November is Adoption Awareness Month!

So, in the last several weeks my heart has been burdened with where my convictions are on abortion and where my life is in living out these pro-life values.

It has been brought to my attention before about how easy it is to say we are pro-life and then do nothing to live that out. It's been on my heart these last several weeks as abortion has been discussed. And now again, it's adoption awareness month. Our agency sent this out, and it just hit me right in my gut. Maybe a little bit because that's my sweet baby girl on the front...but also because of the stories inside.

IMAGINE being a teen mom with two boys under the age of two and having to steal diapers to provide for your children's needs.

ENVISION being 41 years old, recently divorced, and pregnant, with only $1.79 to your name, stranded at a gas station in Oklahoma City and going into premature labor due to dehydration.

VISUALIZE being pregnant with your second child, being beaten by the father of the baby, and then evicted by your landlord because he left a hole in your wall.

THINK about what it would be like to be excited about trying to start a family after a few years of marriage. Months turn into years as you try everything to get pregnant and you begin to doubt you'll ever experience the joys of parenthood.

These are just a few of the stories we've heard from our clients this year.

Please join us in raising an additional $11,000 to fund our life-altering programs. For over a century DPAS has empowered countless women in unintended pregnancies, reached out to couples struggling with infertility and embraced children with the love of Christ. Your contribution is necessary to continue making a difference in the lives of so many.

All monies raised will be added to our various funds. For more information about these special funds, just log onto http://www.deaconessadoption.org/ and click "Help Our Mission"


Please join me in prayer this month for how God might be calling us to do something. Whether is supporting an agency that stands in the gap between the church and hurting women and children, or if it's fostering or adopting. Whatever it is, please pray with me that God shows us where He needs us to work.

Because of the way our family has been touched by adoption, and has fallen in love with our children's birthmothers, they too have found incredible ways to follow God's word in caring for orphans. Our families and some friends helped with a retreat for birthmoms on Mother's Day weekend that our agency did last year. Recently, my sisters and some friends decided to donate their maternity clothes to the agency to be used by these women facing unintended pregnancies. What a huge blessing! We are not all called to adopt, but we are called to LOVE and care for not only the "orphans" but their birthparents.
Owen and his birthmom cuddling and playing with blocks.

I am so proud of my family and how they have not only embraced adoption, but in that embraced these women who have made an incredible sacrifice for their children.

Please pray with us this month! Also, please read Heather's blog if you can. She is such a good writer and has some incredible insight. Her blog is linked on the right...she has another challenge as well!