Memorial Box Monday--The Miracle of Adoption

I'm so thankful to Linny for encouraging us to start a memorial box...and for the excitement Josie-Tatum has when she asks what the next Memorial Box post will be about.

So, JT, this one's for you!

We have been asked multiple times, as most in the international adoption community have, "What led you to adopt?" or "Why China?"

I always begin with the short answer, "Jesus!" and if the asker seems really interested I tell the rest of the story. Some of it has been told here before, but part of the story came up today. Thus, my decision to make it this week's Memorial Box Post.

In 2000, I had heard a Focus on the Family radio program about adoption, and Chinese adoption in particular. I sometimes say, "I'm not sure why I was home that day," and I'm not completely sure. I think I was writing my thesis and took a personal day from work. I know that I had carried Whitney and Caleb to school, and, on my way home began to hear the story. As I listened, I was intrigued....enough so that I came inside and turned the radio on so I could hear the remainder of the broadcast.

I learned for the first time of the thousands, perhaps millions of orphans in China. I learned more about the one child policy and its effects on families. I heard an adoptive mother describe the blank expression on the face of her adoptive daughter on the day they met.

I was burdened.

I shared that burden with Stan, Whitney, and Caleb. We all agreed the situation was tragic, but we did NOT all agree we should become directly involved. Whitney was ready. Caleb was NOT. Stan and I were both sure the timing was wrong, as I was a mother of two busy active children, a part-time college student working on my specialist degree, and a full-time teacher.

There was no time for a baby.

Fast-forward two years later. Whitney received Steven Curtis Chapman's Live Out Loud CD for Christmas. Little did I know, the CD included a song SCC wrote for his daughter Shoahannah, "When Love Takes You In." That song opened up the path that would take us to China for Josie-Tatum's adoption. The path was simply open, and we had not taken any steps down that path until....

Whitney and I attended SCC's Live Out Loud tour concert in Jacksonville, Fl. If you watch the video below, and you've never seen, I should warn you....God can use it to work miracles....the miracle of adoption, in your heart, the seeds of the miracle may be planted or watered; they may begin to sprout. (You'll want to scroll down and pause my playlist, so you can hear this.)




We sat through this portion of the concert...all the while Whitney was poking me in the ribs with her elbow, and tears poured down my cheeks. For the next few months, the LORD sent affirmation after affirmation, including one more concert by SCC, this time with Stan along.

I am certain the LORD used His servant Steven Curtis Chapman to encourage our family to pursue the dream He had for us. I am convinced SCC's faithfulness to share his family's story has prompted many other families to adopt. I am forever grateful that his faithfulness led our family to this moment.


And many other moments in the life of our precious girls.






So, in our Memorial Box, I am placing the cover of the Declaration CD.




And, anyone want to guess who we are going to see in Concert this Saturday night?