Why "Eight Is Not Enough"?
When we were younger, there was a television sitcom that was called "Eight is Enough". The television watching world was entertained with the thought of a family with eight children. Most of us were shocked at the prospect of such a large family- myself included! Then ever so slowly, God began to work on our hearts, until we surrendered to Him all of our lives- yes even gave Him sovereign control over the size of our family and He has blessed us immeasurably, with eight biological children. Each of these children have been an amazing gift to us and we cherish each of them. And we praised God for them and felt to ourselves "eight is enough" - at least for a time.
Then God began to stir our hearts. It was as if He spoke to say to us "these 8 precious children I have given to you, but what have you given to my orphans in return?" A burden began to build on our hearts to adopt. We knew that for us God still had other plans for us as parents if we would be faithful to His calling- that eight is not enough. And so, we followed this call to adopted and He has continued to blessed us through adoption. First a sibling group of three from Soacha, Colombia. They joined our family in November, 2008. In May 2010, we adopted twin infants from Texas. In September of 2012 we were privileged to return to Colombia and adopt a sibling group of two from Cali. At this time, we anxiously wait for our travel date to depart for China where a very special girl and boy wait for their forever family. By the time they all reach adulthood, we will have had the amazing privilege to be parents of children in our home for a half century. Our life is full beyond measure, beyond our wildest expectations, yes even beyond anything we could have ever hoped. Truly, eight is not enough. As of late we have wondered if God's plan for us as parents all along was not for eight children, but rather eight plus eight. Our heavenly Father knows and His word assures us "I know the plans I have made for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you." We trust He knows the number of His children He wants us to love and to nurture on His behalf, and whether that is eight or eighty times eight we stand ready and say speak Lord, your servants are listening and are prepared to be father and mother to your fatherless on earth.
China Bound
God is good all the time. All the time God is good. I have shared with a very few that since returning home with Angie and Jose, I have had an overwhelming burden on my heart that God intended another daughter for Betty and I. I have been praying and seeking His wisdom and direction. We recently found out that China would be open to our family adopting a special needs child , and we immediately felt God moving us (OK actually it felt more like a big shove) toward the country of China. We began to work with an agency with a strong China program. We began to look at pictures of waiting children with special needs. Adopting a special needs child is so consistent with the call we have had for several years to adopt the children who are not "wanted". In the heart of God and in our hearts, they are sooooo very wanted and loved. Today we received approval from the Government of china to adopt Emily!!! We are not allowed to post her location or her Chinese name, but we can share her picture. She is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and we feel so blessed to have the privilege to steward her for our Heavenly Father. She was abandoned as an infant and has been in orphanages since. She is now 4 years old and will be 5 by the time we get to travel sometime this coming spring.
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