Our Journey

The rest of our court trip :-)

Our room complete w/mosquito net

Psalm 68:6

"God sets the lonely in families..."

OK – truth be told we’ve been home from Ethiopia a few weeks and I can’t exactly pretend like it’s Day 3 so I’m going to sum up Days 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7! 

  BEAUTIFUL

 I would not trade a moment.  Even though we didn’t initially pass court (Day 3). Even though Yemelek really started to show his mischievous side (Day 4). Photo below:)

Even though my heart stopped and I literally could not speak when we dropped him off at the orphanage (Day 7) – it was still beautiful.

Would it have been nice to pass court while at court?  Of course!  Was it embarrassing when Yemelek pretended not to hear us calling his name and refused to come out from under the kitchen table?  Absolutely!  Did we want to leave him in Ethiopia and start the waiting all over again? No words can ever explain how heart wrenching that day was ….

I say it was beautiful because I have watched God create beauty from ashes.

 

Our journey started in Uganda with a referral of a baby boy 8 months old.  We will never know what has happened to baby “E” and he will forever be in our prayers.  On April 19^th, 2012 I wrote an honest blog about the heartache from the loss of our referral = ashes.  On April 28^th, 2012 Russ and I watched a video clip of a 6 year old orphan = ashes.  The week of June 25^th a family was born = beauty.

God does place the lonely in families.  Yemelek .... and even baby "E" - were created for a family.  In a perfect world they would be with their parents, plan A.  Because this world is broken - Russ and I are really plan B you could say.  However, our God works in the midst of brokenness and His fingerprints are all over this plan B. I'm so thankful to be where He is at work. 

Day TWO Ethiopia

Psalm 28:2
² Hear my cry for mercy
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
    toward your Most Holy Place.

 

Day 1 with Yemelek was just a quick visit at the transition house.  We went back to the guest house without him and absolutely crashed for the night --- well, I crashed.  Russ tried to sleep but mosquitoes, barking dogs and chanting Muslims the 3AM call to prayer kept him awake most of the night. 

So – now it’s Day 2 and off we go back to the house for another visit. When we arrive, Yemelek is out in the play area wearing his soccer pajama’s I had put in his backpack and given him the day before. He comes up to us and gives us a little attention, but immediately wants the I-Phone.  Kids ALL around the world love I-Phones!  He takes turns with mine and then with Russ’ taking pics and videos of anything and everything.

At this point, we weren’t sure if he would come back with us to the guest house for the week or not.  We were prepared either way.  To our surprise he was able to come w/us!!!  He willingly grabbed his backpack and jumped in the car….all smiles.  I’ve come to learn that this is typical Yemelek – always smiling.

He and Russ played basketball w/a soccer ball to kinda break the ice some when we arrived at the house.  Then we got tickled because Yemelek was soooo proud that he could say “basketball” but then he started calling every ball and every game we played “basketball”! LOL

For dinner we decided to walk to a Chinese restaurant that was right around the corner. (The Chinese have many building projects going on in Ethiopia)  By this point, Yemelek was starting to feel comfortable with us. He held my hand as we walked and had started to call us mommy and daddy! 

We’ve been trying to learn phrases in his language. If you are adopting a child that speaks Amharic, I really encourage you to check out this site: http://adoptlanguage.com/ At dinner we tried them out – he just laughed.  I’m sure Tennessee Amharic is hilarious to hear!! By bedtime he was talking to us non-stop as if we spoke Amharic.  We didn’t understand a word and he didn’t seem to mind or be frustrated. 

Russ and I were just amazed how on this first “real” day with Yemelek, he was so comfortable, happy and his little personality truly fits right in with our family. I know our love for him will continue to grow.  It absolutely blows my mind how God continues to work.  If you read my post about our failed adoption in Uganda or know us personally – you understand how devastating that loss was to us and our biological children. It took everything in me to praise Him in the middle of that storm.  It’s easy to cry out to the Lord for mercy, but it’s a whole new ballgame to lift hands to Him in praise during pain.

