Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

she stood in the gap.

Last weekend, Dr. Laure stood before our church congregation and shared her beautiful testimony. She shared how her youngest son was born just five days after her beloved husband passed away from cancer nearly two years ago. She shared how difficult it was to nurse this precious child…to look at him and ache deeply knowing that he would never know the love of a father.

She shared how God spoke to her in the midst of her grief. She shared how He lovingly reminded her that there were many, many children just outside her door that would never know the love of a parent. She shared how He pressed upon her heart to go and be love to these children.

She transparently shared how she was frustrated with God. How could He ask this of her? She had just lost the love of her life and she was left to raise six children alone. And, He was now asking her to go out and love even more children.

He gave her a verse to cling to —

“I command you — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” {Joshua 1: 9}

And, she obeyed.

She has poured out her life in love to hundreds of orphaned children in her home country of DR Congo. She has visited them in illness and cared for them when they are hurting. She has fed them. She has held them and prayed fervently for them. She has taken them into her home.

She has modeled Christ’s selfless love for them.

It hasn’t been easy and she isn’t perfect. Yet, through every hardship, she has leaned into our mighty and faithful God. She has taught me what it means to trust and find joy in all circumstances.

I have watched Christ work through her to heal the heart of our little girl. She took her into her home last June and loved her as her own. Sylvie’s brokenness ran deep from suffering extreme loss in her short life. Yet, slowly, I witnessed God’s healing hand at work in her life.

How could I ever thank my friend for this selfless love? How could I ever thank her for standing in the gap for my momma arms aching to hold my daughter? How could I ever thank her for giving her love and affection and teaching our daughter laughter and joy?

How could I ever begin to thank her for boarding a plane for the very first time, with two days notice, headed to the United States to carry our daughter home? How could I ever thank her for preparing Sylvie’s heart for our family? I don’t think it is possible. Words fail to properly express the gratitude we have for this incredible sister in Christ. We know we would not have our Sylvie here today without Laure’s response to step out and serve in love.

My prayer is that I will not remain unchanged from witnessing this selfless love. I pray that I too will be a vessel for Christ’s love to pour out and for His light to shine in the darkness.


Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 
{Isaiah 6:8}

It. is. on.

Five hundred and seven days.

It was five hundred and seven days ago when our world was rocked. Our hearts were forever changed.

Five hundred and seven days ago, we saw her face. The face of our daughter.

These beautiful big, brown eyes have greeted me every single morning for the past five hundred and seven days.

This photo has remained on my bathroom mirror, on our refrigerator and on our dining room wall for five hundred and seven days.

Five hundred and seven days ago, my boys became big brothers. We have all been head over heels since that first glimpse.

Five hundred and seven days of prayers; desperate prayers of a mother’s heart…pleading, begging, facedown-on-the-floor-sobbing prayers.

Five hundred and seven days of dreaming. Imagining what life will look like with her here. Picturing her running and laughing with her brothers. Envisioning her in my arms.

Five hundred and seven sleepless nights. Awake in the dark, worried. Restless thoughts invading…has she eaten today, is she sick? Where is she laying her head tonight? Is she afraid? Is she alone? Is she safe?

Five hundred and seven days ago, I had no idea where my feet would walk. I had no idea that I would fly halfway across the globe and hold this precious child, the one who has stolen my heart, and I would board a plane to come home without her.

I had no idea how long and how treacherous this road would be. And, for that, I am grateful.

I am thankful for His goodness and mercy. Five hundred and seven days ago, my heart could not have handled the battle ahead. If I had known, my knees would have been weak and I would have been afraid.

Yet, His grace is sufficient. Strength doled out each day. Reminders of His Faithfulness marking each footprint left behind.

There have been days when He has asked us to fight. We are battle-worn and bruised. We have seen glimpses of Glory and we have toed the pit of despair.

But, today. Today was a day when He whispered, “be still, my child.”

Today, we watched Him fight. A flood of renewed Hope has been poured over our weary and worn hearts.

A print hanging in our daughter’s room. Source: Etsy.com

“If you are His child, He’s on the front lines battling on your behalf.” – James MacDonald, Always True.

As I sit here in tears, refreshing my browser, I am in awe.

Over the past 48 hours, families have bound together to advocate for justice. We have sent out the rally cry and have decided that we can remain silent no longer. We can not fight on our own any longer. We have to stand together. Arm in arm.

Friends and family have spent the day emailing, mailing, and calling representatives and senators on behalf of our family and the hundreds of others with legally adopted children stuck in Congo. They have shared our daughter’s story and are joining alongside us in pleading for justice.

A friend, who is in the middle of her own adoption, sent this photo. 
These are letters she wrote on behalf of our daughter. Tears. Overwhelming gratitude. 

In less than four hours, an online petition created by Both Ends Burning Campaign to help families with children stuck has sent nearly 20,000 letters to members of Congress.

God is on the move.

