Faith – S T R E A M S + T H O R N S

The Savage

I remember very vividly the first time I saw him. Mariclene had been our breakfast visitor for a while and on occassion she would show up with one of her biological siblings so they could also devour eggs and bread, often their only real meal for the day. He was butt. naked. Every time heContinue reading “The Savage”

Missionary Rehab

I sat alone in our new-to-us car and I banged my hands on the steering wheel and yelled at God that I was angry that this was happening. That I didn’t want this car or these plans or these good-byes. I let Him know straight up that it was unfair because we had planned ourContinue reading “Missionary Rehab”

When You Know You Aren\’t Called

I watched him as he focused so intently on those little circles on the page. His little hand moving slowly but surely. It felt surreal. This is the same boy who I had little hope for. The one I wrote about just last year and the emptiness in his eyes. And yet here he was,Continue reading “When You Know You Aren\’t Called”

His Kingdom, Right Here {Part 2}

“Play it cool,” I thought, as I fumbled along the unfinished road with the dignified wife of the former Amazon Governor. She in her high-heels and me in my flip-flops plodding our way to the notary public just five minutes out from closing time. “What in the world am I doooooing??” I thought to myselfContinue reading “His Kingdom, Right Here {Part 2}”

His Kingdom, Right Here {Part 1}

It was about three years ago last month that God brought one of the most incredible women I’ve ever met right to our front door. It was dark out and we were settling down into our wooden home at the end of a crumbling road in a crumbling society. We opened the door with hesitationContinue reading “His Kingdom, Right Here {Part 1}”

{Don\’t} Be Careful

We recently invited a young hippie couple to live with us for an undefined period of time. We met them randomly about two months ago when they were walking down the street to sell their artisans. Our friend and ministry partner saw them with their awesome instruments {and awesome hair!} and said it would beContinue reading “{Don\’t} Be Careful”

Grace from His Fullness

Sitting there in the corner of that little 500 square foot house, I looked around the room at the little faces of the kids that had gathered together that Saturday afternoon, almost thirty of them. It was hot and cramped and little two-year-old Francisco was not happy that his mom had brought him there. TaiwaniContinue reading “Grace from His Fullness”

Six Things Not to Say to an Adoptive Parent

I recently posted a blog that I have been working on for some time. It took me a while to write it because I wanted to be sure it accurately conveyed my heart but was honest about something that it seems is lacking in the adoption community. I wrote it knowing that I was openingContinue reading “Six Things Not to Say to an Adoptive Parent”

I Never Wanted This

I scanned the table, trying to read the expressions on each face. I tried to read my own heart, too. The visitor at our meeting had just told us that what we were trying to do is impossible. It would never happen. Nothing like that had ever been done here. It’s just “too hard”. HeContinue reading “I Never Wanted This”

One Year Later

In some ways it seems like yesterday and in others it seems like decades, but it was in fact one year ago today that we left behind what we knew as “home” to begin a new journey, four years in the making. Looking back, I feel like we were just babies, taking our first steps.Continue reading “One Year Later”