Where it all began...

Christie: I remember when God first planted the seed of adoption in my heart. I was probably about 12 years old, and I was at home watching some kind of talk show, it may have been Oprah or maybe Maury, I really can't remember, but I do remember a young girl that they were interviewing on the show. She stood up and shared how she wanted to adopt because there was so many children out there who had no one to love them. As she spoke, something started inside of me. I pretty much made up my mind right then and there, that someday, some how, I would adopt.

As time went on, God continued to grow this dream in my heart. Verses about God being a Defender of the fatherless, setting the lonely in families, and how He adopted us into His family, stood out to me and gripped my heart. (Psalm 68:5-6, Deut. 10:18, Eph. 1:4-6) I remember the first time I read Ezekiel 16:4-14. It was a picture of what God had done for me, and I desired to show the love that He had shown me, to others. God gave His all so that I could be a part of His family, was I willing to do the same?

After I got married to my amazing husband Adam, the dream of adoption still would not go away. We became pregnant after 2 1/2 years of marriage and we were both thrilled. As I was carrying our precious son Jayce, I wondered if having him would effect my convictions about adoption. Jayce Adam was born August 24, 2009, and as I held him in my arms the first week after being home, I began to sob. All I could picture was him, being somewhere else, with no one to hold him, kiss him, sing to him, laugh with him, dream for him, provide for him, no one wanting him. Though I was weeping, I was also rejoicing, with the birth of my son, the dream of adoption had not disappeared, it had grown stronger! There were children out there who needed to be a part of our family, and I could hardly wait to bring them home!

Adam: I have always admired families who adopt. It is a selfless act. It is an act of sacrifice and of love. For the longest time I believed that in order to adopt you had to be well into your thirties and financially well-off. However, when God instructed His children in His word to care for orphans (James 1:27) He did not include any prerequisites necessary to do so. When I finally turned over my fears, misconceptions, and self-preserving ways to the Lord, He gave me peace and assurance about adopting. We needed to give a precious child in need a forever family.

The more I hold my precious son, Jayce, the more I realize how blessed he is to have a mom and a dad who love him, provide for him, and spend time with him. The littlest things we take for granted, a simple hug or smile, are often nonexistent in the lives of children in orphanages. I have come to the conclusion that we can't NOT adopt. We are so excited about the journey the Lord is about to take us on. We cannot wait to hold our new son or daughter for the first time!