I dreamed about being a mother since I was a little girl. I anticipated doing craft projects and baking cookies with my kids, and maybe even went as far as imagining myself twirling around the house full of joy while doing housework. After four years of marriage to my childhood friend, I gave birth to […]
Love is a Choice – Summer’s Story
Even though I have been a mother for over 17 years, I still smile and feel the wonder of what it means. You see, I never really longed for motherhood. I was not the girl on other families’ speed dials for babysitting services. When I did babysit, I just ate snacks and barely tolerated the […]
The Difference a GOOD Foster Mother Makes – An Unnamed Mother’s Story
My parents divorced when I was nine years old after being separated for eight. I am the middle child of three children. My older sister was eleven, and my little brother was eight when our parents divorced. In June of 1997 on Father’s Day I told my father that I was moving in with my […]
National Adoption Month Series – Alyssa’s Story
I’m not sure when our journey to adoption began, but even before we met; my husband, Michael and I were both influenced by families who had adopted. Michael was inspired by the book, Adopted For Life by Russell Moore, and I always wanted to adopt from Eastern Europe after hearing about the crowded orphanages in […]
National Adoption Month Series – Holly’s Story
Adoption had always been a dream; a dream my husband and I discovered we shared while dating. Then I went to Africa. As I worked with vulnerable children the deep desire to be a family for a child who didn’t have one grew in both of our hearts. We set out to get some experience, […]
The Purpose in My Pain – S.L.’s Story
I didn’t become the mom I am when my husband and I decided to start a family. Like most people, God had been shaping my life for motherhood before I even knew it. It began when I was in preschool. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was sick. I’m not certain exactly […]
Saying Yes to the Adventure of Foster Care – Emily’s Story
The call came from a DHS supervisor at midnight: “We have a three-year old girl at the hospital. Her mom was shot and is not expected to live through the night. Her dad has been arrested. Domestic violence. All clothing was taken by police as evidence so if you could bring a blanket that would […]
A Mother to the Motherless – Stephanie’s Story
I have a daughter. The day I met my daughter was my first day working at a charter high school for at-risk kids. Ti flitted into my classroom, rail thin, dressed provocatively; hair dyed some unnatural shade of pink and her need for love written across her face. In my mind’s eye it was as […]