update

I keep thinking, "This has to be God. None of this is a coincidence. Surely the mighty hand of our Father is orchestrating these things!" And I get a front row seat as He works on behalf of those He loves. So cool!


Let me explain....first of all the interview, which went great by the way, is a free 25 minute spot that airs on two radio stations in Bakersfield and the surrounding communities. Air1/KLOVE spotlight non-profit organizations giving them air time that they could never pay for. First, Mardi (foster parent coordinator for Koinonia) shared about Koinonia. She did a beautiful job and was a faithful voice for the fatherless. I already loved her, but hearing her speak with such passion and clarity causes me to love her all the more. Then it was my turn. Kurt, the interviewer, introduced me as an advocate for TFI and gave me 5+ minutes to share about the mission and ministry of TFI as well as our personal adoption story. I could have gone on for much longer than that, but I am thankful for the time I had. I surprised myself by getting emotional as I talked about Levi. I am not a crier, but I was on the verge - my voice was all cracky and I had to force myself not to give in and fall apart right then and there. The whole time was powerful and we could sense the Lord's presence as we spoke. Mardi and I came out of the interview rejoicing that we had the opportunity to be used this way. 


After the interview, Kurt asked me if I would be willing to do a 25 minute segment by myself solely for The Forgotten Initiative! To which I whooped and hollered and jumped up and down. OK - truthfully, I was doing that on the inside. Outwardly, I was a bit more dignified. I told Kurt I would love to. We should be taping that interview next time he is in Bakersfield (in the spring).

Can you believe it? I mean, I know I shouldn't be surprised, God is in the business of doing great things!                     

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Air 1 Interview

Today is the day of my interview with Air1. I am not really sure what to expect. I hope I am not making too much of it - I mean, it could be a short 30 second commercial. I find it hard to believe that a radio station would give its time away to do a spot on a local foster agency, but then again, we serve a big God who works in big ways. I am convinced the timing is not an accident, not 3 months ago or 3 months from now, but right as I am launching The Forgotten Initiative in Bakersfield. So, if the timing is perfect, then I trust that length of the interview will be too! 


So, I have been thinking a lot about our journey these past few days. About our first little ones that were with us for 7 short weeks, and then getting the call for a little guy, just 4 months old. We had time to think and pray about taking placement of Levi - a whole week. In ways that made the decision harder. I agonize about most decision (not one of my better qualities). I tend to think and rethink and over think things til I am wound up in circles and I can't make heads or tails of anything anymore! A week after getting the call about Levi we went to meet him at his foster family's house. I prayed and prayed that the Lord would allow there to be a love connection between us. We visited, snuggled, and played with him for an hour or so. When we left, I said to Dominic, "Well?" All he said was, "He's cute!" We didn't talk about our decision at all the rest of the night. The next morning I texted Dominic (yep, that's how our life changing decision was "discussed") and asked him what to tell our social worker. He texted back "yes". And that was it. He came home that afternoon! The Lord certainly answered the "love connection" request and all my thinking and rethinking didn't matter anymore. He was our son from the moment he laid his little head on my chest and fell asleep that first night at his foster family's house.


The first few months with Levi were great - and hard. He barely slept. I mean, we celebrated if he slept longer than 30 minutes at a time. I was up with him all through the night. He was restless and resisted laying close and still in bed with me, yet he cried and fussed in his own bed. As night time approached I could feel myself getting anxious and my stomach would begin to churn just knowing how long the night was going to be again. During the day he was happy and content, but again....no sleep. "Naps" were 20 minutes at best. It took months and patience and lots of lovin', but today, he takes 2 good naps a day and sleeps through the night! Not that sleep is everything, but to me it is one way I know he is settled here, he is secure and he knows he is safe. 


So, as I think about this interview I wonder, how do I express the wonderful miracle of adoption in a sentence or two? How do I share all the Lord has done in our lives this last year and a half in a quick interview? I am known for my many words, so today I pray, "Lord, fill my mouth with Your words  - let Your heart be made known." 


Thanks for your prayers - I'll let you know how it goes! 


