Two Became One and God Grew a Family

I was a small town girl from Pennsylvania, he was a city boy from Québec.  We met while touring with a Drum and Bugle Corp across the United States and Canada.  We were married in my home church and then moved to Québec to begin a life together. 

We always wanted to have children.  We were so excited when we found out I was pregnant with our first daughter.  Our precious Mélika came into our family on September 1996.  

August 1998 we were blessed with our second child.  We had always planned on having two children so by our calculations, our family was complete.  Tragically our little man died of SIDS at just 8 1/2 months old.  We were terribly heartbroken, but so thankful to have had him in our lives.  He will be cherished in our hearts forever!

Although we once thought we would be content with two children, after the death of our precious little boy, I started wanting a houseful of little people.  I tried babysitting and serving in our children's ministry program at our church.  Nothing seemed to quench the deep rooted desire to have a large family.  

In 2001 we returned to the United States and God started leading us down a path that would bring us to the adoption of our sweet Kylee.  The journey was quite rocky with many twists and turns, but God granted us strength and endurance for the journey.  In 2006 we were finally able to finalize our adoption.  

We absolutely love our daughters and feel extremely blessed that God has entrusted then to our care.  Mélika has a sweet, gentle spirit and has a heart for missions.  Kylee is a fearless athlete and takes life by the horns.  Both are fearfully and wonderfully made and God has extraordinary plans for their lives!!

God has us on yet another exciting path toward the adoption of more children.  I have yet to hold them in my arms or look upon their beautiful faces, but in my heart there is a special place where love has already started growing for them.  

Our Journey

As I sat resting comfortably  on the top of the picnic table watching my girls circle around the outside rink on their instructor's horses, I reflected on our family journey.  It amazes me how God has taken every experience, trial, and joy and used it to grow and mold us into the family we are today.  God has been our trail mate through marriage, birth of a daughter, birth and death of a son, and adoption of our youngest daughter.  We have traveled through years of plenty and years of want.  We have been created in His image and grow daily in our relationship with Christ with the purpose of worship.  Just as the horses in the rink circle in training, so we also circle through life gathering strength, discipline, and momentum for the plan and purpose we were created.  We know that God has called us to grow our family through adoption, and to raise warriors for Christ.  So with nostrils flaring in the crisp air and eyes focused on the goal ahead; we will grow our family…grow in our walk with Christ…in all things to worship HIM!