Ornaments for Adoption 2013
In 2013, Ornaments for Adoption helped raise funds for the Thigpen family.
Here's their story:
Our story really began in the hallway of an elementary school back home in Florida where we first took notice of each other. But, our paths hardly crossed after 4th and 5th grade until we both came home one summer for college break and found ourselves attending the same Bible study. It was there that the Lord, in His grace, brought us together. We’ve been together for about 5 years now, and married for 3 of those years. And what an amazing journey it has been thus far!
Before we ever married, we had already had conversations about our desire to adopt whether or not we ever have children biologically. Of course, we desire to grow our family biologically and by adopting. We naturally felt that our life circumstances would prevent us from adopting any time soon, mostly because of finances, and so we began trying to grow our family by getting pregnant. After almost a year of struggling to get pregnant, we finally had a positive pregnancy test only to lose our baby a few days later in miscarriage. In a matter of days, we had experienced the highest of joys and the lowest of sorrows: life and death.
As we grieved, we continued to be confronted with the question, “Why are you waiting to adopt?” We still felt that there were obstacles in our way that we just couldn’t get around. But God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), has poured out encouragement and support through our family and our community of faith, reminding us the He is the One who makes straight the crooked paths, who makes the rough places into level ground (Isaiah 42:16), and when there seemed to be no way for man to be reconciled to God, He made a way through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we might be adopted into His family and made co-heirs with Christ (Galatians 4:6-7)! When faced with these truths, we could no longer shrink back from the call to adopt.
So, we have literally just begun the process to adopt a little boy or girl from Ethiopia! We are elated with joy, overwhelmed with excitement, and hopeful for the future! We are stepping out in faith, trusting the Lord will meet our needs along the way as we walk in obedience. Obviously, finances are and will be an “obstacle” throughout the process, so we appreciate your prayers as we begin our journey and we’re so glad you’ve taken the time to read about our story. In sharing our story, we desire that you will trust in the promise that Jesus has made; “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). And, we hope that you will find ways to get involved by either adopting, or helping those who are.
Keep up with their journey on their blog.
Another big part of Ornaments for Adoption is raising awareness of adoption and orphan care. Each week, a new post was shared on this topic. You can view all the posts from 2013 here:
Meet the Thigpens
Update from the Brocks
Thoughts from Someone Who Was Adopted
Using Positive Adoption Language
Adoption is Love
Hosting Orphans
Transracial Adoption
Resource List
5 Ways to Help Orphans This Holiday Season
Message from the Thigpens
Here's their story:
Our story really began in the hallway of an elementary school back home in Florida where we first took notice of each other. But, our paths hardly crossed after 4th and 5th grade until we both came home one summer for college break and found ourselves attending the same Bible study. It was there that the Lord, in His grace, brought us together. We’ve been together for about 5 years now, and married for 3 of those years. And what an amazing journey it has been thus far!
Before we ever married, we had already had conversations about our desire to adopt whether or not we ever have children biologically. Of course, we desire to grow our family biologically and by adopting. We naturally felt that our life circumstances would prevent us from adopting any time soon, mostly because of finances, and so we began trying to grow our family by getting pregnant. After almost a year of struggling to get pregnant, we finally had a positive pregnancy test only to lose our baby a few days later in miscarriage. In a matter of days, we had experienced the highest of joys and the lowest of sorrows: life and death.
As we grieved, we continued to be confronted with the question, “Why are you waiting to adopt?” We still felt that there were obstacles in our way that we just couldn’t get around. But God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), has poured out encouragement and support through our family and our community of faith, reminding us the He is the One who makes straight the crooked paths, who makes the rough places into level ground (Isaiah 42:16), and when there seemed to be no way for man to be reconciled to God, He made a way through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we might be adopted into His family and made co-heirs with Christ (Galatians 4:6-7)! When faced with these truths, we could no longer shrink back from the call to adopt.
So, we have literally just begun the process to adopt a little boy or girl from Ethiopia! We are elated with joy, overwhelmed with excitement, and hopeful for the future! We are stepping out in faith, trusting the Lord will meet our needs along the way as we walk in obedience. Obviously, finances are and will be an “obstacle” throughout the process, so we appreciate your prayers as we begin our journey and we’re so glad you’ve taken the time to read about our story. In sharing our story, we desire that you will trust in the promise that Jesus has made; “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). And, we hope that you will find ways to get involved by either adopting, or helping those who are.
Keep up with their journey on their blog.
