One year with Mohale!
Today as we celebrate one year with Mohale,
My heart flashes back…
“Let’s move forward towards adoption”
I recall that moment crystal clear-
Tears dripped from my chin as David’s gently spoken words sounded like a miracle.
His words felt like a miracle because,
timing was illogical by human standards- on so many levels-
We felt too broken.
(that’s a story for another time.)
Yet, the passion He placed in our hearts
called us trembling out of the boat.
Again.
Today,
looking back,
I again shudder to think
“What if we would have stayed safe?”
TODAY WE CELEBRATE MOHALE:
One year ago today, it felt surreal. We sat on a sofa at Mohale’s orphanage on the opposite side of our world waiting to see his face.
It was a miracle that we were even there.
We’d adopted him 18 months prior from afar.
After 18 months of hurdles, hoops and red tape, we had been ready to travel to our son. But our USA government required instead that our adoption of him had been legally dissolved and started all over again. It took another full year to redo the long process of international adoption. The entire process took three years.
Depression? Yes.
Anxiety? Absolutely
Financially impossible? Of course.
And many told us to give up because, “It seems like if it’s this hard, it must not be God’s will.”
But,
One year ago today, we celebrated, in exhilarating victory.
It felt really like a dream coming true- because it was.
In Daddy’s arms. Oct 26, 2015 (Day 1)
Our boys had known each other barely one day and already were a comfort to each other.
He was placed in my arms one year ago today. Mohale quietly sat as we gently adored him. This son of mine was afraid and also clearly dazed at what was happening. Only 21/2 years old, he clearly had no idea who we were. The fight for him had begun long before he’d been abandoned in that ditch by a hurting and desperate woman struggling to survive- long before he’d been brought to Beautiful Gate orphanage and loved by them as a priceless treasure.
Long before that moment, we had prayed for and fought for his life.
Now, one year later, his siblings still will turn and say to me- “it feels strange that Mohale is with us- It seems like we still need to go get him.” It had become our familiar normal to fight for him.
His adjustment has been far easier than most post-adoption adjustments.
Because of others who had also fought for his life- those who loved him at Beautiful Gate Orphanage Mohale’s adjustment into our family has been remarkable.
Those who loved him within the orphanage loved him fully as they prayed he’d someday have a family.
They loved him fully while praying that their own hearts would be broken.
Because of this kind of love, Mohale’s young heart had learned how to love.
This kind of attachment in an orphaned child is incredibly rare.
Because of people who allowed their hearts to be shattered,Mohale’s heart is whole.
Most treasures who have been without parents at even an age as young as Mohale, struggle with attachment.
This little one, clinging to Mohale, was Mohale’s “best friend” at the orphanage. It is heart shattering that he could not come home with us.
Most orphans are UNADOPTABLE.
The beloved “Soldiers” at Beautiful Gate orphanage love on, speak for, care for and are family to countless “unadaptable” orphans.
The need is great.
Do u have it in your heart to support or care for unadaptable children?
Liam prayed for 4 years for these two little miracle brothers.
Mohale bonded incredibly fast. Somehow he knew we were his family and his heart began to knit into ours within the first month. This is nearly unheard of.
It speaks volumes about those who loved him passionately in the wait.
It speaks volumes about how they are changing lives of orphans- most of whom are not adoptable.
One year later, our “twins” continue to adore each other.
They are seriously double cuteness.
Mohale’s bloomed into a brilliant three year old who loves hugs, laughs incredibly often and takes an interest in others.
Mohale has a special gift of technical prowess.
David had to remove the control panel off the side of our hime because Mohale figured out how to override the passcode. He presses all the buttons randomly until the garage would open. It is remarkable that every time, he remembers the last numbers pushed in the correct order so that he can repeat it again. He used this same method to get into my iPhone and iPad.
7 miracles
Have you noticed that when you have a dream, there are voices that call you back to safety?
We were told over and over by well meaning others that adopting was not wise.
“What about your children that you are already responsible for? What will this do to them?
We have heard this warning more times than I can count.
7 miracles
This question was directed towards us often at each adoption.
Yet, we’ve watched our childrens hearts also be comforted and impassioned for those close to His heart.
We’ve watched them embrace a world view beyond our current comfortable culture.
One year later- Emma and our 7 kids.
Our children (and our young friend Emma,)
have become forever changed by passion for Mohale and Joseph.
Our oldest children were forever changed by passion for their little sisters.
Each is naturally fervent about children in need.
Each is amazed at the Love of One who suffered out of love for us.
They do not want to live comfortable and safe in a world that is not.
They each advocate for risk on behalf of the One who loves.
Each one is undeterred by the thought of risk.
Mohale,
Our lives are beautiful because of you.
The love I have for you, my son, is beyond description.
I do not deserve this honor and I pray daily that our Shepherd loves you through me.
The love within my heart for you has been there longer than I can remember-
Truly,
the One who created you for a purpose
allowed and prepared me for the undeserved honor of being your mom.
Gratefulness within is vast beyond my ability to describe.
My heart cringes painfully at this horrible thought-
“What if we’d given up as so many suggested?”
“What if we’d not had passion to keep on fighting even when it looked like we were fighting in vain?”
“What if?”
We are miraculously the parents of Mohale-
because we dared to step out and walk where we were told was impossible.
First Fall together
What risk have you considered stepping out towards?
With all of our adoptions (and risky biological pregnancies)
Storms came.
We sank often.
Buckets of tears were shed and countless nights of sleep lost.
Yet, the One who pulled Peter up from under the waves
also pulled us up-
We experienced a closeness to our Creator that can only be experienced
after a fall.
We experienced miracles because we had stepped out to where miracles were needed.
And, Because most of us are not rich and feel stressed by finances, Ive got to say-
we had NO MONEY for this adoption.
The miracles of provision to pay for this have been crazy mind blowing-
unbelievable and only explained by supernatural.
(Ive got to do an updated post on those!)
What passion is within your heart?
Can I encourage you?
He invites us to walk on water towards Him.
Dare to step out of the boat…
What obstacles shout at you to turn back?
What lies are being spoken to you?
Can I encourage you?
Turn from the voices that call you back to safety and continue to walk on water towards the One who placed the passion within.
Be willing to be broken.
These treasures are worth indescribably more than a shattered heart.
He was shattered for us. Let’s be willing to be broken.
Shattered hearts and lives in His hands are the most beautiful kind.
And we can only experience miracles
when we step out where miracles are required.
Dare to walk on water-
towards Him.
Invited to Walk on Water 