"Father to the Fatherless"

"For you id not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." 

"Father to the fatherless and protector of the widows, is God in His holy habitation." Psalm 68:5

"Religion that is pure and holy before God, The FATHER, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." 

The most tragic story on earth is also the most beautiful, The story of God sending his one and only Son to an underserving sinful world to live the life we could not live and make the sacrifice that we should have made. The Perfect, Holy, Son of God died in our place that we might become adopted sons and daughters of Christ. 
I will never get over this truth, every time I think on it I cannot help but praise my Father. No one on this earth deserves God's grace, especially myself. We are all orphans and God chose as His plan of salvation to bring us into His family. He calls us to adoption. 

Matthew and I are blessed to both be surrounded by adoption our entire lives. I have grown up with a huge burdens for orphans and the need for adoption. Because the picture of adoption is the picture of the gospel. I will never lose the memories of the sweet unforgettable moments of adoption, of waiting in the courtroom as my Aunt and Uncle told a judge they would forever care for my beloved cousins, of watching another cousin bring home a baby boy, sweet and in need of a home, seeing the eyes of my sister and brother in law brimming with joy as they broke the news of their adoption from Ethiopia to us.
Stephanie and Aaron (my sister and brother in law) are currently packing their bags to head to Ethiopia and meet their baby girl Ryah for the first time. How I wish I could be there for that moment, it is irreplaceable, Stephanie and Aaron have been waiting for three years for this moment. They have time after time run into trials, (because where Christ is working you can be certain evil will try to pervade)    But they have persevered, never wavering from what God has called them to do. Who God is and His heart has show through Stephanie and Aaron, I know this time has been unbearable at times but it has also been Something Beautiful (the name of stephanie's blog ;) ). 

Six months ago Matthew and I were presented with the opportunity for the adoption of a baby boy,  however, it was just as quickly taken away. Broken hearted we began to pray over this boy, that he would grow in a Christian family to know the Father as his Lord and Savior, that he would be healthy and strong, and loved. a few weeks ago we were again notified that this baby would most likely soon be up for adoption. As this opportunity seemed to be true we began going to the Lord and mentors for guidance.
After a long day of talking and praying Matthew had just gotten off the phone and walked into the living, sat down in front of me eyes brimming with tears he told me, "Sam we can do this, we can bring him home." I thought my heart would burst with joy! We're adopting!  from that moment we decided we would start the process to bring our baby home! God has not only burdened our hearts but neither one of us can believe how much we love this baby boy and we have never even met him. 
The process has just begun, already we have hit a few walls in the system but we believe God will guide us through the process. What we ask is for your prayers as we begin this new chapter. We want to bring our baby home as soon as possible! So join us in this exciting time where we get to have this amazing opportunity to love a child of the King. Pray that we would take the right steps and talk to the right people. 
Also be praying for our baby, though he is stable and healthy presently, he does have some health issues. By God's grace he has been placed with a foster family that is medically knowledgable and very cabale of caring for him. Pray that he would be protected by God's grace and for his future, that he would grow to be a hero of the faith, that he would grow strong, a beautiful, full of grace, child of the King. 
Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers! We are beyond excited and ready for our new addition!