Caring for Those Who Once Cared For Us

Caring for Those Who Once Cared For Us

Many people get to the point in life where they become caretakers for those who used to take care of them. We asked members of our church walking this path right now or recently having walked this path to share some of their reflections and thoughts about this with the blog. We are so grateful for their vulnerability and honesty. We ask that you take the time to read all of these responses and reflect on how you can support and love your community members that are current caretakers as well as those they care for.

Orphan Care & The Church

Orphan Care & The Church

Becoming parents and raising children is challenging. It requires patience, compassion, flexibility, discipline, and all the fruits of the Spirit! Growing a family through adoption brings a unique set of challenges that the average family does not have to deal with, leading to many questions. As Merritt and I took steps toward adoption, we sought the counsel and wisdom of many who had gone before us and we will continue to go to them as we raise our twins.

How Holiday Shopping Changed Our Lives: Our Adoption Story

How Holiday Shopping Changed Our Lives: Our Adoption Story

Have you ever met people who became a family, in part because of how other people did their holiday shopping? Take a look at our picture above, because that is our story.

My husband, Ryan, and I began our adoption journey in early 2020. After researching and praying through avenues to grow our family, we felt an overwhelming peace about pursuing private infant adoption through Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption. There was just one big glaring issue: finances!

Supporting Foster & Adoptive Families

Supporting Foster & Adoptive Families

I love the story I heard of Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn. Herman had a barn that flooded terribly every time it rained. After many failed solutions, he decided the only way to save his barn was to physically move it. So his community showed up and 344 people literally lifted the barn up by metal supports and moved it up a hill so that his livestock would have dry shelter and food. What a beautiful picture of community - everyone banning together to do a small thing in order to perform something that alone seemed impossible.

When Your Story Is Not Your Own

When Your Story Is Not Your Own

He clung to that doorway like his life depended on it. He screamed like he was being kidnapped, which is probably what it felt like to him. He cried and cried and cried.

She talked. Talked and talked and talked. On the drive home, she counted to 100. Twice. She tried to ignore the sobs and sniffles of the little brother sitting next to her. She put on a brave face.

The other two just watched. Stared in wonder at the drama unfolding around them. Gave up space in their rooms to allow another person to live there. Shared their toys and clothes. Shared their mommy and daddy.

This is how my story merged with the story of adoption. Dramatically. Traumatically. Saying yes to the call to adopt was the best, hardest thing we have ever done. Prior to that yes, we were living the ‘American Dream.’ Living in a nice suburb on a greenbelt. Two kids, one boy, one girl. We had it all.

Then God flipped our world upside down.

Soaking Up (the last of) Summer

Soaking Up (the last of) Summer

School’s out for summer! Which means we *should* be getting a little bit of a break along with the school kids. Welcome longer daylight hours and cookouts, swimming and road trips, watermelon and snow cones, movie nights and fireworks - oh, how we missed you. Of course, as a mom, there’s still work to be done... but I do like to ”summer hard”.

FIND YOUR SPOT!

Take Our Survey!