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Category: family

Abba, Salvage This {29 of 40 Stories}

Click here for the backstory. Have you ever tugged on a string hanging off of your sweater and suddenly the entire hem of the sweater is unraveled? I did that on a blanket once. I tugged on a string and it started to unravel. Even when I cut the string, a few days later it was hanging off and I’d tug on it, only to start the whole thing unraveling again. One little tug and the whole thing turned into a big tangled mess. Eventually it ended up in the… Read more Abba, Salvage This {29 of 40 Stories} →

It’s Not About Luck {27 of 40 Stories}

When people learn Andy and I adopted most of our children when they were older, there’s always a story. I hear stories that start like this… My neighbor’s daughter adopted a 12 year old.My sister’s husband’s best friend adopted a 5 year old and 6 year old sibling group.My aunt decided to adopt some foster kids after her kids went to college.These people at my brother’s church adopted an 8 year old. I used to get excited. I love story. I love story inspired by my story. I love story… Read more It’s Not About Luck {27 of 40 Stories} →

I Learned to Keep Laughing {24 of 40 Stories}

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Click here for the backstory. We learned from adopting Sam how God gives blessings out of an abundant love. Before Sam, we waited for a baby. We were matched, and the baby was due on January 31. On Andy’s birthday, in December, we received a phone call informing us the birthmother changed her mind. Although we were matched again at the end of December, the due date wasn’t until March, giving this new birthmother plenty of time to change her mind. We closed up the nursery and didn’t think about… Read more I Learned to Keep Laughing {24 of 40 Stories} →

Not Yet, But She Will {24 of 40 Stories}

Click here for the backstory. She used to lie to stay safe. She used to steal to eat. Lies and thefts became part of her existence. These practices were critical to survival. A habit was formed. When she moved home, to our forever family, we began to break the habit. She learned it was wrong to lie and steal. She learned to recognize the impulse and stop it. We prayed to be able to tell the difference between lying and four year old mistakes. It was an answered prayer. Whenever… Read more Not Yet, But She Will {24 of 40 Stories} →

Celebrate Anyway {23 of 40 Stories}

Click here for the backstory. For a long time, I’ve claimed Philippians 4:4-7 as a compass to how I live. I’ve memorized the New International Version. Tonight I read The Message and smiled. You’ll see why… Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!   Don’t fret or worry.… Read more Celebrate Anyway {23 of 40 Stories} →

Hate Quitting {19 of 40 Stories}

Click here for the backstory. Stephanie loathes running. She grumbles when it’s time to go for a run. She crabs all through the warm up. She groans when it’s time to start jogging. Even though I’ve assured her she doesn’t have to go, she still chooses to run with Hannah and me. During the second (of six) round of jogging, her grumbling became louder. Within seconds of the end of the jogging round, she decided to quit. She sat down cross-legged on the edge of the road. “I’m done,” she… Read more Hate Quitting {19 of 40 Stories} →

Run the Route {15 of 40 Stories}

Click here for the backstory. God is always, always, working on our behalf. He is always, always, working for good. He wants to give us good gifts. Why, then, does it sometimes seem like our prayers fall on deaf ears? Why does it seem like the God who created the universe gives us desires and then withholds things from us? It can be a child, a spouse, a job, a friend, a hobby, a home, a grade, a goal, a rehab — it can be anything, the thing we’ve been… Read more Run the Route {15 of 40 Stories} →