.Summer has Come.

Have you ever been part of a moment that was so big, so amazing, so wonderful that no words would ever accurately blanket it? We were part of a moment such as this on Sunday morning. Joanna and Steve, after two long, hard years, finally stood at the front of their church as a complete family of six. Their precious Ethiopian daughter, Tsega was firmly tucked into their arms. As I sat in the pew and looked at their family I could not help but notice how they all looked so right together.

We were invited to come to Tsega's dedication ceremony. This was also the first time Tsega was brought to church, as she had been safely cocooned in her new home until then. I honestly have never witnessed anything like this. We ended up arriving at the church at the same moment as Jo and Steve. I walked through the church doors with Jo carrying Tsega, and as soon as she stepped in the building people began clapping, taking photos, and just rejoicing in the long awaited presence of this sweet little girl.

The service started with praise and worship, and the excitement and joy in that church was palpable. I fought tears the entire time. I have seen a lot of baby dedications in my life, having grown up in a church where those were the norm. But I had never, ever seen one like this, and any words I can think to describe it fall so flat. It was emotional and beautiful and tender as the pastor edified Jo and Steve to raise Tsega (along with their other children) to love and worship and serve her Creator, and to give her right back over to God. His words were poignant and from the heart, and it was so refreshing to hear the emotion in his voice as he swallowed back tears. He mentioned a few times how the whole church was behind their adoption and supported them through it, and I could sense that was true.

The dedication climaxed in the most beautiful, thoughtful, God-ward way. The pastor called to the front every person who had prayed Tsega home over the past two years to surround Jo and Steve and family. It was breathtaking. We were shoulder to shoulder circling their family. There was no room left in the front. My tears fell quick and hot as the Pastor prayed a beautiful prayer of dedication over Tsega's sweet life - giving her back to God. Then as we lifted our bowed heads we were led to sing the hymn that JO has continuously sang over Tsega since bringing her into her care How Great Thou Art. I dare say there was not a dry eye in the room.

As I stood there trying to sing past the burning lump in my throat I just kept thinking that I had just seen a true and beautiful portrait of God's redemption. I will not forget that moment for as long as I live.

Later, at the reception the church held for the family, Jo and I were able to get this photo captured together with our Ethiopian babies. It is something we dreamed of and talked of for the past year. Joanna taught me so much as she allowed me into her story. She taught me how to trust my Savior more, how to say amen or Yes, Lord, and mean it, and how to walk the hard paths with grace. I could fill up pages of a journal with wisdom she has gifted to me.



At the end of January, after our first trip to Ethiopia, when I was aching and feeling as if I could be swallowed up in the pain of leaving my youngest baby behind in a third world country, and Joanna was waiting and waiting for a court date to see her baby girl, she mailed me a card. The card is tucked in between the pages of my Bible. In the card is a photograph of a beautiful tree loaded with pink blossoms. Jo wrote this on the back of the photograph.

I believe Summer will come - we will feel the warmth of the sun on our faces and hold all of our children soon enough.

With a deep sigh of joy, contentment and amazement, I can say that Summer has come.

And on Sunday I truly did feel the warmth of the SON.

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My heart pounded as we climbed the three flights of stairs to the suite we had been staying in. Some of the pounding was from the elevation and climbing the stairs with a baby riding me in a baby sling, but most of it was nerves I realized as I heard his plastic sandals slap the concrete stairs as he followed me.

Were we foolish to invite this stranger of a boy right off of the streets into our hearts, into our suite?

All that repeatedly echoed through my mind, though, was the thought that this is what Jesus would do and did.

I unlocked the door. Jim was still downstairs talking at the front desk, explaining the situation at hand. He tentatively followed me in, eyes round and wide. I knew from the look on his face that he had never lived anywhere so plush, and I felt a twinge of shame. Our eyes met, and he bit his bottom lip - shy, unsure, excited. Then his eyes settled on the light switch, and his face registered curiosity. He looked to me almost as if asking permission to touch it, my face broke out in a wide grin, reassuring his curiosity. He gingerly reached out and pushed the light switch making the lights come to life in the entryway. His face registered glee, and he took off exploring every nook and cranny.

