Brian and I are high school sweethearts who have been married for 9 years. We were both very blessed to have grown up in Christian homes, where we were shown and taught about God’s love from a very early age.
After our first daughter was born, God started speaking to our hearts. I can still vividly remember rocking and feeding our baby late one night, when the thought was placed in my head that every baby born into this world should have this love. They need to be cherished and loved and prayed over! After mentioning the idea to Brian, he told me he felt there is such a need in our own city to love on these children, and if we were ever to adopt, we should do it locally.
Time had passed and we had a second child, and that same stirring in our hearts was there, but stronger. While up at night feeding, rocking, and praying over our baby, I kept thinking of obstacles. How would we afford it? Could I be at home with three kids? How would we get a larger car, etc… with each concern, God answered me with a simple word…LOVE. He wanted us to love on a baby and mother who needed it. We wanted to open our hearts and family to them with the unconditional, never ending love that God has given us. We knew this was something that God was telling us to do, and when He asks you to do something, you can trust Him to provide!
“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 NIV
After all the paperwork was completed and we were approved, we waited. We prayed together every night with our girls for our baby and the mother carrying this precious life. A year felt like forever for all of us, including our children. We would tell them the same thing we told ourselves – that we were trusting in God and His plan is perfect. There was a specific baby that He wanted us to have and oh my goodness! His plan was so, so good.
The day Camden came home was full of so many emotions. He brings our family so much joy and love, and the girls will tell you that they have the BEST brother in the world. We are tremendously blessed and thankful that God has allowed us to be his family. Our lives have been changed forever by our precious baby boy!
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” Psalm 127:3-5 NIV
-Brian and Shaina