By His Grace and for His glory!

another piece of the puzzle

Well, friends its official. Or rather, I'm official! Business cards and The Forgotten Initiative brochures were delivered yesterday. Time to start advocating for the needs of the forgotten in Bakersfield. I am jazzed! So ready to be part of bringing the love of Jesus to the foster care community. 


It has been so exciting to watch the Lord perfectly place the pieces of the puzzle together. From the desire to be a voice for the fatherless, to making the video for our agency, to "happening" upon Jami's blog and learning about TFI  - it has all been His leading, His preparing, His timing. Now, one more exciting piece of the puzzle - I get to spread the word about The Forgotten Initiative on Air1! On Tuesday, I will head to our agency where I will get to share our foster/adoption story, our vision, and all about TFI. Certainly not a coincidence that our agency was approached by Air1 and offered this amazing opportunity! Just another piece of the puzzle. I love watching the Lord work and move. 


Please pray that the Lord's heart for the fatherless would be revealed as I talk with the interviewer. That the words I speak would not be mine, but His, and that many would hear and be moved to join the TFI team. Above all, please pray for those in the foster care system - that all would know the love of Jesus. 


I am filled with a sense of awe as I think about being used this way. Who could've known that 15 years ago, when we first started talking about adoption, we would end up here in this place at this time?! Even more unimaginable is the crazy love we have for this little boy we met just 11 short months ago! We started and stopped the process to be certified 4 times before actually going all the way. What was once a lingering desire has become the most blessed thing we have ever done! I am so glad we stepped out and obeyed the calling He had for our lives. We could have missed the joy of loving Levi. 


To God be the glory, great things He has done!

All Boy!

Yup, he is! All Boy! 

And we love it. 

We are so enjoying our baby boy! 

After 12 years of girls ruling the house,the new experience 

of having a little man around has been a blast. 

He loves to climb, throw balls (or anything else he gets his hands on), and oh the sound effects he can already make. :) He is enthralled with motorcycles and airplanes ~ searching frantically when he hears one. 

I knew that boys were different, 

just didn't expect it to be so fun raising one! 

Having fun being a boy!

What could be better?

Water, rocks, and a ball for good measure 

He was soaking wet, but didn't care a bit! 

Getting dirty is way too much fun! 

To God be the glory great things He has done!

Meredith is 5!

On Sunday we celebrated our sweet girl's 5th birthday. Meredith is such a joy. We have cherished and enjoyed every season of her little life. I think it must be because we are getting older, or maybe it is because we are realizing just how fast our kiddos grow up - either way, we appreciate every stage with her in a way we didn't with the big girls. We were in a hurry for the big girls to get, well, big. Now, we wish time would stand still for a while so we can enjoy and soak up every memory of these early years. 


MerMer, we love you like crazy. Happy Birthday, sweet girl. 

What Could His Life Been Like?

On Tuesday night Dominic and I were sitting on the couch, worship music was playing in the background as the kids ran around being silly. Levi absolutely loves it when all of us are hanging out - its his time to turn on the charm and ham it up! He was dancing, and twirling, and laughing. As we watched him enjoy the love and attention of his family, Dominic said to me, "Do you ever think about what his life could have been like?" 
  
I do. Alot. Actually, the more his personality emerges, the more kisses and cuddles I get from him, the more I hear him "singing" Jesus Loves Me as I snuggle him before bed, the more my mind wanders to the "what ifs". But even more than that, I am stirred to pray for his birth mom. It saddens me to think she is missing out on knowing this wonderful little boy she carried in her womb. She is so lost and in bondage. I pray that the Lord would reach her and speak His love and plan of salvation to her. I never met her - never even saw her - but I pray for her. While we were waiting to be certified the Chris Tomlin song "Our God" became my prayer for our little one - and the Lord answered my heart's prayer in every way! 

"Into the darkness You shine,

Out of the ashes we rise,  

There's no one Like You, none like You....

Our God is healer, awesome in power, our God."  

I pray the same prayer for her. "Lord, shine Your light into the darkness. Nothing is too hard for you." 