He started in the kitchen - sliding the window back and forth, open and shut. He sat on the ledge, and my heart raced in that overprotective Mama Bear way, Oh, please do not fall out of the window. His eyes then landed on the sink in the kitchen and he manipulated the faucet until the water ran, and he looked at me astonished and broke out in laughter, and my laughter melted into his. I wondered if this was his first encounter with running water. What a mystery it seemed to be to him. He ran his hands under the streaming water over and over. When he was tired of that the stove top beckoned to him, and he turned it on and off, on and off. My heart panicked a bit, and I purposed to tell Jim to talk with him about not touching the stove after we left. Then the microwave was opened and closed, and the refrigerator brought him so much delight. He continually placed his hand inside perplexed over the coolness he felt. My cheeks hurt from smiling, and I quickly grabbed one of the slender glass bottles filled with coke, used the bottle opener to pop the cap off, and handed the cool bottle to him. His smile lit up his beautiful face, and he took a swig, wiping his mouth with the back of his dirty hand.

He continued exploring, flushing the toilet in the bathroom, playing in the bathroom sink. Looking at himself in the mirror and smiling so big with his perfect, white teeth, testing out the couch, the arm chairs, the bed. Marveling at our laptop and the blow dryer that lay beside it. His eyes were hungry to understand everything, and I was living in the moment of wonder right along with him. After several moments I gently handed him his new backpack stuffed with clothing and then a bar of soap. I showed him the shower and how to work it, gave him a towel and shut the bathroom door.

I unhooked Jamesy from the baby sling and kissed his curly head as the tears fell over my cheeks warm and stinging. Moment by moment throughout the past five or so hours I was falling more and more in love with this boy. A little boy from the streets with a history of cruel sadness that no child should ever have to shoulder.

The bathroom door opened and he emerged clean and grinning in his new clothes. I think he put every article of new clothing that we had given him on. He looked older but softer. He pulled up his shirt and showed me a scab on his hip that had opened and looked sore. He told me he got it playing soccer. He seemed proud of his wound, as I tenderly and carefully (not knowing his history and the diseases his little body might hold) bandaged his scab. Tears pricked my eyes wondering when the last time was someone had taken care of him. It didn't seem right that this boy was in charge of himself - alone.

The sneakers we brought were too big, but my running shoes fit him perfectly. He didn't mind that they were pink. I tied them for him, and he grinned from ear to ear so proud to be rid of his dirty, broken plastic sandals. I wondered what it must feel like to be wearing socks and shoes after so long in ill-fitting sandals. How much I take for granted I thought.

Jim came in the door soon after. I was quick to tell him everything and about the stove. Jim swiftly unplugged the stove and took care of my worries. Then they went outside to play soccer, while I snuggled Jamesy for a bit and thought over all that had occurred that day. I marveled that God had orchestrated such a divine meeting. That we would once again find this boy and be given the gift of a day together - a day brimming full with memories, and that God would allow us a way to get him off the street and care for him. It was good, so good, and so God. But it wasn't enough. We could give him the world, and it still would not be enough, for all he truly desired and needed was the one thing we could not give him, and the one basic thing every child deserves - family. My heart split in two. We were getting on an airplane that night, so excited to start our new life with Jamesy, but my heart was breaking at all we were leaving behind and who we were leaving behind. Why would God give us this day with this boy, and then ask us to walk away?