Yemelek is putting his best foot forward.  I can’t pretend that the months and years ahead will be all roses.  He’s going to be a Moore – so without a doubt we will have lots of fun times and laughter. It’s only our second day with him and in our hearts Yemelek is already our son.  Yet, there will come a time when he will grieve his loss – his mother, his country.  Also, having received little discipline, a very long parenting road lies ahead of us. I pray that as we walk through each storm that we will be a family that lifts our hands towards His most Holy Place. That regardless of the pain or difficultly – we ALWAYS remember how the Lord was in this adoption. How we were predestined to be the forever family of Yeameleksara.

Day ONE Ethiopia

Isaiah 61:3

³     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

painted on the wall outside guest house

We arrived in Addis Ababa Ethiopia around 8 am (Saturday).  The guest house where we are staying is only 5 or so minutes from the airport.  We arrived and spent a couple of hours here with 2 other families (who are leaving w/their children tonight) and our adoption coordinator who is here visiting.

Our coordinator then took us to the “transition home” where “Y” is.  This is not the orphanage.  This is where children who have been matched with families go and wait for their court date and for their families to come get them.  When we arrived, we drove through the gate (everywhere here has tall walls surrounding the bldg. and one gate to enter through), “Y” was playing in the front yard.  All the children rushed up to us including him, and he was grinning from ear to ear. 

We were instructed to bring a backpack of goodies for him (and brought a few things for the other children).  All of the children who have families in the transition home have backpacks and are very proud of their contents!  “Y” gave us a slight hug and then wanted his backpack IMMEDIATELY! Lol He also opened it IMMEDIATELY!  And then, we don’t think he ever took his backpack off.  He was very proud of it.

his backpack

Everything was good but also a little awkward…. other kids were wanting our attention, we knew his birthmother was somewhere at the house waiting on us, he was tossing things onto the ground from out of his backpack, etc…. You can get the picture.  Luckily,  I’ve heard enough “first meeting adoption stories” to know that rarely does anyone have that precious moment where eyes lock, tears of happiness are shed and POOF you are a family.

We sat with “Y” just a little while outside with other kids in our laps and on our hips.  Then, we made the move to go inside to meet his mother.  She was a beautiful 19 year old Muslim girl. She went on to tell us a very moving story about “Y”.  She was pregnant with him at 13 years old and tried to have an abortion because the father did not want a child.  He was young also.  However, the abortion “did not take” in her words.  It sounded as if she had tried several times.  For this reason his birth name means miracle work of God.  WOW.  We have all of this on video.  Priceless.  She kissed him several times and he was also affectionate towards her.  Together, we looked at photo’s of our family.  His mother was very happy to know that we had other children.  I gave her a photo album as a keepsake and she was very thankful.

We took some “family” photo’s including his mother.  I want him to have these and hope that he has happy memories of his time w/his mom.  In adoption, the “B” word – meaning birthmother can be a VERY scary thing…..even when adopting internationally.  On the way to Ethiopia part of me was pretty bummed that this was the route God had laid out for us.  It’s easy to want to just grab your child and get the heck out of dodge, so to speak!!  But the fact is – “Y” had a life before us.  To totally ignore all of that, like life didn’t happen until he met us, would be ridiculous.

together at last

It makes me think about our relationship with Christ.  For believers, we had life before we met Christ.  Part of that life could have been very good and part of that life could have been very, very dark.  Regardless – it’s what do we do with all that stuff (good or bad) once we claim Him as Lord.  Do we act like life never happened?  Or – do we use it for His purpose?

I DO NOT intend to draw the parallel that Russ and I are like Christ in anyway and have “saved” this little boy.  Not at all!!  I’m just saying how we have a choice.  First, as his mother, I have to embrace the realities of what “Y” has faced. His birthmother was 13 when he was born. She tried to abort him. Life was too difficult so she gave him up.  WOW – harsh, huh?  However, with discretion, I can share stories of “Y’s” past, show him pictures, pray for his mother and that information can be used to help him fulfill his ultimate purpose for the kingdom. 

