New Direction as Mission Parents

God has certainly pointed us in a new direction and Sam and I could not be more excited! We are still pursuing to adopt but just in another way. Back in August, we felt God leading us to become foster parents. We prayed about it and mutually agreed to sign up for the next fostering class available which just so happened to be the following week. I must admit I had some concerns and was maybe just a bit hesitant but as soon as we walked in...I instantly knew this was definitely it. We have thoroughly enjoyed the entire process and with the classes coming to an end, I can honestly say I have no concerns or hesitation. I am so over joyed that God led us to become foster parents. It doesn't matter what the results may be I know this is going to bless our lives in an incredible way. I love the organization we chose to go through and the staff is excellent. They have been so informative and just down right nice about all our questions...and trust me when I say we had many many questions! They knew we were first time parents for sure! With us going through this process we have had several people ask us questions and express their own concerns. Some of those concerns were ones I myself have had. I know that fostering is very different from adoption. I also know that fostering tends to get stereotyped. Yes, there are good and bad things about fostering. However, adopting and even having your own biological children has good and bad things that could happen. Fostering is definitely a calling and one we have embraced with open arms. However, fostering comes with a price...your heart. You are going to give pieces of your heart away to each and every child that comes into your care. Sam and I understand the ultimate goal of foster care is to reunite families and we fully support that mission! But we also believe God knows the desires of our hearts and we truly want to adopt. We are being very open with this organization about our personal desires and in return they are being so thoughtful of that. Sam and I hope beyond anything that these kids can return to their families so they can become a whole unit once again. We are opening our home to whatever child may be in need of it but we pray God sends us our own through this process. Make no mistake, we will love each and every child the same and treat them equally. But we can not wait to meet the child we can finally call ours forever. We pray God receives all the glory from this mission we are on! In fact, Sam and I have decided to refer to fostering as missioning so we will hopefully soon be mission parents. Please continue to pray for us as we travel in this new direction!

With much love,
Lea

Sparkly Green Earrings

I recently came across a new a book that I absolutely loved! Melanie Shankle is such a talented writer and beautiful person inside and out. She is also hilariously funny and holds nothing back. Talk about being an open book! "Sparkly Green Earrings" is a wonderfully truthful view on motherhood. It will definitely open your eyes for those thinking about becoming a mom as well make you laugh out loud about the great things being a mom is all about...like no sleep! Something I look forward to when I myself become a mom someday (Ha-ha). I highly recommend her book for all the moms out there.

Go pick up a copy at your local bookstore and check out her blog too!

Lea

Orphans of God

There is a song that plays through my head from time to time. I can still remember the first moment I ever heard it and how the feeling of sheer "awe" was so overpowering. I fell in love with the lyrics right then and have been singing it in my heart ever since. It speaks to me now more then ever with the prospect of adopting becoming more real. I hope you as well will hear the song and be mesmerized.

"Orphans of God" by Avalon

Who here among us has not been broken
Who here among us is without guilt or pain
So oft' abandoned by our transgressions
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

Chorus:
There are no strangers
There are no outcasts
There are no orphans of God
So many fallen, but hallelujah
There are no orphans of God

Come ye unwanted and find affection
Come all ye weary, come and lay down your head
Come ye unworthy, you are my brother
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

Chorus

O blessed Father, look down upon us
We are Your children, we need Your love
We run before Your throne of mercy
And seek Your face to rise above

Blessings,

Lea

Waiting

We are eagerly awaiting a phone call that could change our lives forever. Sam and I were recently contacted on Tuesday by our adoption agency about two little girls who need a new home. It seemed so perfect that it happened to be the seventh month since starting our own adoption journey. Of course we gladly accepted the offer if we qualified for such a quick adoption. I tried to gather all our paper work together and sort out what still needed to be done. Sam stayed up most of the night writing to one dad from a potential other. It was short but certainly sincere and heart felt. We didn't go to bed until almost three in the morning but we didn't care. Sam and I are thrilled at even being a possible candidate for this adoption. We are praying so hard for the Lord's will to be done even if that means we are not selected. We pray these girls will receive the family best suited for them and likewise that we will finally meet the children intended for us. Please be in prayer with us about this opportunity and our agencies heavy decision.

Blessings,

Lea

Happy Birthday

Today, is my husband's birthday! So, Sam this one is for you...

I feel so incredibly blessed to get to call you mine. I can not believe God gave me such an amazing man of character. You are so wise beyond your years and have the kindest heart I have ever known. You are a great spiritual leader and answer so many of my questions.You are my pillar of strength and my rock during tough situations.You work extremely hard and I admire your determination to do everything exactly right. You have the cutest laugh and it just melts my heart to see your sweet smile. You make my life so much better and I feel very honored to be your wife. I absolutely can not wait to see you as a father someday and I have no doubt you will be an excellent one! You have all the attributes of a great dad already. You take the time to listen and give knowledgeable advice. You are very patient and offer your support where it is needed. You understand the importance of quality time and leading by example. You take your position as the provider seriously and uphold your moral values. You want only the best for your family and love them unconditionally. I see a terrific parent in the making and a wonderful man after God's own heart. I love you and I am so glad God put you on this earth twenty-nine years ago!

I love you dearly,

"Pidge"

Praying Hard

The devastation from the recent tornado in Oklahoma hits both Lea and I very hard. When we began our adoption journey God laid on hearts two little boys who live in Oklahoma. We have been praying constantly for that set of siblings this entire time. Lea and I do not know if they are the ones God has in store for our family but we pray for them anyway. We ask God everyday to watch over them and protect them. We are now praying that he honors that especially now. It breaks our hearts to learn of the many deaths that have occurred and especially those who were children. Please keep those two little boys in mind and lift them up in prayer along with all the other families struggling with this tragedy.

In His hands,
Sam

Our Future

Last night, was such a treat to see the kids having so much fun at Awanas playing "water" games. I love watching them get excited and just have a good time. They deserve it! Those children have worked so hard and have just done a terrific job. I could not be more proud of them. This is only our second year of helping with Awanas and I can honestly say we still love it. Oh sure it has its moments like anything really but it is truly a joy to work with such an awesome group of kids. What a blessing it is to help children grow in the faith. Although, majority of the time I think they are actually helping my faith to grow. It makes me ponder on a passage of scripture found in Luke 18:16-17, "But Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it..."

Sam and I get asked a lot why we do what we do. The most frequent question seems to be "Why do you both help out with so many children's activities or events? You don't have children of your own, enjoy this time!" I know most people when they say this are only joking so I just laugh it off. However, I really want to say, "I am enjoying this time!" I love helping children! Sam loves helping children! Believe me when I say that we are enjoying this time by helping children. We may not have children of our own now and we may never have any, but we enjoy this time with the children that God has placed in our lives. Sam and I understand that, no matter if these kids are ours or not, they are our future. These children will be our future doctors, nurses, teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and might even be our next president. They will also be (I pray) our future Sunday school leaders, elders, greeters, preachers, and missionaries.

Sam and I know God has placed us in the children's ministry for a purpose and we try to view it as our mission field. Some days are harder then others but each moment we are given with a child is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to be an listening ear, a gentle hug, a word of wisdom, or even a seed planter. They may not be our children but that does not mean we do not enjoy each and every one of them. Every single child is unique and special. They each have their own way of memorizing scripture, drawing a certain Bible character, or even playing a strategic game. It is fascinating to watch their little faces as they start to understand what their reading about or catch that smile after they know they have finished a book and can move on. We both agree that helping with children is a calling and that it takes a lot of hard work and effort but we enjoy every moment of it. That is why we do what do. We are preparing for our future.

Blessings,

Lea