Children of God - When we said "yes" to adoption
See what love the father has given us,
that we should be called Children of God;
and that is what we are.
1 John 3:1
He is in control and even though there has been pain,
that is not really the outcome of this story.
He has brought us so much Joy in Him.
He has taught us so much about who He is.
Our marriage is stronger than ever before,
our walks with God are stronger than ever been before, and our boys relationships are stronger with their heavenly father.
What more could we ask for through all of this?
Praise the Lord he refines us through the fire.
We will continue to walk by faith.
that we should be called Children of God;
and that is what we are.
1 John 3:1
We as a family are being transparent and pouring out our hearts because we pray that it will bless someone.
Our intentions for sharing our story are not to raise fear
or worry about our situation.
Instead, it is our hope that it will encourage others
and glorify our heavenly father.
We are doing very well and we feel uplifted
and we know that God has this, no matter the outcome.
He is in control and even though there has been pain,
that is not really the outcome of this story.
He has brought us so much Joy in Him.
He has taught us so much about who He is.
Our marriage is stronger than ever before,
our walks with God are stronger than ever been before, and our boys relationships are stronger with their heavenly father.
What more could we ask for through all of this?
Praise the Lord he refines us through the fire.
We will continue to walk by faith.
When we started our adoption process
I am not totally sure we knew what we had signed up for.
We wanted to be a part of Christ's global mission,
we wanted to show love to those who needed it most
and we wanted our family to grow.
I am not totally sure we knew what we had signed up for.
We wanted to be a part of Christ's global mission,
we wanted to show love to those who needed it most
and we wanted our family to grow.
We said, “yes” to two children and to making them no longer orphans but instead a son and a daughter.
There is a battle happening in the heavenly realms
that is greater than what we can see here on earth.
We did not know how difficult this was going to be.
There is nothing glamorous about the adoption process.
Just like war, it is long and it is hard.
It brings you to the end of yourself.
The battle is gruesome, it can leave you bloody and scared,
and will devour you and the orphan if you allow it.
and will devour you and the orphan if you allow it.
We realize now that when we said “Yes” to adoption,
we were saying “Yes” to so much more
than just bringing two children into our family.
we were saying “Yes” to so much more
than just bringing two children into our family.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:15-17
that is greater than what we can see here on earth.
The enemy is fighting to make children orphans for life.
As a Christ follower, adoption and orphan care is not charity.
It is so much more. It is a necessity.
It is spiritual warfare.
God's word tells us to protect those
who can not fight for themselves.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
God's word tells us to protect those
who can not fight for themselves.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
We are not saying that every person should go out
and start the adoption process.
No, in fact we do not believe that is the case.
However, we do believe that as Christ followers
we are called care for the orphans and widows.
This will look different in each person’s life.
We are called to join hands with them,
suffer with them, and fight for them
just as Christ fought and suffered for us.
When we became sons and daughters of Christ
we agreed to take on the battle and suffer with him.
To bring justice to those who are helpless
and to glorify our heavenly father.
suffer with them, and fight for them
When our family said "Yes" to adoption, we were saying "Yes",
The past 7 months have been some what of a nightmare.
We did not realize the roller coaster we were stepping on to.
Days passed, time stood still.
Weeks passed, no new news.
Months passed, on our knees.
Finally news came. Possibly Good. Then terrible.
Heart ache.
This is just a brief synopses of the past few months.
Yet we tell you... We would do it all over again.
They are worth fighting for.
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| Our first picture of Kinsman and Miralette |
every night we have laid in bed and cried ourselves to sleep.
They are worth every moment of heart ache.
They are worth every morning we wake up, gasping for air,
feeling like someone set a ton of bricks on our chests.
They are worth it even on the days we feel numb,
the days we are just going through the motions
to keep from falling to the floor weeping.
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because
her time has come; but when her baby is born
she forgets the anguish because of her joy that
a child is born into the world.
So with you: Now is your time of grief,
but I will see you again and you will rejoice,
and no one will take away your joy.
In that day you will no longer ask me anything.
Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you
whatever you ask in my name.
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:20-24
Just a few days ago I was listening to Beth Moore during my bible study and it was as if she was talking directly to me.