Just like, with discretion, you and I can share personal stories, experiences, etc… from our past and use them to help others grow in Christ and allow us to fulfill our God given purpose. 

It’s tempting to shut down and totally close the door on a chapter of your life, especially when it’s been hard.  I encourage you to make the choice to embrace the good, bad and the ugly.  He will bestow a crown of beauty instead of ashes.

AMAZING

We are going to court 
JUNE 25th, 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitting 4 Court

“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” Isaiah 58:9

Don’t even get me started on this entire passage or I’ll be typing for days!  For right now – I need to focus on “Here am I”.

The last 24 hours have been yet another whirlwind.  I knew that our agency was REALLY pushing for us to make it to court before the rainy season, but yesterday morning I was told  - “We want to submit your case for court Monday.”

WHAT?

I’ve not received my completed homestudy! Here am I

I’ve not been able to apply for a change of country on our orphan petition form BECAUSE I don’t have a completed homestudy! Here am I

I’ve not been to the county clerks office to get our county seal on the documents because I don’t have a completed homestudy! Here am I

I’ve not been to the state office to get our state seal on the documents because I don’t have a completed homestudy! Here am I

I’ve not called Assisted Stork to courier our documents to Washington because I don’t have a completed homestudy! Here am I

At 12:30 PM the mail comes. IT’S OUR COMPLETED HOMESTUDY! Here am I

 My chest tightens and I really start to freak out about all that I have to do. You can ask Russ…. Or my kids.  Total panic mode.  My kitchen table is a mess with documents immediately.  I’m making copies, phones calls, etc… Here am I

At 3:00 PM I leave to go get our documents authenticated and traffic is horrible!  At 4:10 PM I’m almost to the Davidson Country Clerk’s office but call to see when they close (which is 4:30).  During that phone call I feel a nudge to look at my paperwork again.  I have two pages that need to be sealed by the county clerk (they verify the notary). One document was signed with a Robertson County notary stamp and the other with a Wilson Country notary stamp. Ugh – you have got to be kidding me!! The Davidson County office can’t verify a notary in Robertson or Wilson County.  FRUSTRATION! Here am I

4:20 PM I’m headed back home. I've not even had time to eat all day! I pull over for a snack and  text a friend who is a notary in the correct county.  She agrees to help ASAP. Here am I 

7:45 PM The last of the copies are ready from Staples.  I have everything in order to put in the mail for Saturday. Here am I

As I’m putting my documents for the orphan petition form in the envelope I notice something. Here am I

There is an error on our homestudy regarding our age range.  The range for the child(ren) we hope to adopt is 0 – 6 years old.  “Y” could even be 7 years old – we aren’t sure.  It can’t say 0 – 6!  We can’t adopt him if it says 0 -6! This should be 0 – 8 years old! Disappointed. Angry. Here am I

8:30 PM Connected with the adoption agency.  They are going to move forward and submit to court with current papers!  HOWEVER – I have to get all this corrected ASAP.  Absolute miracle. Here am I

It’s very possible that we will still not make court before they close in August.  As a matter of fact – logically, it’s impossible.  And if that happens, I’ll need to look back and see all the “Here am I’s” over this 1 ½ years journey to maintain sanity.  He will not leave us.  He will not forsake us.  He is in control.

Updates on our Time Line

Many of you are confused about our adoption.  No worries because we are too!!!  What happened to Uganda?  What about the baby boy we were matched with last July?  All are great questions - and we don't even have all the answers.  BUT since our last post CRAZY things have happened.  Details that only God could orchestrate.  So, for today's post - I'm basically filling in a time line from the last post a month ago.  The following posts will flesh out what's happened and will confirm (in case you've ever doubted) how God works in the small things to bring about His very big and awesome glory:)

March 2012 - Is there light at the end of this tunnel?  Our agency is going to Uganda to personally investigate our (and other waiting families) situation. "E" was 9 months old when we were matched with him.  He is now 17 months old.

