based Bible lessons, and small groups. Our volunteers are released to do relationship-building, leaving the teaching work to the KidMo DVD. Chas & Chelsea are leading the way this Sunday - go team!
Secondly, Amber & I are dedicating Josiah this Sunday. At Catalyst, we strip away man-made traditions and open the Scriptures for guidance. Nowhere in the Bible do we see infant baptism (or christening). Instead, we see people making a decision to follow Christ and then immediately being baptized as a believer.
With babies and children, we instead see dedication by the parents to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1 is not only a firm foundation for baby dedication and its purposes, but is also a dramatic parallel to our family's own life. Amber & I will make a covenant with God to do everything we can to point Josiah to Jesus of Nazareth. It is an important responsibility with great weight (see Deuteronomy 6 - the shema).
We wanted to dedicate Josiah at the time of his adoption finalization - when he legally becomes a "Herron." When the Court assigned us April 9th as the finalization date, April 8th became his dedication date. Little did we know that it also happened to be Easter!
So we are dedicating Josiah on Easter in front of his family (who are coming in from Iowa & Pennsylvania as I type), his birth family, and his church family, Catalyst. What a weekend it will all be. I'm primed!
The rest of Josiah's 6 month pix - courtesy of Emily & Angela at Sweet Dreams Photography.
Somewhere in the distance I can hear my mother-in-law shrieking with delight.
Domestic adoption rocks... especially when it's an open adoption. A couple times a year we take Josiah to visit his birth family - it's great! We have an awesome, open relationship with both sides of the fam, sometimes he gets showered with clothes and toys, and best of all, he has that many more people in his life who love him. Tonight's visit was no different - Josiah was in such a playful mood! More pix are over at the Herron Hacienda.
Today was Josiah's final post-placement visit with A Child's Waiting - one month from today he'll be a 'Herron' and celebrating at his Open House. To celebrate, he went cruising through the neighborhood:
Josiah wants to be JUST like his daddy. Watch this 20 second video for proof (it's worth it!):
Download MOV05991.MPG
On adoption:
Today Sasha and I went to a Bible study at church. It was my first time going with Sasha, so of course everyone was ooohing and aaahing over her. Pretty much everyone knew that we adopted her. One person I'd never met before said "She looks like yours!" To that I replied with a smile and in a happy, non-defensive voice, "She is mine!" I think the person realized from my response that what she said might not have been exactly accurate. - Heidi Cole
Just got the call from our lawyer at A Child's Waiting - Josiah's finalization proceeding (the all-important final legal milestone in the adoption process) is officially set for Monday, April 9th at 1:30pm! We're VERY excited to officially call the Little Man a 'Herron!'
Amber & I had always planned to have Josiah dedicated at Catalyst on the Sunday prior to finalization since that's when our families would be here together. Sooooo, looks like Josiah will be dedicated on April 8th... Yup, that's Easter Sunday.
Just finished corresponding with a local newspaper reporter about an upcoming article on A Child's Waiting. Very excited to see some positive press on open adoption!
We researched adoption agencies nationwide for over a year before choosing A Child's Waiting based on their proven track-record of integrity and voracity. Barbara Walters of ABC News has even personally reported on A Child's Waiting on the hour-long news program, 20/20.
The time-span from the day we sent in our completed applications to the day we brought our son home from the hospital was literally 4 months - astounding when compared with the average statistical wait time for a match.
We continue to have an excellent open relationship with Josiah's extended birth families - they're just more people who love our little guy!
Josiah continues to grow, laugh, and amaze me.
Seriously, the kid can stick his toes in his mouth:
I also shot this 30 second footage of Josiah on Friday at Panera's - enjoy:
The best part of having my office at the house... and he works for formula (cheap!).
Guess who slept through the entire night without a feeding or diaper change?
(Hint: It's not me).
I just wanted to welcome prospective couples considering open adoption with A Child's Waiting, who has now linked to this blog (Amber, my wife, has also chronicled our journey on her blog).
I cannot say enough good things about A Child's Waiting. For example, it typically takes 2 years for a private, open, domestic adoption. From the day we sent our paperwork into the agency until the day Josiah was born and came home with us was exactly 4 months! This speaks to the urgency & attention A Child's Waiting gives to their families.
Read the chronicles of our journey and know that you are not alone in this journey toward open adoption. Feel free to email anytime...
Not just a great U2 song, but also my day today. Here's the highlights:
4:45am - Diaper time & early breakfast with Josiah. I tried to snap a pic of him smiling at me with my one free hand:
10am - Josiah is handed off to his Mommy, who evidently tried to swallow his head. Or she was making him smile (I always get those two options confused).
12pm - Meeting with Andy Sikora, teaching pastor at 707 (that makes 2 mentions in 1 week for him on this blog; a new record, I'm sure). I had never been to their building before, so Andy gave me a tour. Good use of space. He also bought me lunch, which makes him the Philippians-4-You-Are-Swell-Award Winner of the Day.
3pm - Worked on Catalyst mumbo-jumbo.
6pm - Toured the new rental facilities in downtown Kent that Catalyst is most likely moving to in January. This new space will help us expand our vision of reaching more Lost, Let-down, & Looking families and singles in the KSU area with the Gospel. Jacob, Alecia, Amber, & Josiah came along. I'm extremely excited about the potential. If you missed the news this past Sunday, well, then let this be a lesson to you on what happens when you skip church.
7:10pm - Came home to Pizza Hut pizza & pop gifted to us from Marilyn, one of the godliest ladies I know (and not just because she had pepperoni delivered,the 21st Century equivalent of manna from heaven!). Thanks Marilyn!