Another big part of Ornaments for Adoption is raising awareness of adoption and orphan care. Each week, a new post was shared on this topic. You can view all the posts from 2013 here:
Meet the Thigpens
Update from the Brocks
Thoughts from Someone Who Was Adopted
Using Positive Adoption Language
Adoption is Love
Hosting Orphans
Transracial Adoption
Resource List
5 Ways to Help Orphans This Holiday Season
Message from the Thigpens
Ornaments for Adoption 2012
In 2012, Ornaments for Adoption helped raise money for the Brock family.
Here's their story:
We have been together for eleven years and married for six of those years. However, we have known each other since childhood. Some of our favorite jokes start with me teasing Brad about how shy he was in high school. Needless to say, we’ve had many years to hope, dream, and plan for our future. Much like everyone else, those plans don’t always turn out like we perfectly imagined. Though we aren’t complaining about where this wonderful journey of life has led us, we had hoped to start a family long before now. I dreamed about being a mother when I was a little girl playing with my baby dolls, and Brad’s desire of being a father began to grow the first time he held is baby niece. We were only married a year before we decided that we could not wait any longer to start our family; a whole year earlier than what we initially planned! After many months of disappointments, we sought medical advice which only led to several more years of heartache. Back when we were young and innocently unaware of the sorrow that comes with infertility and miscarriages, before we were even engaged, we dreamed of growing our family through adoption. We typically thought that the normal way was to have a few children of our own, and then when we are more established financially, we would adopt more children. We humbly but gladly admit that our point of view has changed. We have had the privilege of witnessing family and friends being blessed with the gift of adoption. By observing their journeys and the different processes that they have gone through, we have come to the realization that we do not want to wait any longer to begin our unique chapter of adoption. As the old saying goes “If you wait until you are financially ready to have a baby, then you will never have one.” We have taken a trusting leap of faith by starting this process, and each step that we’ve taken so far has been confirmed and blessed. We are currently just waiting for the phone call to say that a birth family has chosen us. All prayers are welcome as we learn to wait patiently and give God the Glory of this story!
Keep up with their journey on their blog.
Another big part of Ornaments for Adoption was raising awareness of adoption and orphan care. Each week, a new post was shared on this topic. You can view all the posts from 2012 here:
Meet the Brocks
Why Adoption?
Adoption Challenge from Christie at Satisfaction Through Christ
Megan Shares her Heart from {All Things New}
Adoption Links I Love
Kristen shares about God's Grace
Jan shares about 3 Beautiful Sides of Adoption
Megan's Letter from The Mrs.
Tara Becomes a Mom from Overwhelmed by Joy
Where You Came From from Dawn's Disaster
Books
Message from the Brocks
I Met the Brocks
Here's their story:
We have been together for eleven years and married for six of those years. However, we have known each other since childhood. Some of our favorite jokes start with me teasing Brad about how shy he was in high school. Needless to say, we’ve had many years to hope, dream, and plan for our future. Much like everyone else, those plans don’t always turn out like we perfectly imagined. Though we aren’t complaining about where this wonderful journey of life has led us, we had hoped to start a family long before now. I dreamed about being a mother when I was a little girl playing with my baby dolls, and Brad’s desire of being a father began to grow the first time he held is baby niece. We were only married a year before we decided that we could not wait any longer to start our family; a whole year earlier than what we initially planned! After many months of disappointments, we sought medical advice which only led to several more years of heartache. Back when we were young and innocently unaware of the sorrow that comes with infertility and miscarriages, before we were even engaged, we dreamed of growing our family through adoption. We typically thought that the normal way was to have a few children of our own, and then when we are more established financially, we would adopt more children. We humbly but gladly admit that our point of view has changed. We have had the privilege of witnessing family and friends being blessed with the gift of adoption. By observing their journeys and the different processes that they have gone through, we have come to the realization that we do not want to wait any longer to begin our unique chapter of adoption. As the old saying goes “If you wait until you are financially ready to have a baby, then you will never have one.” We have taken a trusting leap of faith by starting this process, and each step that we’ve taken so far has been confirmed and blessed. We are currently just waiting for the phone call to say that a birth family has chosen us. All prayers are welcome as we learn to wait patiently and give God the Glory of this story!
Keep up with their journey on their blog.
Another big part of Ornaments for Adoption was raising awareness of adoption and orphan care. Each week, a new post was shared on this topic. You can view all the posts from 2012 here:
Meet the Brocks
Why Adoption?
Adoption Challenge from Christie at Satisfaction Through Christ
Megan Shares her Heart from {All Things New}
Adoption Links I Love
Kristen shares about God's Grace
Jan shares about 3 Beautiful Sides of Adoption
Megan's Letter from The Mrs.
Tara Becomes a Mom from Overwhelmed by Joy
Where You Came From from Dawn's Disaster
Books
Message from the Brocks
I Met the Brocks