Great Adoption Sermon Clip!

Here's a great 5 minute excerpt from a sermon by David Platt entitled "Father to the Fatherless." You can listen to the entire sermon here.

Platt delievered perhaps an even better message at Adopting for Life last year. Click here for that one. If you haven't heard it, you're missing out!!

-Brian

Happy Gotcha Day Isaiah!

What an amazing year it has been! We love you sweet boy!

First Orphan Care Meeting

We had our first interest meeting for the orphan care ministry on Tuesday and were thrilled when around 250 people showed up! It was a great time of sharing information about the ministry, sharing personal stories of adopting/fostering, and helping people connect with others within our church and community who are passionate about orphan care. The audio for the event can be found here: http://www.summitrdu.com/bonus

It's beautiful to watch what happens when a group of people meditate on their own adoption into God's family through Christ. Praying that God will continue to change hearts and that adoption will become a common response to the grace and mercy that He has shown to us.

Our sermon last week was entitled Adoption: Identity and Inheritance (preached by Trevor Atwood) and can be found here: http://www.summitrdu.com/sermons. Listen to it, and be reminded of who God is and what He has done. If that doesn't compel you to take action, I don't know what will.

So Proud

Proverbs 31:8 NLT

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

I am so proud of my husband. He's an amazing father, a great husband, and if that wasn't enough, for the past three months he's been working really hard to help launch an adoption ministry at our church. You can read more about it here:

 http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2010/06/orphan-care-at-the-summit.html

Thank you honey, for standing up for the fatherless, for being an advocate for the forgotten, and for reminding us all of how much we have been given in Christ. Isaiah and I love you so much!!

This boy gets cuter every day...

Weekend Getaway

This past weekend was a weekend of firsts...my first Mother's Day, our first family vacation, and Isaiah's first trip to the beach! Brian had to shoot a wedding in Emerald Isle, so we decided to tag along for the ride. We were so glad that we did!

There is something magical about a child discovering sand for the first time. Isaiah loved it.

He quickly buried his legs and was too busy playing to smile for the camera again.

Since Brian would be gone most of the day Saturday and it was too cold to swim, we decided to stay in nearby Beaufort, where we could walk around and explore the town. If you live in NC and haven't been to Beaufort, you are missing out! Seriously, this is the cutest little town. It's full of good food, friendly people, and beautiful old houses just begging you to peek inside.  This particular weekend was their annual music festival, so Isaiah and I got to listen to great bands playing as we walked along the waterfront and checked out the local boutiques. One of my favorites...the Rocking Chair Bookstore, where Isaiah burped louder than any grown man, and had everyone in there laughing out loud. This kid has a gift of making friends wherever we go.

Across the waterway wild horses roamed the islands. Brian snapped this picture as we were driving along the waterfront the first night we were there.

It was a very special weekend. Brian and I both treasure the memories we have from family vacations we took growing up. Hopefully, this is the first of many to come for our new family of three.

P.S. Let me know if you ever go to Beaufort and I'll tell you the best place to stay, the best places to eat, and the best little secret local beach. You're going to want to go there. =)

Congratulations are in order!!

Our dear friends Will and Rebekah have announced that they are adopting from Ethiopia! We are so excited for them and can't wait to watch God unfold His plan for their family. Will and Rebekah walked with us through our adoption process and were a constant source of support and encouragement. What a blessing to be given the chance to return the favor! Read their story here: http://yestoadoption.blogspot.com/ and join with us in praying for them and their little one. Congratulations guys, you're going to make great parents!!