Answering The Call

I'll never forget Christmas 1984. Cabbage Patch Kids were all the rage and it was the only thing I asked for that year. Well, since they were the most popular item on every little girl's list, my parents weren't able to get their hands on one. Instead, my mom had a family friend make me an "adoption" doll. Her name was Terri Anne Elise (that was supposed to be my little sister's name but she some how turned out to be a stinky baby boy...but I promise I'm not bitter...anymore!). She was beautiful and she was mine! After that, I was hooked! I would save my money and buy a new Cabbage Patch Kid every chance I got. The first was a white girl with blond hair and green eyes (yes, I used to have blond hair). Next came a little white boy, then a black girl, then an Asian girl, then a Hispanic girl. I think you get the picture.

As a ten year old child, I knew I would some day be a mother to kids who didn't look anything like me! Life happened and adoption became a faint memory until I got married and started a family. I will never forget one day eating at Wendy's (I think we have a theme going here)when Tony and I saw a family with two biological boys and a Chinese girl a couple of table away. I looked at Tony and said, "That's going to be us one day!" I"m pretty sure he laughed at me and said, "Whatever!" Whatever! I was serious!

At first adoption was a way to "get a little girl" since God obviously wasn't listening to me when I asked for one! But as time passed, it became much more than that. I think the reality of what adoption really is hit me after reading the book that Al mentioned last week.

This book along with much prayer and Ephesians 1:5 showed me that it's not my privilege to adopt...it's my duty. God tells us in this scripture, "He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to his favor and will." So, let me get this straight...before I was born, God gave himself a "referral" and planned out my adoption? What? Al wasn't joking when he said that I quickly read the book and told him we HAD to do this! I'm serious about this adoption thing! I know not everyone is call to actually adopt. I get it. But if you read the same bible that I do, you will understand that it is our responsibility to take care of the orphans. This is no joke! Don't make me get all bible beater about it!

You can read more about our adoption HERE.  I'm not going to lie to you and say it was easy and a walk in the park.  It was long, it was disappointing, but man was it worth it!

So, where do you fit in?  What is your role?  If you're reading this blog, you must have curiosity for the fatherless.  So, what now?  CHC will soon have a slew of events and programs for you to get involved.  Maybe you can't travel to another country to bring home an adorable little girl with black hair and almond eye (sorry, shameless plug).  But you can help by donating time, supplies, cash to our different areas in our orphan care ministry.

Stay tuned!  We have a lot of things planned and you won't want to miss any of them.  Don't say I didn't warn you, though!  You may get bitten by the adoption bug...and let me tell you it's hard to get out of your system!