In Mommy's Heart

A Mommy day, filled with joy, tears, happiness and hugs.

Yet an emptiness lingers, a longing for all of our children.

My Ethiopian hugs and kisses

Never to develop in my womb, but precious ones you are growing in my heart.

My arms ache to hold you. Wrapped in God's love, I wait to wrap you in mine.

Your fragile life marred by pain that I cannot erase. I will introduce you to the One who can.

Your first steps, I might miss. I will walk with you for eternity.

A child's smiles and giggles I wait for. My joy will be complete when you're home.

Today I do not know your names or your faces. Dreaming of the day when I do.

I struggle in the wait. You my children are worth waiting for.

I love you. Longing to shower you with His.

Adoption Through the Eyes of A Child

Caleb, giving his toys, sharing his love!

Tucking my 4 year old into bed, we snuggled and prayed. Bedtime brings a sweetness to the surface and spills into my heart. The other night, we talked about adoption, our adoption, and began to dream. With a sparkle in his eye, he told me his plan.

Mommy, when we bring our children home from Ethiopia, we'll teach them about Jesus. Then, when they grow up they will go back to Ethiopia and share Jesus with their family. Everyone in their family will know about Jesus and tell everybody else. The whole country will know about Jesus so they will have to be missionaries and go to other countries.

My young son, I never quite looked at adoption in this way, through the faith filled eyes of a child. I've heard it said "adoption won't change the world, but it will change the world for a child." Maybe, just maybe, both are true.

Can't Adopt Just One

Adoption is on our hearts, minds and hands. We talk about it, pray, cry, listen, and dream. Ethiopia lies at the end of our path filled with twists and turns we have yet to see.

Beginning the journey, we asked the questions. God promised to fill our quiver, but how many arrows from Ethiopia? After seeking the Lord's guidance, the answer came through a child's innocent cry.

With gentle tears threatening to spill, my Joshua simply said "Mommy, there are too many kids who need a family, we can't adopt just one!"

Joshua, my little prince, God has blessed you with a special gift, the gift of compassion. For such a young warrior, your heart is full. Full of love for the youngest and lonely. Full of compassion for the hurting and abandoned. Full of joy to be the big brother to many.

You are teaching me, my seven year old. Mommy will fight to bring your brothers and sisters home. And we won't be just adopting one!

The God of the Impossible

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” - Matthew 19:26

At times, the process of adoption seems overwhelming, almost impossible. Always remember, we serve a God of the impossible. When God places a dream in our hearts, He provides the wings and teaches us to fly.

As a young family, we dreamed of serving on the mission field.

Impossible with Bible college debt, a toddler and a baby on the way. Wings came as God canceled our debt, and gave us our little Caleb right before our missions training. Impossible to go as a family to Thailand 7 days after the Tsunami to share God’s love with the ravaged nation. God used our little ones to minister His grace and love and to be in a remarkable place after a tragedy.

Impossible to leave for the mission field full time with little financial support. We bought our tickets with our tax return and God has provided the rest. We have been serving in Central America for almost 5 years now.

Impossible to lead a team of Costa Rican missionaries to Kenya for an international outreach. Our family gave our tickets and God multiplied the money just like the fish and the loaves, providing for new tickets for us and the extra expenses of the team.

Impossible to adopt a child from Ethiopia while living in Costa Rica. Yesterday, we received official word that we have been accepted to adopt from Ethiopia.

We serve a God of the impossible. Thank you Lord, for giving our dreams wings to fly and teaching us to soar.