Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Adoption Stories - Guest Post by Jamie Worley


For me, the idea of adopting wasn't anything new, but for many years, it just wasn't really on my radar. A series of promptings that could only have been from the Lord kept bringing it to the forefront of my mind, and eventually I brought the idea to my husband, fully expecting him to think it a crazy idea -- and then I'd be done with it. That's not what happened, though, and within two years of that first conversation, we had adopted a fourteen year old girl from our state foster care system.

The adoption process had it's ups and downs, but through all of that, God made His will clear. We now recognize that this is no small task we've undertaken. Not only have we provided love and family for a child who was a legal orphan (though her birth parents are still alive), we have also been making an eternal impact on the kingdom of God. We have changed the path of future generations to come.

From our daughter's perspective, adoption had been a scary thought. She'd been emotionally hurt and felt betrayed by her birth family, so why would she want to put herself out there and be vulnerable to getting hurt like that again?

 Because of her age, the courts said she had to give consent to be adopted, and for a while, she said no. She planned to remain in foster care until she "aged out," something that happens to more than 20,000 children each year in the United States. But thankfully, our Lord placed Lindsey in a foster family who took her to church, and coincidentally (which I've learned to see as God working behind the scenes), the pastor's wife at that church has been adopted at the age of twelve.

Through long talks with this sweet woman, Lindsey decided to take the plunge and see what would happen. 
Now Lindsey is seventeen, and we have started the process of another adoption, again through foster care. We'll see where Jesus leads us this time!

Our family: December 2009, shortly after Lindsey's adoption

WorleyFamilyDec2009


Jamie is a wife, homemaker, home educating mama, adoption advocate, and professional photographer. Her blended family includes three kids: one by birth, one by marriage, and one adopted as a teen. She tries never to venture too far from a steaming hot cup of tea. Visit with her at See Jamie Blog!

This post is part of a series of posts: Adoption Stories From Around the Web 
I'm doing in support of the new movie and ministry close to my heart: Rescued


Rescued: The Heart of Adoption and Caring for Orphans - Trailer from Rescued The Movie on Vimeo.

8 comments:

Full Circle Creations said...

What a great post. I too was adopted out of foster care and I thank my parents everyday for changing the course of my life. Thanks for sharing!

Holly

Mrs. Nerdy said...

Hi Kelli,
I would love to guest post our adoption story on your blog! Contact me at: slightlynerdymama@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Jamie, I found your blog through the LF blog hop. I'm very happy to be following you and hope you can visit us at Take Six. :)

HIBISCUS HOUSE said...

Hi I am now following you and found you on the linky follower hop! I invite you to follow me over at Hibiscus House, I would love to have you. I can tell I am going to enjoy your posts.
Sincerely,
Dolly
http://hibiscushouse1.blogspot.com/

momto8 said...

what a great story....of trust and faith and hope.
God bless all of you!!
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

Jamie {See Jamie blog} said...

Thanks so much for sharing my story here, Kelli!!

Rose :: Fine Craft Guild said...

adoption is such a precious gift and your story warms my heart!

::

On a much more mundane/practical note...: I am actually coming to your site re. the FOLLOWER linky blog hop, and am following you ! :-) Will you follow me back?? Thank you so much when you do.

PLUS: There is also a party on our blog, where you can feature 'your best creative work'. There are some great projects to see already, but we want to see your work!

Anyhow, use this link both to FOLLOW and to PARTY:
http://www.FineCraftGuild.com/party/

Hope to seeing you around!!
Have a happy, creative day!

Rose :: Fine Craft Guild said...

I am actually coming to your site re. the FOLLOWER linky blog hop, and am following you ! :-) Will you follow me back?? Thank you so much when you do.

PLUS: There is also a party on our blog, where you can feature 'your best creative work'. There are some great projects to see already, but we want to see your work!

Anyhow, use this link both to FOLLOW and to PARTY:
http://www.FineCraftGuild.com/party/

Hope to seeing you around!!
Have a happy, creative day!