As we are in the process of adoption I wanted to share a couple things that got the whole thing started.   The Bible says that true religion is taking care of widows and orphans.  We know that the line is long to adopt little babies, but the line is very short to adopt 12 year old girls.  Before we started doing foster care in Arizona, a verse from the Lord came to me on the radio.  Kinda cheesy I know, but God speaks to us in many different ways.
       Romans 12:1-2 says "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it."
     Emily and I have really tried to make this verse a part of who we are and what we do.  The story is so much better than this though.  Many of you know my step mom Carol but you don't know her story (I hope it's ok to share this mom).  She had two daughters that drown when they were 4 and 6 years old I think.  Just like that, her children were gone.  Having two boys of my own, I can't even imagine.  But she believes that it is all part of God's plan, and after this happened God spoke to her through His word. She dated it in 1986 and it's in Isaiah 54:1-3 "Sing o barren woman...burst into song, shout for joy...because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.  Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; strengthen your stakes.  For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities."
     Then later in early 1988, before my Dad and her had even started dating, she highlighted verses 11-13 which talks about rebuilding and ends with this verse: "All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children's peace." She knew this was a promise from God that she would not only have more children, but that they would love and serve him.  She later wrote in the margin by "all your sons" Tommy, mine, and Seth's names.   When my dad and Carol got married Pastor Steve Thompson spoke what she believes was a prophetic word over us out of Isa. 58:11-12.  It has become her "mantra" for her marriage and family,  especially verse 12 which says: "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."  
    Little did she know that she would have two step sons, and another son of her own.  Then we decided to do foster care in Arizona and over the course of 2 years we had 42 kids live in our home. Wow.  Talk about spreading your tent stakes.  Today we live in a house on my parent's property and we call it The Compound.  Soon we will be adding a 12 year old girl to our family.  Soon we will be rebuilding the ruins of her life and and raising her up in the foundations of our family.  We will repair her broken walls.
    I want to say thank you to all of you for your support.  Yes, the stakes are high.  Yes, it will cost us.  We believe God is asking us to do it and we want to obey Him.  He will provide.  He will give us the grace and patience and love we need.  If you would like to support the building of another bedroom in our house for her, check out our fundly account on Facebook, or just let us know.   Also, it looks like we will be putting the walls up on March 8.  If you have framing or sheet rock skills we would love to have you help out.   Thanks again for all your support.  We appreciate it so much.