March 29, 2012 - Could have good news! Our original referral little "E" could still be ours!! It's been 8 months since we've had an updated photo - we could have one VERY SOON!!!! We were told our "case has a good chance of moving forward"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 10, 2012 - Horrible news today. I don't even know how to explain it. Total lost $13,920
April 18, 2012 - Still bad news. Prayers needed..... researching domestic adoptions.

April 26, 2012 - AM: Phone call with Agency. Uganda is a mess. Our agency doesn't really have any other options for us. Our heart is in Africa but praying. Praying for little "E" and his future. Confused. 

April 26, 2012 - PM: Someone mentioned Ethiopia. Could God keep doors to Africa open for us?

April 28, 2012 - AM: Total God thing! The director of a prospective new agency is in town and met with me at her hotel!!  Crazy for sure.  Russ and I feel strongly about changing to Ethiopia and also changing agencies.

April 28, 2012 - Afternoon: Russ and I watch a waiting child (named "Y") video suggested by the  'new' agency contact. My heart skipped a beat, but didn't say anything out loud yet.  Praying....

April 28, 2012 - PM: Prospective new agency sending me "Y's" medical records, orphanage intake info, etc... His comments say, "healthy and witty". LOL!  Sounds like a good fit:) April 29, 2012 - Decided to officially leave our agency.  Things are not stable in Uganda.  Leaving on good terms.  And - I can not stop thinking about little "Y" in the video!!!

April 30, 2012 - I will have to blog about this part - too many details!  We said YES to this waiting child!!! AND - we have new perimeters: 1 to 3 children, ages 0 to 8 years old,  either gender, siblings or unrelated.  "Y" is 5 to 7 years old.

May 1, 2012 - Homestudy updates being made and filling out new agency paper work. Also received new pics of  "Y"! He just lost a tooth - lol! Pics were just taken last week - ADORABLE:) Also, we told the family today.  Kids thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 3, 2012 - Register w/Olive Tree Promise for fundraising and start faxing, notarizing, etc... spent $54 at Kinko's!  Putting items on craigslist to sell.  We need $17,500 in about 4 weeks.
May 2, 2012 - Previous Uganda agency will "see" what funds we can recover.
May 4, 2012 - Received a new video of "Y". He has a sweet little voice. Showed my ill grandmother his photo.  She gave me a big approving smile.
May 6, 2012 - My grandmother passed at 90 years old. 
May 7, 2012 - Desperately notarizing everything under the sun. Still heartsick for little "E" in Uganda but know this is the direction we are to go for now.
May 9, 2012 - Really hopeful for a little girl referral by the end of the year (yes, this is crazy)! Stayed up until 4:30 AM doing paperwork and cleaning for homestudy visit.
.May 10, 2012 - More notarizing and anxiously trying to scan info to agency. Received email that said "this email is being sent to you because you are getting ready to go to court or for your embassy pick up." AHHHH! We just said "yes" 10 days ago!!
May 11, 2012 - Finally sent agency dossier scan. Hopefully it will start being translated for court.
May 12, 2012 - Mailed $6500 check to agency and copies for dossier.  Also mailed off for Visa's $140.  
May 14, 2012 - Homestudy update visit. $250.

STAY TUNED!  GOD IS IN THE DETAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blessings In Hard Times

Psalm 37:38, “For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones.  They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.” 

To say that the last 2 weeks have been unbearable would be an understatement.  Russ and I received some devastating news about our adoption --- this “news” we are still protecting our three biological children from hearing at this point. 

Being at the end of my rope emotionally and even spiritually, I forced myself to sit and write every blessing that has occurred during the last 13 months of our adoption process REGARDLESS of our heartbreaking situation. I knew God had not left us, I knew we were called to adopt and at this point I just needed to see that in black and white.

Within minutes, my page was full and I was on my second then on to my third sheet of paper.  Included were things like: Russ 100% committed to God’s call of adoption for our family, our children are broken for the poor and the fatherless, deep Godly friendships have been created, our church is gaining awareness of the orphan crisis and feeling called to action.  Lorie Newman, (check her blog here http://lorienewmanblog.typepad.com/: ) one of my orphan crazy friends put it best in her text to me last week, “God wastes nothing.”

