Adoption is on my mind.

Our adoption is on my mind. 

Not just the paperwork and background check and grant application and profile book stuff.

But the more important stuff.

Is our fourth child already living? Is a sweet birthmom out there somewhere carrying him or her, choosing to give her baby LIFE instead of choosing abortion? Are there people around her who are encouraging her to carry the baby, or are they pressuring her to end her pregnancy? Does she have anyone who is loving her and encouraging her as she goes through nine months of life-changing, body-altering, emotionally-draining pregnancy?

So I pray for her. I pray for her every day.

And I pray for our baby. I pray that he or she will understand the gospel someday. I pray that he or she will trust in Christ. I pray that he or she will not be impacted negatively by the "unnaturalness" of being adopted into a family, but that instead, he or she would see the amazing parallels between being adopted into our family and being adopted into the family of God. I pray that the gospel message would be just that much sweeter to him or her because of the personal experience he or she has with adoption.

I know that adoption has changed me. I know that it has caused me to view my relationship with God differently. I know that the gospel message is just a little sweeter to me now that I have little voices calling me "Mommy," who--if their birthmoms hadn't chosen life for them and if we hadn't chosen to adopt--should be complete strangers to me.

My favorite verse (and the very first one I taught my kids) is Ephesians 2:14: "But now, in Christ Jesus, you, who were once far away, have been brought near, through the blood of Christ."

(Ivy's rendition)

Far away. Near. What a difference. What an eternal, life-changing difference.

And this video...I absolutely love it. I can't get through it without getting at least a little teary-eyed, though!

I'm guessing that adoption will be on my mind...for the rest of my life.