"The same roller coaster ride that bought you
the nightmare of our life can lead you into JOY"
Did she really just use the words roller coaster and Joy?!?!
The same words we have been using to describe the past 7 months?
"If you will trust God with your anguish it with
birth something more beautiful than you could ever imagine"
"At the peak of the pain, do not give up,
something is going to be born,
God can take your anguish and turns it into your passion"
To be totally honest, our life was easier before adoption.
It was easier...
to not be aware of the living conditions
of the rest of the world.
It was easier...
to not know that there are millions of children
that go to bed every night hungry
without a mom or dad to tuck them.
It was easier...
to not know that many of these children have been labeled unadoptable due to the very laws put in place to protect them.
But we know now and we can not go back.
Praise the Lord He has opened our eyes.
We have endured mental and physical pain
but through it all God has been so Good.
He has given us Joy in the fight.
We will continue to trust Him in all things.
On the days it feels like we have come to the end of ourselves,
he gives us all we need.
He gives us Joy in Him to keep going.
They are children of God
and they are worth fighting for.
God fought for each one of us.
He gave his life so that we could be his sons and daughters.
He did not walk away when times got tough.
He did not stop because he could not handle the pain any longer.
It was easier...
to not be aware of the living conditions
of the rest of the world.
It was easier...
to not know that there are millions of children
that go to bed every night hungry
without a mom or dad to tuck them.
It was easier...
to not know that many of these children have been labeled unadoptable due to the very laws put in place to protect them.
But we know now and we can not go back.
Praise the Lord He has opened our eyes.
Right now God has shown us two little ones
that need to be fought for.
that need to be fought for.
God has birthed a passion in us through the anguish of waiting and fighting for Kinsman and Miralette.
We have endured mental and physical pain
but through it all God has been so Good.
He has given us Joy in the fight.
We will continue to trust Him in all things.
On the days it feels like we have come to the end of ourselves,
he gives us all we need.
He gives us Joy in Him to keep going.
and they are worth fighting for.
He gave his life so that we could be his sons and daughters.
He did not walk away when times got tough.
He did not stop because he could not handle the pain any longer.
Christ suffered for us by taking on flesh forever.
He will always have the scars on his hands, feet, and back.
When we meet him someday
those scars will still be there.
This is where our family stands right now.
Suffering and fighting for Kinsman and Miralette.
If we do not fight for them, no one ever will.
We have been given news that seems hopeless.
But we will not walk away.
The very laws that are meant to protect them
could make them orphans for life.
We believe God has a bigger plan for our story.
Right now we can not see God's plan clearly.
We will trust Him when he says "We are all children of God"
and because of this we will keep fighting.
We would love for our story to end with Kinsman and Miralette
coming home and becoming part of our family.
In fact, in a way, they already are and always will be.
We will praise Him for his goodness in either ending.
God has brought us to Kinsman and Miralette's story for a reason.
He has made their story our story.
We will stay on the battle field, as long as it takes.
We will fight for them.
This is where our family stands right now.
Suffering and fighting for Kinsman and Miralette.
If we do not fight for them, no one ever will.
We have been given news that seems hopeless.
But we will not walk away.
The very laws that are meant to protect them
could make them orphans for life.
Right now we can not see God's plan clearly.
We will trust Him when he says "We are all children of God"
and because of this we will keep fighting.
We would love for our story to end with Kinsman and Miralette
coming home and becoming part of our family.
In fact, in a way, they already are and always will be.
However, we would also praise the Lord if their birth parents are found and they are able to be reunited with them.
While we do not know how our this story will end,
we are trusting God.
God has brought us to Kinsman and Miralette's story for a reason.
He has made their story our story.
We will stay on the battle field, as long as it takes.
We will fight for them.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the enemy. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:11-13
The sign you see on this blog was made by a very special little girl that I have the privilege of working with.
(with the help of her Mother of course!)
They too have overcome their own battles as a family.
I am blessed to know them
and to get to be a part of their story.
Thank you for this beautiful gift.
It will always remind us of how faithful God has been to us through each and every step of this journey.
Beautifully written. Yes, life was definitely easier before adoption but your lives are a million times richer. Praying that you see light through this long tunnel soon.
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