The hours melted into one another. We took photographs and videos and shared photos from the laptop of our family. He played with the mp3 player we had given him and every other electronic gadget that we had brought. We had dinner in the dining room - tibs and injera. He grew quieter and there was something in his dark eyes that was unreadable - fear, loneliness, confusion? Maybe all three. We were to leave for the airport at 10 PM. We tucked Jamesy in to sleep for a few hours, and we quickly packed up our belongings. He would watch us, and I wondered what he was thinking. Soon his eyes grew heavy with sleepiness. We had learned that he normally slept during the day for safety reasons, so no doubt he was exhausted from spending the day awake with us. I helped him to lay down on the cot that was brought up for him, and kissed his cheek. I whispered to him that we would wake him before we left.

I watched him try to sleep. He couldn't lay down all of the way. He slumped against the wall, half sitting up and half laying down, his body tense and on guard. I realized this was how he slept on the street. He twitched and constantly awoke scanning the room, and he whimpered in his sleep. Mumbling and crying. My heart broke again as I watched him. I am not sure when I had felt such pain for another person. Tears streamed down my face, and I looked at Jim and saw pain mirrored on his face as well. I quickly went over sat on the floor and grabbed the boy's hand. He curled his head onto my shoulder and sobbed. I stroked his head and his hand as he trembled. This wasn't right, I thought, as I envisioned my other children safely tucked into their beds sleeping soundly and peacefully. What exactly had this sweet boy endured? I am not sure how long I sat with him crying my own hot tears, broken for this boy. My back finally screamed for me to get up, and I did.

It wasn't long before it was time to do what I had dreaded all day long - say goodbye. I was relieved to not have to leave him on the street, but this was still unbearably hard. We woke him, and I told him that he could sleep in the Queen size bed and watch the TV in the master bedroom. He smiled, but this time it didn't reach his eyes. He sat on the bed and flipped on to a movie that made me flinch, but he was mesmerized. Jim turned the TV off for a moment and pulled him to his feet. I was once again wearing Jamesy, who was sound a sleep in a front pack on my chest. We stood in the middle of that room and football huddled. For a moment the clock stopped, and I memorized the way it felt to be together, to have this teenage boy's arm around me and my husband's arm around me. The tears flowed, and I choked on sobs, and then Jim began to pray. I have no idea what he prayed. My memory fails me, and perhaps even at the time I was too distraught to really listen. I felt the boy quiver. He knew the day was ending, and that we were leaving with no certainty of when we would be back. After Jim said amen, I turned to the boy and hugged him fiercely.

I love you, Mom. He whispered - as broken as I have ever seen another human.

I love you, too.

Then my heart was pierced with horrific pain as I watched Jim envelope the boy in his arms. They rocked back and forth crying. Jim whispered to him over and over that he loved him and that we would be back someday. He promised that all of his needs would be met, and that he would be safe and well fed. And as long as I live I will never forget the look of sheer pain that was evident on the boy's face. It was palpable, and I could not swallow past the burning lump in my throat. Quickly I said one last goodbye and left the room.

And that was it. It was over. And that day has changed the course of my life forever. I still do not how it will all end, but I cannot ever be the same again. I cannot lay my head on my pillow, or wake up in the morning, or look at my brown-eyed boy here in my home and not remember who we left behind.

I hesitated to share any of this, because it still hurts, and it feels really, really vulnerable and private. I feel led to share, though, and I do not want the memory to fade. I want to remember what God gave us that day, and I want to remind myself that these faces on the street and in the orphanages are real people. People that God created and loved enough to send His Son to die for them.

People had told us it is foolish to pursue a teenage boy off of the streets of Ethiopia, that we cannot understand the ramifications it will have on our family.

It's true that we cannot.

But I cannot live with the ramifications of doing nothing.

I think Jesus would pursue the boy.

And simply because of this knowledge - so will we.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

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.In the Fullness of Time.