What could his life have been like? I don't know. What I do know, is he is here and he is loved. He is the apple of his daddy's eye. Truly, Dominic is smitten. I love to watch the two of them together. Dominic tells me countless times a day how cute Levi is, how special he is, how much he loves him. I have heard him defend him against thoughtless racial jokes with passion and intensity. Levi is the first to get hugs and kisses when Dominic gets  home from work! He is waiting for the day they can do "guy stuff" together. All of these things are answers to the quiet cry of my heart - that Dominic would fall in love with the child the Lord brought to our family. It has been my joy to watch as the men in the house bond! 

We both look forward to teaching Levi about Jesus and raising him to be a godly man. Levi is a gift, he is a blessing to our family, and his life is a reminder of the redemptive love of our great God who loves the little children and answers prayers!


To God be the glory, great things He has done! 

A Little More Info

Well, I realized after my first post that I gave no details about The Forgotten Initiative (TFI) and how I "happened" to find this amazing ministry. It is such a blessing to already see the Lord's hand leading, guiding, and preparing the way! I know it was not an accident or a coincidence, but instead the beautiful weaving together of His plan for our lives.


As most of you know, I read blogs - lots of blogs. (I have actually "cut back" because I was convicted about how much time I spent reading about other people's lives instead of reading the bible.) Anyways, one blog I love to read is called We Are Grafted In. Adoptive/foster families from all over regularly post on this site. It was there that I read a post by a foster mom, Jami. I was so encouraged by her honesty and total dependence on Jesus. On her personal blog I found a link to The Forgotten Initiative. I commented, asking her if I could pick her brain a bit about starting a ministry for foster care in Bakersfield. Within minutes we were on the phone sharing our stories, talking about life with kids, and praying together. Jami is the founder of The Forgotten Initiative and her prayer is that there would be advocates in every city in the United States. Our hearts were immediately united by our common desire to see the body of Christ answer the call to care for the fatherless. 


The timing of all of this was totally the Lord because the post I read on We Are Grafted In was supposed to post in December of 2010(it posted a whole year "late"). Had it posted in 2010, I would not have read it and I would not have been linked with TFI.  Only God. 
I had been feeling a bit discouraged by how long it took to get the video done. My plan was to have it finished in October so I could promote it and it could be shown in churches during National Adoption Month (November). Instead, I would have to wait until after the holidays to really start with that. (not my plan, but oh how I see now His plan is so much better) Now, I can go to churches/pastors/foster agencies full of ministry opportunities and ideas - with the backing and support of TFI and Lifesong for Orphans. Only God. His ways and timing are so much better than mine!

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

The Inevitable has finally happened!

Welcome! As the title states, the inevitable has finally happened! After months of stalking other people's blogs, I have started my own - which I am sure comes as no surprise to most of you! :) 

The goal and purpose of this blog is to share my heart and burden for the forgotten children of the world. I pray  the Lord uses this blog as a place to encourage other Christians to answer the call of our Heavenly Father to care for the least of these. 

       "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name, receives Me."                        

Matthew 18:5

With that purpose in mind, it is my joy to share with you all that its official - 

I am an advocate for The Forgotten Initiative. 
You can read more about them here http://www.theforgotteninitiative.org/#mission. 
I am so excited to be linked with like-hearted believers in the common ministry of reaching the broken and forgotten with the love of Jesus! I will be posting here and on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/tfi.bakersfield?sk=wall as ministry opportunities arise in Bakersfield. I look forward to linking arms with many believers in Kern County to bring joy and purpose to the foster care community. 

I know the Lord's timing in leading me to The Forgotten Initiative is perfect. What started months ago with a desire to be a voice in churches around Bakersfield, lots of ideas, and a video project that took longer than expected (if you haven't seen it - check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo68B8hnpDQ), has resulted in becoming a Forgotten Advocate. It is thrilling to look back and see God's hand preparing us for such a time as this. 

So, here's to a new year, a new ministry, and a new blog! 

To God be the glory, great things He has done! 

Becky