9pm - Amber & I plan on snuggling on the couch with the last new episode of LOST until 2007. Beautiful day.
Little Man is doing much better now. He is starting to smile on his own, recognizes Mommy & Daddy's voices, and likes bright lights. The pic on the left is an example of Josiah "watching his t.v."
Josiah also got a box of goodies in the mail from his birth mom today! I think all the excitement tuckered the Little Man out.
Tonight Amber & I are having our first date night in... well, a long time. In the amount of time that most new mothers get maternity leave, Amber has returned to work one week after Josiah's birth, endured 4 sleepless days & nights at his hospital bedside during a fever episode, and still ministered to our family as I pastor a stabilizing church plant. So she deserves a night out with the hunk in her life (that would be me).
Josiah continues to recover from his viral thingy - his temps are still weird, but closer to normal now. He sees his pediatrician tomorrow morning...
We Herron men like to be clean...
Josiah's 1st professional photo shoot was today in the hospital!
Check out Emily's pix here.
We named Josiah after one of the godliest men in the ancient Scriptures:
"Josiah was eight years old when he became king... He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." - 2 Kings 22.1-2
Amber & I will be at the hospital all day today, over-night, and then Kayla is letting us take him home tomorrow! Andrea & Chris are Wonder Pug-sitting. On Thursday, I will write out the single largest check I have ever written in my life to A Child's Waiting (happily!). If you're looking for ways to help with Josiah, here's my shameless list:
1) Make a donation to our $20k adoption fund (link on top right bar) - support church planters! :)
2) Check out our Babys R Us registry - NOTE: Because of Babys R Us' incompetence, the baby swing that looks like it's been bought has, in reality, not been, and so is still available for a certain little Herron's enjoyment.
3) Invite people out to Catalyst this Sunday. Especially if they like baby videos & stories about adoption (we'll be in Luke 6).
Born September 18, 2006 at 6:26pm
6 lbs, 11.9 oz
19.5 inches long
9 on the APGAR scale
* * Josiah wanted me to tell everyone that he's not a Browns/Indians fan, but that he does root for the Cav's!
WE'RE OFF TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW...
How can you help?
1) PRAY.
2) Tell people about Catalyst - this Sunday's talk will be off the hook!
The latest news: Doctor says the little one will not be coming this week. Next doctor visit is Monday...
I'm expecting a mega-busy week with 2 births coming our way: baby & church! Our baby is due on Friday while Catalyst goes public on Sunday.
We're actually hoping that Baby Herron bows before Friday because bringing our baby home from the hospital on any day but Sunday is preferred!
:: celebrate adoption party ::
This picture alone is why you should hire Sweet Dreams Photography; any professional photographer who can get Juliet the Hyper Wonder Pug to sit perfectly still in a certain position for any length of time is on my A-1 Party List!
Foreground: Juliet Mocha Boudegaard
Background: Amber, Kayla, Jonathan
More pix here.
So we came home to boxes and boxes sitting on our front porch today. 2 boxes were new video-projectors for Catalyst (thank you faithful tithers!), but 4 other boxes were baby gifts!
Thank you McLane family for your generosity, Elizabeth Palacios & everyone at New Covenant Life Church in the Northern Mariana Islands for our Cradle Swing (which is tremendous considering we don't even know you!), Jacob Ley for the special blankie, and Tom & Connie Adelsman from Oak Pointe Church in Michigan for your thoughtfulness!
Sooooo, my biggest question is how our new friends in the Mariana Islands even heard about us? Isn't the Internet amazing?! :)
Here's the run-down:
Friday: Shout-out from Adam McLane. Worked on the Nursery.
Saturday Afternoon: Amber & I hung out with Kayla & her family. They are really cool people!
Saturday Night: Perfect combo of Amber's cookies and 1980's classic The Goonies (which was the very 1st movie I ever saw without my parents - my Aunt Sarah took me in 1985): "Do the truffle-shuffle, Chunk!" "Baby, RUTH!" "This is our time, OUR time!"
Sunday Morning: Gave the message at Southern Hills Church. Shout out from Bob Franquiz.
Sunday Afternoon: 25 friends of Catalyst worked hard on the Water Street Facilities (painting, drywalling, landscaping, etc). We're 80% done - what an awesome launch team! Final Work Day is Saturday, September 2nd from 10am-3pm with help from our friends at Campus Focus!
Emily posted this on her blog today - I'm shamelessly re-posting it here as it sums up our situation :)
So, I know that there are A LOT of you who have been following Jon and Amber's baby story! Thank you so much for your encouraging words and prayers!!! I know that in this GOOD time of crazy chaos that you have deeply touched Jon and Amber's lives.
Jon and Amber are church planters and their adoption costs are upwards of 30K. They also only have THREE weeks to prepare for their little one's arrival! We are having an adoption shower for them next Saturday, BUT I know that Jon and Amber have many friends all across the country (virtual ones included!!!!) that would like to bless them with a baby gift!
Here is a link to Jon and Amber's Babies 'R Us registry.
The registry will automatically direct you on how to ship your gift to their home! I really want them to have all of what they need and some of what they want ;) by the time this little baby arrives!!! There are items that will fit in any budget! FYI - We do not know the sex of the baby. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for participating in this virtual shower! (P.S. Please feel free to post this entry on your blog if you'd like.)
Thanks Kevin, Emily, Perry, & Alden for the blog shout-outs!
Mark Driscoll added this comment over on A29 where I announced we're expecting:
Wonderful! Congratulations. Jesus was adopted too and this is one of the most vivid ways the gospel is seen today.
So true. And yes, Michael, real men don't just plant churches; real men plant new churches AND have new babys all in the same week.
Meet the new wing of our family (from lef
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