The birthday celebration was underway and children running all over the place as if they were in a world created just for them.  The smell of hotdogs, popcorn and cotton candy filled the backyard and the cake was absolutely stunning with a BIG TOP CIRCUS theme.  We had come to the time for this little one to test his taste at his very own cake.  We all waited as he tested the waters with a little help from mom and dad to make sure it was ok for him to dive into the sweetness of sugar!  As his parents are coaching him, big brother takes center stage and yell…“hurry up and thank Jesus for the birthday and cake and ……his little brother”.  He was a preaching up a storm to us all.

As I stated earlier, God has grown our friendship and I have had the privilege to spend time with this family and observe them no longer as clients, but friends being parents to their two boys that they have been blessed with through adoption.  This was NOT the first time big brother took over with his preaching.  It has become a normal production for him to give a sermon with a big crowd around and I have joked that he is going to grow up and be an evangelist (don’t think a church, at this point, could tame him down enough).  And little brother, the birthday boy, has the biggest smile that just melts your heart…what is God going to do with him?!

Looking around with these very thoughts going through my head and all the cameras flashing like the gathering of paparazzi, the dad leans over and asks me “what does it mean to you to see this?”  My response: “don’t make me cry”.  I was already there with a big knot in my throat.  So what does it mean to me?  Words cannot begin to describe what is in my heart.  Thanking God that He even gives me the opportunity to be a part of His plan for these little ones is so overwhelming.  I often say that I am a vessel that God uses and I take it to heart that I will give an account for the homes that these children are placed in.  At that moment, when the daddy of these children asked what this meant to me, with all these images of what I have seen personally in this family’s life with much thankfulness to Christ, my thoughts take me to Isaiah where we learn about Fearing God, and heeding His Word “Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.  And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.  Here as I and the children whom their Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of host, who dwells in Mount Zion” Isaiah 8:16-18        

So my birthday thought is this………WHAT A GREAT TESTIMONY!

 THE MIRACLE OF ADOPTION

Yesterday, July 6, 2011 marked the 7th year anniversary since ABBA Adoption, LLC officially became an organization.  As you can imagine, it is not only exciting to celebrate this day as an establishment; I am at complete awe at all that God has used ABBA for thus far.  Over the last months and specifically last few weeks and days, I have been reflecting on these last seven years having been brought to mind the many journeys that God has taken us on.  They have not always been easy, but they have brought much joy and fulfillment in knowing that we continuously just trust in the Lord, even when we don’t understand.

I first remember when I sat across from the AT&T rep that was helping me with our ad campaign for the yellow pages.  Of course, I wanted my scripture (Romans 8:15) listed in the ads.  I was instructed that having my scripture in our ad might deter some people who otherwise would call and maybe it was a little too narrow for the people we were trying to reach.  I sat in amazement that this was the council I was getting, especially when I have been very clear about our vision and the call that God was giving.  My response was simple; “We will keep the scripture in the ad, those that God wants us to work with and minister to will come by being drawn to us through our scripture.”  I still believe this today; God is the one who allows me to do what I do; therefore, it is up to God to bring to ABBA those he wants us to serve. 

From the very first call into our agency, a young lady who was at an abortion clinic (and made the decision to choose life for her baby) to all the young ladies and families that God has brought through this program, I am eternally thankful for the opportunity that has been afforded us by those that have been touched and forever changed by adoption.  The stories are numerous.  So many sweet testimonies of God’s grace and love using the MIRACLE OF ADOPTION to impact lives in ways we will never understand this side of heaven.

ABBA completed its first adoption in February of 2005, and to date we have placed 124 precious little ones into forever homes.  What an incredible blessing!!  When one really stops to think of how this impacts so many lives; it is mere humbling at best.  This past July as we completed our 100^th adoption, I went back to review all the ladies that we had worked with, of those, 80% of them were looking to have an abortion when we first came in contact with them and then they chose life and chose a plan of adoption for their child.  Amen!  I cannot even begin to put into words all that God has allowed me to experience through each of these placements and all the lessons he has taught me about trusting in him.  Each adoption that unfolds shows how God’s hand, as the potter, has taken the clay of this world and crafted a beautiful masterpiece all for his glory, because a mother made a choice to give life and a couple chose to adopt.

Thank you to all who have allowed ABBA to serve you over the last seven years; it has been a blessing and an honor to get to know you.  I look forward to all that God has laid before us in the future.   Please pray for us as we prepare to take the next steps of faith.  Pray that God would continue to send Christian families that are answering the call to adopt.  And pray that the young ladies that need to make an adoption plan for their children would have the courage to contact us and through both of these situations that all involved will see God at work through our ministry here at ABBA. 

Make sure to check out our blog for regular updates and postings.