I have prayed for mountains to crumble, a pathway to be created where there was none, walls to fall down, seas to part … I have begged God again and again for a miracle. A miracle beyond anything I could hope for or imagine. And, tonight, I am watching one unfold.

I don’t know what lies ahead on our path but I do know the One who goes before us. I know how the story ends. I know victory awaits and joy is just within reach.

Please join us in the fight by signing the petition asking for a resolution for families separated from their legally adopted children. It only takes a few minutes and we need every signature to create change. Find the petition HERE.

*I’ve included photos of our daughter’s face for the first time on this blog only because she has grown and changed significantly since this photo was taken. We are still unable to share current photos publicly. {Can we just have a moment to talk about the overload of CUTENESS?? I can hardly handle it. See why I have been dying to share photos with you?!}.

a BIG week for Feed Their Tummies!

Another round of food was delivered over the weekend for the Feed Their Tummies program. I LOVE seeing these photos and knowing that these children, whom I have held and laughed with and prayed for, are going to be given the gift of food for another two weeks. 

Two more weeks of security. Two more weeks knowing that their bellies will not be rumbling as they lay their heads down in the dark night. Two more weeks of knowing that they are not forgotten. 

It is not too late to be a part of this work. We need you. We need more friends to step out in faith and give up $10 each month for these children. 

An update from our Pure Charity site:

We continue to work toward securing ongoing support in order to ensure the monthly deliveries are funded. The majority of our monthly sponsors donate $10 per month and we are grateful for the opportunity this week to push for a BIG goal of another 50 monthly sponsors (or a total of $500 in monthly support)!!
A generous donor has offered a one-time gift of $500 to be given when we reach this goal of $500 committed monthly!! 

We have until this Friday, April 4th to raise the monthly support!!
After we reach our monthly goal and ensure food is delivered, we will be able to provide medical care and education opportunities for these children!
Thank you again for being a part of the work of transforming little lives through love!
Please consider joining us in this work and please share this with your friends and family!! Every dollar is vital to this goal!!!!

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, {Matthew 25:35 ESV}

in daddy’s arms {part 2}

Life is busy lately. But, it has also slowed. It’s a strange juxtaposition. I don’t quite know how to explain where we are right now. Slow and fast all at once. The move has thrown our schedules out of sync. We don’t have internet or TV at the farmhouse, so we are spending more time reading, talking, listening. We go on long walks when Dave gets home from work. We laugh. The boys color and I paint end tables. A new season has ushered in, a season of simplifying. Heart-changing. Re-focusing. Rest. Grace.

Meanwhile, I long to write down memories. Record moments. I have this desire to continually document where we are and what we are learning… things change so quickly, I don’t want to forget a single, sweet moment.

Before too much time passes, I want to document more of Dave’s recent trip to Congo. The precious time spent with our daughter was a gift. It feels like a dream now. Did he really go? It’s hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago, she was in his arms.

Friday, February 21st 


Before heading to the airport, we had breakfast together at Dave’s favorite – Dunkin’ Donuts.

This picture cracks me up. I’m not sure what Nate is up to and Ben’s expression is hilarious. I think the sugar is kicking in…
What? You mean, you don’t see Spiderman at DD too? Strange. 

Prayers were answered with our new friend, Joyce, working that day and able to check Dave and all of his luggage through to Kinshasa.

We were given the gift of two extra hours together in the airport. Dave’s flight to Chicago was delayed and we were able to spend the time laughing, praying, running through the terminals and eating lunch together. Dave still made his connection to Brussels and we were all so grateful for the unexpected extra time with one another.

Saturday, February 22nd






Dave landed in Kinshasa and was able to get through customs and retrieve all of his luggage in less than an hour! This was a huge answered prayer and in stark contrast to our experience last time. After a reunion with Laure, Dave was able to call me and it was SO wonderful to hear his voice. I had been tracking his flights on my flight tracker app and we had exchanged a few text messages but it had been a very long couple of days.

Dave’s words from his journal…

“I finally landed in Kinshasa after a calm and normal flight and entered the craziness of Africa. There is no order in the lines and getting your luggage feels like a rat race. But it is an organized chaos. Everyone moves when you need your bag. It was great to get out in the parking lot to see Laure and even better to talk with Jenny and the boys. 

We drove through the congested streets piled with trash, broken down cars and poverty to the likes of something I couldn’t even imagine before our first trip here. I couldn’t help but feel totally overwhelmed. Then, we arrived at Laure’s home. It truly is an oasis in the desert. The kids are smiling and happy, well fed and full of life. 

Finally, I was able to hold our S. Jenny, how I wish you were here. I have never been more sure of anything – she is our daughter and she is absolutely perfect.”


Sunday, February 23rd
“I woke up this morning staring at a sleeping S. It was so peaceful and nice… We all played for a while and then we were off to church. 


Piled in the van, on the way to church! 


