Congratulations, Bob and Angela!

Bob and Angela started with their adoption consultant in March and were eager to begin! I had the opportunity to assist this sweet couple and I was able to get to know them right away through creating their profile book. Their home study was ready on June 2 and then they immediately got started applying with agencies.

They began putting their hearts on the line, presenting to potential situations and eagerly waiting for their "yes" to come. After dreaming for years about a baby, they were so ready for the difficult wait to be over.

And then, a little less than two months after they applied to agencies, they got the call that would change their lives forever. They were chosen and the baby was coming soon! About three weeks after that, the daughter that they had long dreamed of was finally in their arms. And she is truly their dream come true!

For information about domestic adoption, please contact me!

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Adoption Story: Adam and Audra!

God always is doing more behind the scenes than we know. His ways are often so mysterious but He is always at work. Adam and Audra's adoption story is another example of His perfect plans unfolding in His perfect timing.

My husband "just happened" to be talking with another pastor in the area and "just happened" to mention the option of using an adoption consultant. That pastor "just happened" to be Adam and Audra's pastor and he "just happened" to pass along my contact info to them. In October last year, Audra and I got together to talk about life and adoption and in December they started with their consultant, planning to one day adopt a baby boy.

What they hoped would be a relatively quick home-study process ended up taking more time than planned...it didn't make sense and it wasn't easy. But God was working behind the scenes. On July 16 they heard about a situation and that same day their home-study was ready! They hadn't originally intended on applying to this specific agency, but they decided to go ahead and apply with them and present. It seemed perfect! But it was not the child God had for them. It didn't make sense, but God was working behind the scenes.

For the next couple weeks, Adam and Audra spent time really seeking God. He spoke very directly to their hearts about being open to whatever He had for them. And then they heard about another situation from the same agency. A little girl was going to be born soon. God's ways are often mysterious, but He is always at work. They presented. They were chosen.

Almost a month after they had applied with the agency they never intended to apply with in the first place, their daughter was born!

His perfect plans unfolded in His perfect timing. And now, Adam and Audra look at their two beautiful daughters and see what God was doing behind the scenes all that time!

For more information about adoption, please email me!

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Isn't There Another Way?

Last night my mind was running through all of the paperwork for adoption grants yet to be applied to, then to all of the paperwork yet to be filled out when we apply to agencies, then to all the paperwork that I don't even know about that will likely happen after being matched with a birthmom.  As I was mentally picturing all of these papers yet to be filled out and all of the papers that we've already done, well...I felt tired.  Then I thought, "Isn't there an easier way?"

God instantly brought to mind Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, staring into the cup of God's wrath that awaited Him as He looked ahead to the cross.  And He pleaded, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”  (Matthew 26:39)  But He knew there wasn't another way.  Our sin completely separated us from God.  It was either Jesus endure incredible suffering and agony being hung on the cross, taking on God's full punishment for sin or God's children could not be a part of His family forever.  There was no other way.

I'm not trying to compare adoption paper work to the crucifixion of Jesus, believe me.  But, I think the Lord wanted to show me two things through remembering this.  First, no amount of suffering I go through compares to the suffering that Jesus went through for me.  He was still completely human while He was completely God.  So He completely felt every bit of that excruciating pain and suffering.  It wasn't lessened because He was sovereign and knew what was coming next.  And that pain?  Being utterly separated from His father and having every sinful thought, action, and word heaped on Himself, bearing the guilt and full weight of that sin even though He had never done anything wrong, and taking the punishment for it all...that is a pain unimaginable.

My weariness at all this paperwork?  It is real and it is hard but it does not compare to all that Christ went through for me.  I will never know what it's like to have every single sin of every single person put on me.  I will never know what it's like to then experience God's wrath and condemnation against all of that evil that I never actually did.  I will never know it because Jesus suffered in my place.

