You're 41 and Adopting?

Sounds a little crazy! Having a couple girls ages, 15 and 11… why start ALL over again!?

It’s funny, I don’t think anything of it, really, but I can see it spark a curiousity in others.  Erik and I did just turn 41 this year… so we are officially “IN” our 40’s!  Besides a LOT of ‘laugh’ lines and a lot slower metabolism… we both feel very young at heart! 

Being a Mommy does go down as one of the BEST things in life that I do - LOVE it!!! ...and Erik and I believe we both have so much more LOVE in our hearts to share. XOXO!

I think Erik brought up the idea of adopting, and I probably dismissed it a few times… Then we traveled to Kenya to seek out ways we can give back, what God so graciously has given to us.  We visited an orphanage called Tumaini (means HOPE in Swahili) where the children were not adoptable because the care takers wanted all 50 of these children to stay together so they would have a sense of family! It was a beautifully run organization and it touched our hearts. We also visited a very different orphanage in Thika, Kenya.  It was Christmas time and all the children were gone visiting any family member or friend that they may have.  While we were there we noticed their rabbits and cows were so malnourished; that they couldn’t get milk from the cows and there was hardly any meat on the rabbits, the facility was so run down and crying for help…  During our visit, we met the nicest lady, Grace who shared with us a package of cookies and then offered to send us home with some.  It is SO amazing to see someone with nothing, share what little they had with us!  We also met an AWESOME group of boys at the Joy Divine Children's Organization.  These boys receive fantastic care from Fred and Mary; who provide them with a home, meals, an opportunity to receive education, school supplies, doctor visits, family visits and most importantly, HOPE through sharing Jesus Christ with them.  I think, through this trip, I was  looking for God to show me that adoption is right for us… But I didn’t see that “sign” or indication that said to me, ‘YES! You crazy Sanders, you should adopt!!’  ...However, that one trip to Africa set our hearts on fire for these amazing people, living in a country with so much devastation...

Our next trip to Nairobi was spent completely with the Joy Divine boys!  We loved on them, shared with them and they become like our brothers!! Each one of them will always hold a special place in our hearts, even though we couldn’t bring them home with us!!  …We would fly to Nairobi every Christmas if we could, just to spend time with them - These boys are so selfless, humble, and full of JOY!  THEY are an example of Christ Jesus.  

After being home for about 6 months after our second trip, I think Erik brought up adoption again and I started wondering, researching and praying. I don’t know when it was exactly but I become SO passionate and excited about adopting! I was researching, praying, looking at everyone’s beautiful BLOGS. I know I always thought about having a larger family and imagined how GREAT it would be…   When I finally sat back and thought about why we decided to hop on this journey of  adoption…  it was SO clear. It was the HOLY SPIRT living in me that created this DESIRE at this time!  He didn’t lay this on my heart when I was 25 years old or years ago when Erik first brought it up. Nope, right now, today, at 41!! It is AMAZING how things work together for GOOD in God’s time!

So… as we begin this journey in our 40’s we are guided by the Holy Spirit and embrace the idea with SO much love and excitement and are entirely grateful for God’s plan…  for us to become parents to our  Ethiopian daughter.

Proverbs 24:12

 ¹² If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
       does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
       Does not he who guards your life know it?
       Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

James 4:17 

¹⁷Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.