Monday, December 29, 2008

Applying for The Family Building Grant

In late September I was up late searching for clinical studies and/or funding for IVF patients. By God's grace I came across a link to The Cade Foundation. http://cadefoundation.org/index.php I found that they offer "Family Building Grants" up to $10,000 for families hoping to adopt domestically or attempt IVF. I was up until 1 am completing the paperwork and getting everything ready to submit to our doctors who would have to vouch that we would be ideal candidates for this grant (as well as provide our medical history regarding infertility).

The application deadline was Sat. Oct. 4th. Being the worrier that I am Nick overnighted our 63 page application several days in advance. To our dismay we found out AFTER the deadline that it was returned to the mailing service we used (and we were not notified). Mom and I diligently tried to contact the Cade Foundation to explain the situation and thankfully they still accepted our application when if finally arrived (almost a week late).

The night before all recipients were to be notified God lead me to Jeremiah 17: 5-10 during some personal quiet time which reads...

"This is what the Lord says, 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives'."

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

"I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

I read this over and over and felt like God had clearly answered my worries and doubts about whether or not we would be selected for the grant. (Of course, everyone else around me is telling me not to get my hopes up.) I just knew that God would provide for us!

Sat. the 15th came and no phone call. We waited and waited. It was a very hard day and I was more confused about what God was trying to tell me the night before. We even went out to celebrate the engagement of very close friends. We were so happy for them but torn apart inside. I decided that God would enlighten me about His decision Sunday morning at church but oddly enough after listening to the service I couldn't apply it to our situation. I was frustrated.

As Sunday rolled on, we moved on! While we were watching the Colts play Nick's cell phone rang. He quickly called me upstairs to share that The Cade Foundation had called and we were 1 of 6 families selected for The Family Building Grant. We fell to the floor in tears. We were able to share that moment with close family which was very special. I think everyone was shocked that we received this grant, not because we aren't deserving but because it was based out of Maryland and we already have one biological child.

THANK YOU GOD for the clearest answer to our prayers. We know that YOU support this decision and are with us through this process. What more could we ask for???

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