NOT COUPON RELATED – Adoption Stories
Today has been an amazing day from the Lord. As most of you know, Jamie and I have 7 children and our 4 youngest were adopted. Jonah (10 y/o) and Josiah (almost 9 y/o) have the same birth mom, Angie.
Jamie and I fostered for 7 years and we always made it a point to get to know the parents and encourage them. We got to know Angie’s mom as well and stayed in contact with them over the years. We actually got the call the day Angie went into labor with Josiah and I was in the room when she delivered him, actually it was just she and I in the room when he decided to make his appearance!! Angie has not made the best choices in life and got involved in prostitution and drugs. We have prayed for her for the last (almost 11 years) asking God to protect her, and when things got dark for her always to find the light that only comes from him.
A few months ago she called for the first time in 2-3 years. It was so good to hear from her. She told me God wanted her to call to tell us that even though she is the birth mom, they were born to be our children and she wanted us to know how blessed she felt to know we were their parents. It couldn’t have been easy for her to do, but she was obedient and listened to the Lord and it meant so much to us. We have talked a few other times and she called me two days ago and today as I was doing my daily devotional, prayer, meditation, and then started reading the New Lisa Terkeurst book “The Best Yes” , the Holy Spirit spoke to me loud and clear and kept placing Angie on my heart. I wasn’t sure what direction he was leading me, but I just knew I needed to pray for her.
Just as I was finishing up, Jamie came in the prayer room to tell me Angie just called and was selling Avon and wondered if I may be interested in ordering anything. I looked at him and shared about how God had placed her so heavily on my heart today and that I wondered what he thought about calling her back and seeing if she wanted to go get lunch with us. Of course, he was in agreement so we called her and she said yes.
When we got to her apartment to pick her up, we saw her walking her dog and she looked so good; so full of life; so “cleaned up” and I just began to cry. My heart was so full of joy, so overcome with emotions. I have known Angie for almost 11 years and I don’t ever recall seeing her “clean”. We went upstairs to her apartment and it was so clean and set up so cute. As we sat at lunch talking and listening to her I just kept praying for God to show me or reveal to me if I needed to speak, talk, pray, but I wanted my words to be his words. I could have hugged her all day.
I have always believed in her and wanted the best for her. I know she still has a long way to go, but she is making steps in the right direction. She is ‘clean’ and that is no small task. I also was overwhelmed with emotions because of God’s goodness. As we showed her pictures of Jonah and Josiah my eyes kept filling with tears because I thought what if God had not sent them to us, think of the life they would have had. God protected these two precious children and not only that, but he entrusted me and Jamie with them. What an honor to know God placed these two beautiful boys with us to raise; truly what an honor. Then I was overcome by thinking Angie could have aborted them or anything, but she chose life for them too. She had to make a decision also and she chose to give them life knowing they would be taken away from her and placed in another home. There are so many things that had to fall into place to make this possible from their birth to the adoption, etc. But that just goes to show you how God orchestrates EVERYTHING. We just have to be obedient and it ALL in his timing NOT our timing. After lunch we took Angie back to her apartment and were able to pray with her. I thanked God for her life. I asked him to send a hedge of protection around her and I also thanked him for the gift she gave to us (me and Jamie). I thanked him for her life, for the wonderful masterpiece that he made and mostly I thanked him for our friendship with her. When we were done, Angie told us we were the mom and dad she always dreamed of having. We love Angie more than we can express and I am honored to call her “friend”. Our boys will always have two moms, the one who gave birth to them and loves them (Angie) and the one that raised them and loves them (me), All because of God’s mighty plan. We are huge, huge, huge advocates for adoption. So many people say, well I could never adopt because that child will NOT look like me and will not “really be my child”. Well, I am here to tell you, all children are on loan from God. Whether you gave birth to them or adopted them. They are God’s masterpieces and whether they grew in your heart or belly, they are still children and the love we have for our 7 children is no different. We are white parents with white, biracial, middle Eastern, and black children and you know what, we are a family full of love. We don’t see COLOR, we only see God’s creation, his wonderful masterpieces.
The moral of the story is this: I don’t care if you are a drug addict, homeless, rich, poor, black, white, purple with pink polka dots, because I will love you and encourage you ALL the time. You are a masterpiece. You are created in God’s imagine and no matter what anyone else may tell you, God doesn’t make junk. So many just want to know someone believes in them and I have always believed in Angie. She blessed us with two of the greatest gifts, two beautiful sons, Jonah and Josiah. Don’t ever let anyone treat you like you are less of a person, because as much as I will always love you, God loves you so much more! Today, know you matter, your life matters, and God has given each of us gifts, use them to glorify him. Don’t let the trials in your life define who you are, but rather allow your value to come from the creator and remember YOU ARE A MASTERPIECE created in HIS image – God doesn’t make junk!! Love you guys!!
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My name is Joni Meyer-Crothers and I run this couponing/money-saving blog along with my husband, Jamie. We love to show others how to save money in a BIG way! We do all the work for you. . we do the matchups and show you where to get the coupons, many FREE printable coupons. Sit back and follow the blog and watch your savings increase! Couponing is a ministry for our family as we we love to show others how to save and share from their couponing harvest!
I don’t usually stop to read your “non-coupon” posts but for some reason today I did. Your story is wonderful, and you are a beautiful person with an amazing family.