He Took Hold of Me

Growing up I never felt my strengths were in the realm of "mothering" or "parenting." I wasn't particularly drawn to babies like some of my friends and I avoided babysitting at all costs. It is so true what they say, that until you have looked into the face of your own child, you don't know what miraculous love you can experience as to be a mother.  Ever since that winter morning in February 2001, when little Lily Faith entered our world, I have felt the hand of God on me as he guides me through this MOM season of my life.  Three more children later, I hedged on whether Levi would be our last baby.  My age and my body just weren't quite cooperating with me any more during pregnancy, so after a lot of prayer, Phil took the dreaded trip to the V doctor to take care of "his side" of things.

When Levi was about two years old, no longer a "baby," my nurturing side kicked back into high gear. As Phil can attest to, I started going bonkers . . . adopting one pet after another. At one point we had FOUR parakeets . . . well, that only lasted about a week :) None of these distractions could satisfy the longing that God was placing in my heart. He revealed to me that we were not finished growing our family yet. I wouldn't be giving birth anymore, but, God was shaping and molding us into the family that would welcome an adopted child into our home.

Adoption has been in my life since I was a little girl when we drove to Chicago to meet my little brother Andrew. Later my parents adopted my second brother Edward.  God has been "taking hold of me" for so long . . . step by step. It is becoming clearer and clearer what lies ahead . . . I surrender to His calling.

 My Brother Andrew (Me holding him) and sister Kara.

Philippians 3:12b "But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me  . . ."

We have been pursuing adoption through the state of SC for two years now. Although we are licensed to adopt, we have not had a child placed with us because we have four young children who might be vulnerable to some of the "abuse scars" the domestic orphans carry. While we keep this door option, we are feeling more and more that God is calling us to international adoption. HE HAS TAKEN HOLD OF MY HEART. I will not give up. 

We will mail our formal application tomorrow!  Praise the Lord! The first step of faith. Thank you for your prayers.

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers (and sisters), I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."