thank you...

 We recently received the following email from the Severns family in Illinois -

As we approach the 1 year anniversary of our adoption of Ellie Shamei, I wanted to take the time to thank you again for the generous matching grant that Lifesong awarded us.  Thanks in part to you and all of the friends and family who donated, we completed our adoption. 

Ellie has been a blessing to our family, and the adoption process itself strengthened our faith in God. We are so happy to raise her in our family and in the family of Jesus Christ! 

Her future in China was bleak, but now her opportunities are endless. She started Kindergarten last week and is very happy here in her new life."

A HUGE thank you to our donors who make stories like this possible! May the Lord bless you for your generosity!

God was orchestrating a plan...

As Joshua and Bethany Taylor were in the midst of the adoption process, she writes,

While I complained about not having “children of my own,” God was orchestrating a plan to bring two precious children into our lives.  While I grieved and whined out prayers to God, unaware that He had already sovereignly answered, He was shaping a heart in me to not just be a biological mother, but a spiritual mother.  I’m growing even more now to understand who a mother really is, and that being a mother is so much more than biological DNA."

After much anticipation, Joshua and Bethany flew to Ethiopia in January of 2009 to bring their precious kiddos (Fekadu and Tigist) home!

 Lifesong for Orphans was blessed to have helped this family by providing them with a matching grant.

Adoption Uncovered on September 12th

On Saturday, September 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Irving Bible Church, Tapestry will host an event entitled Adoption Uncovered: Understanding the Adoptee's Perspective. This unique event will be led by adult adoptees from different backgrounds and will provide helpful insight into some of the often felt, but seldom discussed thoughts, struggles and emotions that adoptees deal with. At this event attendees will also be able to pre-register for the 2009 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference in order to guarantee their spot.

Childcare will be available for this event for ages 0-12 with registration at least 48 hours in advance. Click here for information about how to register for childcare.

For more information contact Amy Monroe at tapestry@irvingbible.org.

Miracles in Montgomery...

Cole & Joy Portis, parents of 7 and orphan advocates are often asked, "Do you love them differently"...

I explained that while they are not my flesh and blood they ARE my children! They had my love before I ever met them!  They didn't have to earn it or prove that they were a good "fit" for our family!  Whatever the future holds....good, bad, ugly...they are MY children and my love for them is equal and unconditional."

The Portis family attends Morningview Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL where they played a crucial role in starting a Church Adoption Fund. They were also recently featured in the Montgomery Living Magazine.

Morningview hosts an Institute of Theology (MIT) program each semester where attendees can earn a lay-theology training certificate.

Food for thought:  

• This church is dedicated to educating believers in order to be firmly rooted in the Gospel...
• This family felt God's calling on their life to adopt... over and over...
• Are you willing to step out in faith as they have?

Check out the Heart Gallery of Alabama which displays children currently in the Alabama foster care system and watch this video that Joy created -

Love will help her grow....

“I WILL MOVE AHEAD, BOLD AND CONFIDENT, TAKING EVERY STEP IN OBEDIENCE...”

On July 20, 2009, Randy and Candice held their baby girl for the first time. The journey to Korea to meet their daughter was a long road filled with surrendering and obedience to their own Heavenly Father. Read more...

Check out more Changed Lives