The Call

Our story is unique. It’s not your typical adoption story. There was no adoption agency, no waiting list, no writing letters to prospective birth parents. As a matter of fact we thought our family was complete because God had already blessed us with two wonderful sons. But, He had a different plan!
You know, the Lord puts people in our lives for a purpose. In 2004, our very dear friends adopted a baby girl. They included us in their journey which really touched us as we watched the Lord work through their family and their willingness to follow God’s calling. We even made a comment (thinking it would never happen) that we would consider doing the same thing if the Lord asked us to.

In September 2008, forgetting the comment we had made four years earlier, we received a phone call that would change our lives forever. The same birth mother of our friends little girl had another baby girl that she could not care for. The Lord basically dropped this little angel right in our lap!
A quote from Max Lucado’s book, “God Came Near”, says “Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, hope it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction.” That is exactly what happened to our family. We were surprised right out of our socks with a beautiful baby girl named Emma. She was a gift sent from above to our family. We like to say she wasn’t expected but selected. We adopted her because she needed us but we really needed her.

Emma is a happy little girl with a contagious laugh. She can be temperamental at times but can certainly have your wrapped around her little finger before you even realize it! She loves being outdoors, being read to, and her brothers! People are drawn to her by her beauty. They are constantly making comments about her eyes or her hair. I’ve even had people tell me on several occasions that she looks like a living doll. Everyone falls in love with her the minute they see her. Emma has many challenges ahead. She has a genetic brain malformation called “Pachygyria”. She has many developmental delays for which she has therapists who work with her weekly and we know the Lord has a special plan for her life. He is in control and we can trust in a God who knew her before she was knit together in her birth mother’s womb.
The blessing that Emma has brought into our lives is indescribable. From the first phone call we received about her, we asked the Lord for help. In fact, we told Him: “Lord, we can’t believe that you love us so much that you would entrust us with the gift of another child. If this is your plan, we are willing to do what you ask, but we can‘t do this without you!” During this time he has reminded us of many things that we already knew but needed to put into practice such as; trust, patience, humility and grace. Most important: the depth of God’s love. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we may be called children of God. “ 1 John 3:1

Advice to those considering adoption is to spend time preparing your heart for what is ahead. The road will be tough sometimes winding with emotional highs and lows. Remember what God has called you to do and why he called you to do this. He never said it would be easy but He is right there with you through it all. Ask Him to lead you through the process and never loose sight of Him.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13