We are in a holding pattern, waiting, willing for the right time for Jamesy's adoption to be finalized. When God determines the time to be right it will happen, and yet this is what I struggle with most. I am choosing to see that time is in God's hands and not mine. It brings comfort some moments and agony others. I am impatient for my brown-eyed boy. I am jealous for these moments that I feel are being stolen from me. And yet I am finding peace in the wait. Peace doesn't always come without pain, though. My heart is full of pain as the days fall away spiraling further and further away from the last moment I kissed his silky, chocolate cheek and hugged him warm and close. I am thankful that the memories haven't faded, and that by closing my eyes I am back there....but only in my mind.

We are still waiting for our document to be re-translated. Our agency has to hire an outside source to do this, and it is taking an unexpectedly longer amount of time. AWAA is speculating that the US Embassy is requesting several documents to be re-translated from other adoption cases and that several agencies are using the same translator. Whatever the reason - ours is not done, so it has not been resubmitted. Today is an Ethiopian holiday so we will not hear anything until perhaps tomorrow. There are at least three other families who have been cleared ahead of us for Visa appointments, and they were all told that next week (March 7-11) was already booked and no more appointments would be made. They are waiting to hear on the following week. I am hopeful that we can squeeze in that week too, but am starting to realize it might not happen. My heart is discouraged today. This is such an unnatural process - to hold and love on our son for a whole week and then leave him for 36 plus days. Who does that? Who can live with that? And yet that is what we did and are doing. It's hard, really, really hard, but God's grace is sufficient. I know that His grace is surrounding me, because there is no possible way I would have ever been strong enough for this on my own.

Our monthly update came in our email today. It was a bittersweet blessing to see his face for the first time since returning home. He looks so happy and care-free. I have such conflicting emotions when I see these photos. We never saw him looking this way when we were in Ethiopia. I've told very little really of our time with Jamesy, because it was hard. We loved him from "hello", but there were very painful moments. I still have so much in my heart about the whole process and Ethiopia, but I think it will stay in my heart for now. Some things are better left there than to be cheapened with my feeble attempts to string them together into words.

Happy Yoni wearing his socks from Daddy & Mommy.

Playing with the phone we sent him in December.


Our last update was for December. (Since we were in Ethiopia in January we did not receive an update for that month.) He has grown an inch and gained 3 lbs!! Every month I chart his progress on a growth chart. He is still below the 5th percentile for height and weight, BUT his head circumference was on the chart this month - between the 5th and 10th percentile - praise God! Jamesy had another ear infection just after we left him. It is cleared up now. I am praying that his ears stay healthy for the long flight home. Moments before we left Jamesy, he threw up all over me. I had wondered if he was coming down with something at the time, and I have prayed constantly for his health. Jamesy is now standing without support for a few seconds. Selfishly I am praying that he waits to take his first steps until he is with his Mommy. I just want so much to have that milestone. He now has 6 teeth as well! Jamesy turns 15 months two weeks from today. I am praying this is his last month in Africa, and this is our last ever update from AWAA.

Everything is ready for our brown-eyed boy, and in the fullness of time he will be here with his family - where he belongs. For now we all wait....

Until then, I suppose there is still much I must learn in this wait.

I wonder if this is anything like how God feels when He is about to bring one of His children home?

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass … Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:4,7)

I wonder if it is the wait patiently for Him part that I have not yet learned. {sigh}

.More Christmas Gift Ideas.

I was going to write another post sharing a new idea for caring for orphans. However, in my own effort to Christmas shop with a purpose ie- purchase Christmas gifts that help put money towards a social injustice, I just keep coming up with these fabulous sites and great ideas. I had to share!

Corridor of Hope ~ (I love the beautiful scarves and necklaces!) This is directly from their website: We are the corridor, a passageway to help people who can’t help themselves. We help bring them hope by bringing you quality and affordable products from these countries. In turn, Corridor Of Hope will donate these resources back into their communities by supporting orphans, thereby empowering YOU to help in a multifaceted way.

Timbali Crafts ~ (I have been wanting an African bag just like this to replace my COACH bag!) From their site: an income generating project for women in Swaziland, Africa. In this tiny nation with the world's highest HIV/AIDS rate and the lowest life
expectancy, the needs are immense. The women who create Timbali Crafts are
all volunteer cooks at feeding centers for orphans and vulnerable children in their
rural communities.