After all my blessings were written, I decided to go back over them and write down a scripture that came to mind as I read them.  One of the first verses that came to mind was Psalm 37:4, “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  That is true – if our passion lines up with His will God will see it to fulfillment.  But I needed to see more in Psalms 37…..

1) I was very angry with people and processes.  Satan wants to destroy families.  Therefore, he is against adoption.  People and processes will be used to stir up anger in order to keep the righteous from walking in obedience and victory.

Verse 1: do not be agitated by evil doers

Verse 8: refrain from anger & give up your rage

2) God will deal with the wicked and the battle is won.

Verse 2: they wither like grass

Verse 9: they will be destroyed

Verse 13: the Lord laughs at them because the day is coming

Verse 20: the wicked will perish

Verse 40: transgressors will be eliminated

3) I still need to do my part.

Verse 3: trust the Lord and do what is good

Verse 5: commit my ways to the Lord

Verse 7: be silent before the Lord and wait on Him to act

Verse 39: salvation is from the Lord

4) God will not abandon us OR our child during this time.

Verse 18: the Lord watches over the blameless

Verse 23: our steps are established

Verse 26: we are a blessing to Him

Verse 28: He will not abandon His faithful ones

Even though things do not look at all like we had hoped – we must count our blessings.

Live It Out

Live It Out

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Isaiah 58:6-7

The Blind Side is an amazing movie of how a family in Memphis, TN lived out this very scripture. It’s a story of how God asked their family to do something very specific for Him. Of course Hollywood doesn’t get into all the “God stories”, but you understand that their beliefs play an important role as to why a very wealthy white family with two kids chose to take in a homeless African American teenage boy.

I remember when I saw this movie in the theater I was moved.  The movie was touching, but what moved me most was what happened as I exited the theater. A couple behind me started talking about the film. The lady said this, “I like the story line. But it’s hard for me to believe that somebody would do that for somebody else. Taking in a stranger? Really?”

Have believers become so much like the world, that when scripture is lived out, it is so far from the norm - that others find it hard to believe?

Christians would agree that ALL believers are required to “love” our neighbor (found in Leviticus & several time in the New Testament). Now surely you know that “neighbor” doesn’t mean the person literally living right next door to you. Jesus is talking about mankind in general. So, how do we do that? You see, the AWESOME thing about God’s Word is that yes – He is totally specific as to how we are to live. BUT – He wants to be even more specific and tell you step by step, “Ginger, this is how I want YOU, and You alone, to love your neighbor….” If we really desire to be all that God created and planned for us to be – we must do our part in looking into His Word, finding these specific callings He has for believers and then say, “OK, Lord, How do you want me to live this out?”

Above in Isaiah, we see specific ways to show our devotion to Christ and our love for others. He lists 9 ways that we can show a lost world that we are different from the world:

1) loose the chains of injustice
2) untie the cords of the yoke
3) set the oppressed free
4) break every yoke
5) free the enslaved
6) feed the hungry
7) shelter the homeless
8) clothe the naked
9) acknowledge kinships (taking care of family)


Freeing the enslaved, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked……etc, as a believer – this should be a way of life for us!  It should not be odd to live this way on a daily basis! But, to the world ----- it is. However, doing these things WITHOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST is just a humanitarian effort.  Anyone can feed the hungry but only HE can provide living water.

Have you ever prayed and asked God how He wanted you to live out any of these?  My friend Jen Gash has. She is the founder of Sweet Sleep--an organization that builds beds for orphans around the world.  www.sweetsleep.org  God wants her to live a life devoted to the care for orphans. He has asked our family to open our home to the fatherless. Another friend of mine each month keeps twenty one dollar bills in her purse to give to various homeless people she sees on her way to work.  She now knows them by name and has found this as a powerful way to minister.

How are you living out God's love?

What Are You Waiting On?