Secondly, adoption is not easy.  It wasn't easy for God to adopt His children into His family.  It wasn't easy for Him to send His Son to the cross.  It wasn't easy and pain free for Jesus to be crucified.  God's adoption of His children came at a great cost to Himself. Is it any wonder that there would be some hard things for us as we're in the process of adopting? 

So when I picture the paperwork that awaits me, I want to be amazed at what Jesus has done to make me God's child.  I want to stand in awe as I remember that there was no other way.  And I want to thank God that Jesus didn't give up in the midst of the hard but said, "Not my will, but Yours be done." 
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For information about how I can help you in your adoption journey, please contact me.

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Adoption Story: Eddie and Anna.

I will never forget the first conversation I had with sweet Anna. She was on her way back from a full (and probably tiring!) school field-trip that she had chaperoned, but Anna was anything but tired. This girl was bursting with excitement about getting started with their adoption journey and she was so much fun to talk to! That same incredible enthusiasm, passion, and hope in God radiated from Anna throughout their adoption process.

Knowing that adoption had already been in their hearts for quite a while, I so hoped that Eddie and Anna would not have to wait long to have their child in their arms. I remember emailing Anna saying something like, "Not every adoption happens quickly, but I'm going to pray that God would bless you guys with a fast process!" Meanwhile, Anna was also praying that the Lord would send them a summer baby. And that's exactly what He did. His timing was perfect.

Eddie and Anna, you guys are amazing and I have loved watching God at work in and through you during this adoption. Thank you for letting me be a part of it!

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Adoption Story: John and Meghan!

One of my favorite parts of working with couples in the adoption process is creating their family profile.  I love the glimpse it gives me into their lives and it's also a lot of fun! 

While I was still working on John and Meghan's profile they heard about a baby that needed a family. My husband, Josh, and I had the privilege of Skyping with John and Meghan and praying for them as they processed the whirlwind. It was such a sweet time that I will always treasure.

This couple has an unmistakable love and commitment for one another that has been so beautiful for me to see! They walked through every part of this faith-stretching adoption together as a team. From the moment they heard about this possible situation all the way until their son was in their arms, they leaned on one another and on their faithful God. 

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Adoption Story: Joshua and Mary Beth!

I'm not going to pretend I understand everything about our adoption story. I especially don't know why God chose to have us walk through some heartache before wildly blessing us with our baby boy. But I do know that our tears have given me a unique blessing of the opportunity to compassionately pray for, encourage, and walk alongside couples experiencing similar adoption heartbreak. That's what initially connected me with Joshua and Mary Beth. And now their day of rejoicing has come!!!

When I got to know Joshua and Mary Beth, a couple of things struck me right away. First, their desire to love even when it hurts was unmistakable. The fact that they'd had some hard waves in their adoption journey did not keep them from opening wide their hearts to love big. And next, their determination to pray for and love their baby's birthmom was brilliantly on display. Assisting Tracie Loux in their adoption journey was an incredible privilege and I'm so thankful to know this beautiful couple. And goodness! Both of their daughters are just adorable!

Mary Beth has given me permission to share the full story from her own personal blog, feel free to pop over to “Be Joyful In All Things”.

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Adoption Story: David and Amber!

Dave and Amy adopted their daughter a couple of months before Josh and I brought home our little guy. I was thrilled when I found out earlier this year that I'd be assisting their dear friends, David and Amber, as they began working with their adoption consultant.

As I started to get to know them through working on their family profile, I was blown away by David and Amber's selflessness. They clearly were eager to add to their family through the gift of adoption, but their focus wasn't on having a baby. Their focus was really on seeking to trust in God's timing and on loving and praying for the woman that would be their little one's birthmom. 

My faith has been strengthened so much as I watched this sweet couple walk out true Christ-reflecting love. They had a breathtaking trust in His loving plans. "We want His will to be done, whatever that may be," Amber texted me multiple times. Their story is beautiful and so is their son!

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