Bead for Life ~ This was taken from their site: BeadforLife eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Africans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women turn colorful recycled paper into beautiful beads. Women in Northern Uganda gather shea nuts and press them into shea butter for cosmetics and soaps. And people who care open their hearts,homes and communities to buy and sell both products.
From what I understand the product purchases right now are supporting 450 families in Uganda!! This is a great shop with all kinds of beautiful items - necklaces, bracelets, Shea butter products, etc. There are even items for men!

Junk Posse ~ One of my favorites!! We have been talking about purchasing Cadi a necklace from here for Christmas, and if I had a list it would be on MINE! From their site: My designs are my Passion with a Purpose & when you purchase items from Junk Posse you help to support several non-profit groups and Adoption in several ways.

Sseko Designs ~ This is on their site: Sseko Designs is a not-just-for-profit enterprise that recognizes the power of business and responsible consumerism to support sustainable economic development, which in turn affects a country's educational, justice, and health care systems. The goal of Sseko Designs is two-fold: provide university tuition for these promising young women through a sustainable monthly income, while also contributing to the overall economic development of Uganda.
These are so cool! They are sandals - you purchase the sole of the sandal and then choose from a variety of beautiful straps to purchase! They are beautiful sandals. They even have wedding sandals which I thought were just gorgeous and so unique.

James 1:27 ~ Even the purchase of your Christmas cards could go toward bringing an orphan home!! This is an adopting mommy's etsy shop, and it is filled with beautiful, unique custom cards!

147 million orphans ~ This was started by two moms who love adoption! Taken from their site: We want you to see YOUR PART in helping change the life of an orphan. Could it be adoption, sponsoring a child, volunteering for orphan care ministry, rocking babies at an orphanage, financially supporting someone adopting, or buying these products? They have a large assortment of apparel - from tees to sweatshirts. They also sell cute burlap bags, and frayed baseball hats!

Lifesong for Orphans ~ 100% of the proceeds goes to orphan care & adoption funding! They sell really great looking tees!

Custom Art for Our Cause ~ Beautiful custom canvases that will help fund a family's adoption!

Embracing the Least of These ~ I love these Christmas ornaments!! I have been eying them for awhile! Scroll down to see the five choices of ornaments - I love the one filled with coffee beans!

Baby Zoowon ~ These are precious bibs, burp cloths, and blankets. I adore them! And for every item purchased - they give a blanket to a child in need! If you have a baby on your Christmas list - you must check this out!



This is just the tip of the iceberg! Please share any shops that you find.

Does anyone want to join the challenge and shop for Christmas with a purpose?? We have tried to whittle down our list of people we have to buy for and just enjoy time with people instead. However, there are still people on our list, and what an awesome thing to purchase a unique gift for them, but help someone in need at the same time! Join me??

For more ideas click on this post here that I wrote earlier this week.

PS Wow, we must have been on the same wave length. For more and different ideas go here!!


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.I Could Have.

I could have written about a myriad of things tonight.

And although

sharing recipes

talking about home schooling

pondering the beautiful way God is unexpectedly bringing some special women along on this journey with me

sharing about the sweet photo shoot I had with a cutie little boy who has autism

or posting the adorable photos I took of Scotty today would have all been great.

I just had a feeling you all might be a little more interested in the fact that it's time.

It's time to move ahead in our adoption process because....

My Our water broke!!!!

That's right after 5 BUSY months our paper pregnancy is over!

Our dossier is out of our hands and will arrive in Virginia to AWAA tomorrow, and hopefully soon we will be DTE (dossier to Ethiopia)!! As soon as we are, we can get in the proverbial line to have our first court date assigned to us, and then we fly to Ethiopia, meet our sweet Jamesy and become his legal parents! We then fly home, wait a couple weeks and fly back over for his gotcha day and our forever family moment along with an embassy appointment. Then it is the moment we have been waiting for....all five of us together!!

