Our Back Story

All adoptions must start somewhere and isn't it just more fun to know how this came about? Eric and I have always wanted five children. We love the idea of a big family and were so excited to start our family. Life didn't go exactly the way we planned but it went exactly the way God had planned it. We had Chelsea when we were married (for those that don't know Eric was previously married) and Andrew followed in 1999. We found out we were pregnant when Andrew was 10 months old. God had a different plan and Hannah returned to Heaven on January 15, 2001. We were stunned to find out we were expecting again in May of 2002 but Abi made her early debut in March of 2002. My Dr. suggested that it was not in our best interest to have any more biological children. We were very sad but we, too, felt this was the best decision for our family. But we knew God was not done...... In 2003, we moved into a new home. God put a precious family into our lives and we have been so blessed to share life with them. At that time, Debbie (single mom) was working nights so D and Taisha spent many evenings with us. Even when Debbie was home, we were all together often. D became the brother Andrew always wanted. We have enjoyed many meals, game nights, movie nights, and other things over the years. Taisha graduated this year (We were so sad to miss her graduation!) and D is a Jr. While they are in no means, "grown" or out of lives, God began stirring again..... In December 2010, our oldest daughter Chelsea became a believer! In January of 2011, she made the decision to be homeschooled. In February, a speaker from Bring Me Hope spoke to our home school co-op teens and Chelsea knew God was calling her to work at a Bring Me Hope camp in China. And she knew God was calling her dad to go with her! Eric was thrilled because he had been praying for two years that Chelsea would desire to go on a mission trip with him. This was even better because it was her idea. So the planning began, along with the praying.God moved mountains and provided the $9,000 that Eric and Chelsea needed to get to China. It was overwhelming how He answered! Before they left, we committed as a family to pray how God would use our family after this trip. We knew this trip would change them but we were not sure exactly how it would change them. The trip was life changing for them and for us....... When Eric returned, he was greatly moved by what one of his translators shared with him. He asked Jane why she decided to help at Bring me Hope. When she became a Believer she started reading the Bible. She read 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.") and knew she had to do something. He was struck by how she didn't just pray, she did. He knew that was what our family was called to do. We needed to do. (Chelsea wanted to bring every orphan home!) We started to pray as a couple about adoption and knew that was what we needed to do. We then started praying once that decision was made about the who. Once God made that clear, we shared with the kids about the next adventure God was calling us into........ Stay Tuned!!!!