One Life

This past week, I had the privilege of attending Summit 9 in Nashville, TN. The conference is put on by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO. This was the second time I have attended - we have Emmi. :) God used that conference to begin calling us again to adoption. While I did not come home this time knowing we needed to start the process again, I did come home with much conviction, encouragement, and many things to work through.

Perhaps my biggest take away is that I have ONE life to live. What do I want to have my life defined by? What is God's desire for my life? How can I make a difference? What do I do with the undeniable command of God and the knowledge I have? How does my (our) burden for children here and around the world effect our lives, work, and callings?

The other big, though not new, lesson was once again a clearer understanding of God's adoption of us. His plan of salvation and his adopting us (not based on anything we have done) was and is a model for adoption. It is messy and not easy but yet rewarding and life-changing. To hear that preached and taught challenged my heart, my ideals, my goals...again.

I am NOT okay with the status quo and with the "american dream" but that doesn't mean I don't fight it. We are, as a family, really seeking to know God's heart, His goals for us, His plan...not to say that doesn't include nice things (God gives those gifts!)...but that cannot be all we seek in life.

So...here I am.
One life.
Passionate about parentless children.
Burdened heart.
Loving God.
Thankful to BE adopted.
Seeking truth.
Called to make a difference.
Blessed mama.
Happy wife.

A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 
Psalm 68:5-6

⁸ The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
⁹ The Lord protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 146:8-10

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these aresons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slaveryleading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:14-16


Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:27

¹“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
John 14:18-19