Anyone wanna time the contractions?

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.Win an Ipod Touch.

***EDIT: Please do not forget to leave a comment for each of your entries! Thank you!***

We still have a few fundraisers up our sleeve. Here is the latest one....

We thought that it would be fun to instead of just asking people to donate money for our adoption to give them a chance to win something when they donated. So this fundraiser was born! We have a chance to raise some necessary funds for our adoption (we still need about $20,000 - eek!), and you have a chance to be a part of our adoption journey and James 1:27 and win an iPod touch for only $5.00!

We are giving away my husband's 16 gig generation 2 iPod touch. It is a year old, but has been used very little. The memory has been wiped clean, and it is just like new - with a few minor scratches on the back that can be hidden with the silicone cover included! With the iPod touch we will be including a ton of accessories! Please see the photo below. (If you have any questions please feel free to email me at amomentcherished(at)gmail(dot)com)

HOW IT WORKS - we are asking you to donate $5.00 - which will earn you ONE entry into a drawing to win this ipod touch. If you would like to donate more, for every $5.00 you give you will earn another entry, there are no limits to the number of entries you can earn. This fundraiser will end on Wednesday, September 1st at 6 PM EST. The winner will be announced on September 2nd.

Simply click the ChipIn button below to donate, and then leave a comment on this post for each donation, so that we can enter you into the drawing. Please also leave your blog link or email address in your comment, so we can contact you if you are the winner!

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.We Need Help.

These are not words that we have ever had a desire to write. Honestly, we don't want help. We want to do it all on our own. But we desperately need help. We have said for a long time that the Christian journey is not one that should be traveled alone. However, when it comes to money... don't ask. When it comes to hardship... don't ask. The journey we were referring to was "the good stuff." In other words, when God does something in your life that is exciting and dynamic, make sure you tell everyone you know.

Here's the problem: What do we do when we need help?

One of the stated goals of my wife and my journey through adoption is to expose to Believers, those who call on the God of all creation, to the reality that He will move heaven and earth for His orphans. That you don't have to take out a massive loan, or be incredibly wealthy to make this thing happen. That God will move you-to sacrifice everything. That He will move others-to sacrifice some. And in the midst of it all, no challenge: mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually will stand in the way of Him accomplishing what He wants.

The Roadblock: Our Pride.

Over and over we have told ourselves, “if He wants to, He will move people.” “If He sees fit, He will motivate others to help.” Here's the reality: That's true. However, our motivation for coming to this conclusion was not deep faith, but crippling pride. So we have committed to swallow our pride and boldly ask people to help. This is not easy for us, but neither was selling our "prized" possessions. The reality is there is a child in Ethiopia waiting for us to be the leaders we need to be, and lead the charge to bring him home. The Bible clearly states we are to bear each others burdens, but in order to give people opportunity to do so; we have to humble ourselves and share our burdens. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

So Here's the Deal:

We are going to boldly ask God to burden 300 people to give $100. Then, we are going to ask person after person if God has laid it on their heart to give. We are going to humble ourselves time after time until we hold in our arms that little life that our God and we value so highly. We are also going to try to be that $100 donor several times over for our adoption and eventually for someone else’s (perhaps yours!).

So, we humbly ask: Are you one that God has burdened? Are you one of the 300 privileged individuals God is using to bring our child home? If so, please give... not for us, not even for that precious child on the other side of the globe, but because you are called to Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked. and because Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. We are not all called to adopt, but we are all called to do something. Maybe this is your something.

Maybe God isn’t calling your family to be a part of our journey financially, and that is okay. Would you still surround us in your prayers? If you feel led would you pass our need along to others – on your blog, face book, or any place else you desire to?