We arrived a little before 9 am and the little kids, including S, headed off to Sunday School. We sit, sing a few songs and I am thinking this is just going to be a service I can’t understand in French. But, it wasn’t like anything I’ve ever experienced before. Everyone gets into the service- shouting for joy, praying out loud while pacing back and forth, shaking homemade tambourines and whistles – all during the service as they feel led. After the offering (you walk up in front of the crowd and place your money in the offering plate, no passing the plate!), Laure leaves to go up in front and sing. I’m not a little concerned because I don’t know if I’m supposed to stand, sit, sing, wave my hands, what?! 


Luckily, I was paying attention because I understood the word “American” when the preacher said it and everyone turned to me and smiled and laughed. I waved and then the service continued for the next three and a half hours…

Turns out, they were studying Ephesians 2 and the sermon was about putting your trust in God completely and He will always be with you and never fail you. The preacher used me as an example…how our family has put our trust in God and He led us to our daughter. Even though it seems impossible, and there are so many obstacles in our way, God will make a way and will never fail us. 

I guess what I learned from all of this is a new way to worship. Many of the people in this service have nothing, but at the same time, they are so spiritually rich. Each uses their God-given talents {drums, whistles, singing, prayer} to give all they have to our Lord. They worship Him with a fever. You can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices.

…Later that night, we were able to FaceTime… it was so wonderful to see your face and hear your voice. And, to see your face when you talked to S – just amazing! I just wish the boys could have seen her {they were napping}. She is getting such a personality. You would just love her. She’s a feisty one. She really likes me when I’m cleaning her face and hands.”

Monday, February 24th

“I woke up today to the kids singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Laure. It was a crazy, chaotic morning getting 12 kids ready and 6 of them out the door for school. After the older kids left, I was able to just relax with the younger foster children. I also got to feed S eggs and she loved them. She smiled at me and ate. That girl is after my heart and she owns it.”

Dave also visited the orphanage on Monday… there is so much to share about his time there and the work that has been done with Feed Their Tummies. I will share another post on all of the exciting things God has been doing with this program soon. 

Tuesday, February 25th


Sleeping on the cool tile floor.  



After a long day visiting with officials at the U.S. Embassy and friends staying in Kinshasa, they arrive home to find all of the kids outside because the power is out again and it is pitch dark inside the house. 

“I’m bitter, thinking to myself: another day without nearly as much time as I wanted with S. But, she is sleeping so I get to hold her without a protest. What happened next showed me how much God is in the lives of this family. They started praising God with blackness all around. Laure and the girls and young boys were singing, her brothers were praying out loud and I was holding my precious daughter, saying a silent prayer of gratitude.


…During this adoption process I seem to have failed miserably in singing my praises to the Lord, I seem to only focus on asking Him: why, why, why? Blaming Him for not changing hearts or moving mountains. 


I need to remember that He is a Father just like me. He loves me, with all of my faults, just as I am. Just as I love Ben, Nathan, and S. He wants to celebrate my successes with me and share in my grief when I am suffering. 


I went to bed that night with S sleeping next to me. I sat and watched her in the dark and thanked God for these few precious moments a father gets to spend with his daughter. 


My last thoughts before going to bed were mixed. I felt great sorrow that I most likely would not be bringing my daughter home. I also felt very thankful and blessed that I would get to spend my 35th birthday with my beautiful daughter in a loving home, halfway across the world.”


Wednesday, February 26th

“The kids woke me early with a Congolese rendition of ‘Happy Birthday.’ It was so thoughtful. I also received four gifts that I will treasure always – a Congolese shirt from Laure, two Congolese bracelets from Sylvia, sandals and a bag from Meme and a homemade hot pads from Grace. These gifts will always be very precious to me. 

I then did something I should have done on day one: I opened a package of balloons. S laughed and smiled at me for over an hour as we played with an entire package of balloons. I thought my lungs were going to explode as I probably blew up and deflated balloons a couple hundred times. But, I wasn’t stopping. I had a break-through with my daughter and she even looked at me and called me ‘Papa.’ BEST Birthday Present I have ever gotten!!!!!! Man, I love that little girl. 

We played together while we cooked lunch and she was exhausted so I started packing up and getting ready to go. That’s when she started to shut down again. I think she knew I was leaving and didn’t want to give me any more of herself. I felt absolutely awful. It felt like a cruel joke – I was able to love on her and play with her for five precious days and, now, I had to return home without her. 


I loaded up my bags and kissed her from her daddy and mommy. I told her how very much we loved her and that we would be back just as soon as we could to take her home. I hope and pray that part of her understood why I had to leave. 

The emotions started at the airport…at first, it was mostly defeat and anger. What kind of father goes to visit his child and comes home without her? I felt like a complete failure. It was such a relief to talk on the phone with Jenny and the boys. After talking with them, I realized that this trip was a blessed one and I truly believe it has paved the way for great things to come.”

One of many photos of laughter and encouragement we sent to daddy from home. 

I saw God before me all the time. Nothing can shake me, He’s right by my side. I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic. I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope. {Acts 2:25 MSG}