when east meets south
It’s the last day of November – a big month in the adoption world. It contains Orphan Sunday and is even slated as National Adoption Month. It is also a perfect reason to take an afternoon to pull on dresses and scribble smiley-faces on palms to capture this moment in time in our family. And while the kids may be… Read More
Today marks three years since we landed on US soil with our oh-so-fragile girl. Three years since God began changing my heart – teaching me, daily, how very perfect His plan was in knitting a child with Down syndrome into our family. I was so very afraid of all the ways I might fail her as a mother, of how… Read More
I’d like to introduce y’all to someone kinda special. Meet Miss Magnolia Jane, our daughter. I know, I can hardly stand it. Seriously. Now for the story, because I’m guessing you’re probably curious. And the truth is, it’s a story worth telling because it’s not our story. It’s His. I’m not going to share it all today, but I want… Read More
We spent this weekend reminiscing. A lot. It was 10 years ago that we were in China for the first time. Holding a feisty, determined, pint-sized survivor, with a half-dollar sized hole in her heart. I still remember how it felt as those last moments inched by before I would finally become her mama: standing in a smoke-filled room, my… Read More
My heart is naturally bent toward encouragement. Focusing on the good stuff. And as an adoptive mama, I can’t even begin to put into words all the ways that the Lord has blessed me through my children. The work He has done in them, and in me… good stuff. But I have learned that sometimes the best way to encourage is… Read More
Today is Orphan Sunday. We watched a video in church that was created to celebrate all the children who have come home to families in our church through adoption. Some from Ethiopia. South Korea. Alabama. And a few especially adorable ones from China that, when their faces flashed across the screen, might have made me tear up a little. Especially… Read More
I am so. excited. This project has been in the *dream* stage for a long time. But with a website overhaul pending, and realizing our need for more organizational and informational supports to make No Hands But Ours all it can be, the time to turn this dream into reality is now. Joining me on this adventure are Rebecca, Liberty,… Read More
**Today Show Hope and I are switching blogs. I’m sharing over there and they’re sharing over here. So excited to share this sweet little one – and all about Show Hope Care Centers – with y’all.** Back in 2003, Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, founded Show Hope out of their desire to see more children find their… Read More
Been thinking a lot about adoption lately. April marked 2 years home with Tallula. May was the month we traveled to China for Sophie in 2006 and Isabelle in 2005. It’s also the month Esther passed away in 2011. And June will mark 10 years since the Lord opened our eyes to caring for the orphan. 10 years, y’all. (Excuse… Read More
… because gotcha day looks like this. Oh my heart. Just look at her sweet 27-month-old self. Confused. Sad. And perched uncomfortably in the arms of a complete stranger with a few peace offerings clutched in her tiny hands. More and more it hurts my heart to look back at gotcha day pictures. Because while I was positively beaming (and… Read More