We are getting close to being able to send our dossier over to Ethiopia and that takes a lot of money – a lot, a lot. We also will have a program fee due at this time, as well as future financial needs of airplane tickets (we have to travel twice), hotel stays, embassy fees, visas etc. We know that this amount of money cannot be raised in our own strength or through selling our own stuff. We’ve tried. To think about the amount of money that is still needed is overwhelming to us, but it’s not to the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills! We long through this fund raising process for God to receive the glory and for this journey to scream His name.

So, we are going to do it.

We are going to ask for help.

We think this pleases God.

Will you please help with the remainder of our financial needs?

Are you one of the 300 people who God will use to give $100?

Maybe you are not, but maybe you have a little that you want to give. God blesses every gift no matter the amount. We have seen that.

Please prayerfully consider whether or not you are part of our journey to bring our baby home for the glory of God. 100% of all donations will be used to fund our adoption. You can use our chip-in on the right hand side of my blog, or you can email at amomentcherished(at)gmail(dot)com for our address if you prefer to go that route.

Maybe God allows adoption to cost so much so that we would truly rely on Him and His moving the body of Christ to be partners in our journey.

With grateful and humble hearts,
Jim & Tiffany


PS If you want to read our journey from my husband's point of view, click here and subscribe to his blog. It's pretty great. {grin}
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What is an Orphan?

I never know what will be in my inbox. Almost always I awaken to several emails. Most of them come as a result of this blog, and lately most of them have to do with our adoption. I have gotten some really thought-provoking questions lately.

And I like those.

They make me think.

They make me search out the Bible.

They make me inspect my heart and motives.

Here is a portion of an email that I woke up to a few weeks back. I thought maybe some of my other readers have been curious about this as well.

I've been confused by your referring to orphans, but then it seems they have a living mother. I'm assuming there's a culture thing I have no clue about there, so I was just wondering why they need to be in an orphanage if their parents are living.

(I believe this email was referring to several of the links I have published lately to other adoptive families' sites and videos. Some of them have been able to meet their baby's birth mommy.)

First let me make this disclaimer; I am not a biblical scholar. I am not an expert in any field whatsoever. But God is doing the biggest work in my life that He has done to date - outside of my salvation. I am beyond passionate about his plea in James 1:27.

Now that my eyes have been opened, I take this mandate very seriously. I am ashamed for the years that I just glanced over that verse (James 1:27) in the Bible. The whole time thinking that wasn't for me, that wasn't my calling. It had nothing to do with me. I thought it was someone else's call, but now I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it is mine, and it is yours - if you are a true believer. Not adoption - necessarily - don't misunderstand me. But ALL believers have been called to carry out and respond to James 1:27. As of late, I have studied that verse inside and out, as well as other passages that have to do with orphans. (I do understand that James 1:27 is more than about orphans, and I am equally as concerned about widows and keeping oneself unstained from the world. I have much, much more to say on all of that at a later time.) The following is what I have learned about orphans from God's perspective.

From my understanding of the Bible, the Bible defines an orphan in its most simplistic form as "fatherless".

Strong’s Concordance suggests bereaved, fatherless, and comfortless as ideas inherent in the word “orphans” or “fatherless.”

So if an orphan is "fatherless", what does the Bible say about them....and our role with them?

Here are some passages that talks of the "fatherless". I am sure I missed a few.

Hosea 14:3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

Psalm 10:14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.

Deuteronomy 10:18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Psalm 10:18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Exodus 22:24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

Isaiah 10:1-3
Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees,
and the writers who keep writing oppression,
to turn aside the needy from justice
and to rob the poor of my people of their right,
that widows may be their spoil,
and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
What will you do on the day of punishment,
in the ruin that will come from afar?
To whom will you flee for help,
and where will you leave your wealth?

Malachi 3:5 Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages,the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 5:28-29
they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things?
declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?"

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Deuteronomy 14:29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

Psalm 82:3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Deuteronomy 24:17 You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge.

Proverbs 23:10 Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,

Exodus 22:22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

Zechariah 7:10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.

