Harvesting Hearts in Vietnam: Pictures

How our Adoption Journey Began

Our adoption journey started on Oct. 8, 2006, when our 10 year old daughter's prayer intersected with the will of God.
We have 4 wonderful children Clay 13, Erin 11, Suzanne 8, and Brett 6. After Brett was born, we finalized the number of biological children we would have. Before the operation Jeff asked me if I would consider adoption. I said, "yes", mostly because I wanted to ensure I wouldn't ever have to be pregnant again, knowing he would agree with the operation if I would consider adoption.
The years went by and Jeff brought up the adoption discussion many times and each time I ended it with the words, "lets pray about it some more." Jeff and our oldest two children began to talk about it more and more. One day my daughter Erin asked me point blank, "Mommy are you ever going to want to adopt?" I sat down with her on my bed and told her, " Erin I think adopting is a wonderful thing, but Mommy feels like I don't have enough time for the four of you as it is. I'm so busy and I don't feel like I would be a very good Mommy if I took on anymore. And if God wanted me to adopt, he would make my life less complicated. " (This part never happened) I told her to pray that God would change Mommy's heart if he wanted me to adopt.(I thought we'd be good for another year on this subject)But little Erin got right on the task.
The next day I meant a woman, who is now my good friend, Sunnie Frank.(her real name is Kelly, but people call her Sunnie for obvious reasons I'm sure) The meeting was quite odd from her recollection and mine and in less than 3 minutes I found out that she had 4 biological children(like me) and 2 newly adopted little girls from Vietnam. As I was talking to her, I felt the strangest feeling come over me. I was watching her lips, but I felt like I was hearing a verbal conversation between my heart and my mind. And it was loud!
My heart pounded all the way home. I told Jeff and Erin when I got home that I was seriously ready to consider adoption. At that point Erin ran to her room and came back with the prayer she had written to God and put under her pillow the night before. She had tears in her eyes as she handed the paper to me. In her prayer she specifically asked God to change Mommy's heart and help her realize how much we could offer a child with no family. She told God that we could help one child be saved that might never know Jesus otherwise. Wow! That really hit us all!
That night, our family's daily prayers that God would lead us in the direction he wishes us to follow, Erin's specific prayer for adoption, and God's will for our family meant.
Since that day God has answered numerous prayers from Jeff and I to calm our doubts, fears, and anxieties in equally amazing ways.
God Loves You All and So Do We!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Pictures

I'm not sure how many of you are still looking at this blog, but I finally had a little time to take some good pictures when the kids would cooperate. I will post an update about how the kids are doing a little later.

2 comments:

Beth Ann said...: Aren't they darling? I wonder whose grandkids they are! They must think they are special, too!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYONE.

Hugs & Kisses,
Grandpa & Grandma Beth; February 14, 2008 4:57 AM
Karen said...: You ARE a lucky Grandma, Beth. What adorable children. Hugs, Karen; February 14, 2008 12:14 PM