Kids excitedly wait for their birthday.  Tweens anticipate High School and High Schoolers can't wait until graduation!  College age kids look forward to careers and marriage.  Married couples can't wait to have children.  Parents can't wait for peace and quiet!  It never ends.... we wait.  We get.  Then, we wait on something else.

If you are an adoptive family - you know the wait.  And, I'm sure that you would agree that it's a feeling not many can relate to.  It seriously feels like part of your heart is missing.  That's the only words I know to use.  Even when we struggled with fertility issues early in our marriage - I cried often and my heart hurt, but not like this.

The adoption process takes waiting to an entirely new level.  My sister-in-law, Jeannie, is pictured here with her son Sheldon.  She has left him in Haiti and is now waiting..... This is what it feels like (most days) while knowing your child is in another country waiting for a family.  Lots of tears,  Lots of questions.  And few answers as to when the waiting will end.

You are probably waiting on something too.  And, whatever it is, I'm sure your heart hurts also. A good friend encouraged me this week with this verse found in Isaiah 40:31

  ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

ONE - by Russ

ONE. That was the word that kept coming up over and over. In every Bible Study we did. In every sermon we heard. Everywhere we turned, the word ONE was being ingrained into our hearts. As we heard and saw the plight of orphans around the world—hunger, malnutrition, disease, neglect, and insufficient numbers to defend them--I knew then that we would have to act. There was no choice. But I was afraid—afraid of what it meant for our family and if we were ready for it. Was this God's calling for us or was I just reacting from emotion?

Ginger had been on board for a long time—she was actively involved in several orphan care and advocacy ministries. I had always supported her as she went on mission trips and spoke at churches about defending the fatherless. But I supported her from a distance, doing the typical guy thing, coming up with all the excuses—"We already have 3 children, we simply can't afford more". "We have a great family dynamic—what if they come in and disrupt that?"

Still stubborn, God brought in the heavy artillery. One of our children began to text me from her mom's phone, "Dad, can't we just save ONE?" Over, and over, and over. We went to an adoption conference and one of the keynote speakers said something to the effect of "Don't disregard that God may be speaking through your children to move you to adopt." Boom. The coup de grace.

After seeing every sign from God except the flashing neon one, I finally laid down all the worldly excuses that I had used to run away from our calling. God continued to make clear adopting was His will for our family and we are happy to say that we began the adoption process in March 2011. To my own surprise I felt God was calling us to adopt not just ONE but TWO children from Uganda. Ginger was feeling the same way. So - we stepped out in faith and became approved to adopt two children under the age of 5 from Uganda.

We've had many ups and downs on this journey (and Ginger will likely fill you in on all the details on future posts) but God's call for us has remained the same. "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for ONE of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.''' Matthew 25:40

The Hearts of Children

Yep.  That’s me.  Age 15.  100 lbs at best with 20 lbs being Aqua Net hairspray.  It’s important that your bangs look just right while ministering to others ;)

Red, yellow, black and white they are precious in His sight…(you know the rest) …Jesus loves the little children of the world.  It’s funny to think about how as a little girl --- I was always drawn to baby dolls with dark skin.  Unfortunately, in East Tennessee in the 70’s that was considered VERY odd.  However, one Christmas I got my baby doll!!!  I’m so thankful that my parents made that decision. I can trace God’s hand in my life for adoption all the way back to my childhood. Thank you God for moving in the lives of children!

It was God’s moving, once again, in the life of children that confirmed our decision for adoption.  It seems that since our 3 children could speak they have ALL THREE prayed, “And dear God, please let us adopt.”  At age 8 our middle child would grab someone’s phone and then text my husband saying, “Dad, this is Cassidy.  Can’t we save just one?”

1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

This is a blog about our adoption journey.  And – a long one it’s already been.  I like to think that it officially started around age 8 when I asked for that baby doll.  It was confirmed at ages 14 & 15 on mission trips where I became so attached to the children that I cried the entire 12 hour drive back home.  God has made clear His heart for children and orphans in His Word.  This blog is dedicated to showing you how He made it clear to our family that we had Room 4 ONE Moore.