Jeremiah 22:3 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner,or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.

Job 29:12-13 because I delivered the poor who cried for help,and the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me,and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

Job 6:27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend.

Ezekiel 22:7 Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you.

Job 24:3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

Psalm 94:6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless;

Isaiah 1:23 Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.

Deuteronomy 27:19 Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. And all the people shall say, 'Amen.

Lamentations 5:3 We have become orphans, fatherless;our mothers are like widows.


Psalm 10:14 sums up God's feeling on the fatherless to me. But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.


It seems as though the quality of one’s devotion to God is measured by how one treats the widow and the orphan.

After researching what an orphan is, according to the Bible, and then many verses that talked about them, I came to two conclusions that I believe we as believers are commanded to obey when it comes to these "fatherless":

1 We are to be extremely careful that we do not mistreat them.

2 We are to find opportunities to help them.

How that plays out in your life may look and feel very different than how it plays out in mine, but that does not excuse either one of us to ignore what God has put before us. I believe this must play a role somehow and in someway in every single believer's life. (Let me clearly state that I do not believe that God loves the orphans in Ethiopia best. I have simply lost my heart in Ethiopia.)

I have so much more to put into this post. I have statistics from Ethiopia about the women that are giving birth to these babies in the orphanages. It makes my stomach turn, but this has gotten too long as it is and I fear that I have lost most of you.

I really, really pray and hope that you can see my heart here. I believe my heart is just a very mild reflection of God's. I truly believe God's heart is for orphans. I don't write all of this to be judgmental. I am only beginning to skim the surface when it comes to understanding my role in all of this myself. I just wish someone would have written to me or shared with me about this years ago. So I am hoping someone who reads this will be in that same boat.I think God has big plans for this blog and for my newly found vigor to advocate for His orphans.I am believing that until I am persuaded else wise.

In that same email I referenced above, I was also encouraged to share real needs of orphans that I have learned about. I attempted to share a very real need for formula right here yesterday. My husband has been working very, very hard to secure some exciting things on that front. He was on the phone until after 11 last night, and neither of us could sleep as we were so giddy with excitement. Boy has our world, our perspective changed. I feel like such a different person!

I have been praying over what else I can do about that need with the formula.

How about you?

(If you have any questions about orphan care, James 1:27, adoption or the likes. Please feel free to email me. I will either email you back or publish my answer in a post - or both!)
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.Be the Hands & Feet TODAY.

Did you know that 30, 000 children will die TODAY of hunger and preventable diseases?


But I have just been alerted to a very tangible way that we can help!


For the next 24 hours, Into the Streets of Ethiopia, is partnering with We are That Family.com, in efforts to raise awareness and support of formula and/or financial donations being sent to Arizona (then on to Ethiopia!)

All it takes is one can of formula or a Walmart gift card for a can of formula. Please go here to learn more.

I just keep thinking that one of these little lives could be my baby.... or yours.

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.Home Again.

We are home again, and are re-acclimating to normal life. We had such an amazing time away, but oh how I missed my kiddos. That was the longest I have left Scotty. I guess it was good practice for when we travel to Ethiopia and leave them behind {gulp}. I have nothing to share from our trip. I just want to keep it between Jim and myself.

While I have nothing for a post today- I have a few in the making for later, maybe next week. I have quite enjoyed this respite. However, I do have three posts that I read this morning that resonated deep inside of me. I pray that you take the time to read all three, and that you are as excited as I am regarding how God is opening people's eyes. That is my earnest prayer for each person reading here and for myself - that my eyes would be opened and never again blinded as they once were.

This post talks about the many children still left behind in orphanages. The statistics that she sites were enough to make me sob.

Is Jesus enough? Read here and find out.

Does God ask us to obey even when it is inconvenient? Click here.

I know you're busy. We are all so busy, but I pray you find the time to read these three posts.

And then let me know what you think. Let's chat.



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