Living behind enemy lines is the norm around here. Every time we think we've reached a plateau, something will happen to remind us that the battle still rages. At least we can be sure that we're heading in the absolute opposite direction of the enemy.
At the empowered to connect conference Kay Purvis (love, love her) taught us that adoptive mothers have an unnatural rate of autoimmune disease due to a broken heart. The chemical make up of your body actually changes as a result of heartbreak over an adopted child. This alarmed me because my prayer has always been for God to break my heart for what breaks HIS.
And He absolutely has. My heart is completely broken-- crumbled and stomped on many days-- The Holy Spirit reminded me of
1 John 3:16-17
This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
So while I'm having a new concern at learning about the effects of my broken heart--- the Holy Spirit simply speaks the rest of the passage--
--which says-- This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:19-20
Thank you Holy Spirit!
Here are a few of my heartbreakers-- in no particular order--
Thank you Kristine Neeley for your priceless gift of photography to us!
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| Our princess ballerina Mercy with her gift of prayer and compassion! |
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| Our handsome and gifted Nate-our superstar soccer player and cross country runner He was asked to run for student council, thought it was a race and said yes. He won. |
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| Our sweet Isaiah has a passion for the Word-- and life! |
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| Our fearless oldest son Nash-- he leads the whole crew with wisdom and patience-- so thankful for his example. |
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| It all started with Elle (we like to remind her of that) beautiful inside and out -- her heart for the nations, her passion for Jesus. |
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| Daddy is everyone's favorite playmate! |
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| Sweet Jamolicious! His laughter and smile light up the universe! |
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| Sweet Prince Levi Jeremiah-- the heartbeat of our family! It's a darn good thing that I don't live in the NATURAL! |
13 comments:
Oh sister, what a beautiful
Heart you have, and what a absolutely beautiful family you have, yes I know a broken heart, many blessings on you and your family
Is this why I've been sick???
I love your heart...and those heartbreakers could not be any cuter!
Your family is beautiful... I found your blog via I Love Lucy and look forward to following along with you on your journey in faith and adoption...We brought Charlotte home from Ethiopia in May 2009 and are in the process of waiting impatiently for a referral for twins also from Ethiopia. We're a family of five that is soon to become seven and we're not certain God will call us to stop after this adoption... Such a blessings.
j
www.gfinkfamily.blogspot.com
beneath the acacia tree
I LOVE the new photos and blog design. Beautiful! I just love your family and your hearts.
Blessings,
Amy
I love your stories so much...and by stories...I guess I really mean testimonies. Your heart, broken or not, is amazing. I am so inspired by you! And even though I can't adopt my Zim kids....I'm working on incorporating an adoption grant into the new charitable organization I have started...."Beautiful Feet Global Outreach"...and that is at least partially inpsired by your life, Jennifer Cullimore and countless others.
Love your family! Heartbreakers and all...God is doing great things!!!
It is true that God is near to the broken-hearted... and if it's a broken heart, it's a beautiful, beautiful heart. Thank you for your willingness to share your heart... with your children and with any one of us who will read or listen or watch. You all are such a gift to this dark world!
Oh Tracy!! You make the world better. I'm HONORED to call you friend. Your words and these photos brought me to tears!!
oh beautiful tracy and your beautiful family!! i love that God takes our brokenness (hearts and all) and restores them...that's the business He's in and your photos show He is darn good at it!! love you!!
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to meet your new additions next weekend:))
xoxo
Kari
Hi!
I just found your blog kind of randomly, but realize it was not at all random as I needed to read your story tonight. And even more not random because my husband and I are about to submit our application to CCI to begin our adoption. We are thrilled and terrified. My husband is in seminary and we have three small daughters, and it seems like the craziest time of our lives to think about doing this, and yet the Lord seems to have made it clear that this is what obedience is for us. We are so excited to see how he will bless and change us through this. It's already drawing me into deep prayers, repentance, and dependence on him. It also seems so far away that we will actually get to bring our child(ren) home, so it's a great encouragement to read of the Lord's faithfulness to other families and to hope in Him for what he has in store for us. Thank you for your bold testimony and challenges, and thank you for sharing your heart, your family, and lives here. I believe our Lord is,indeed glorified.
love,
Sara-Beth
Sweet friend, I have been reading along, but not often commenting... however, I couldn't help but reach out for you today. First of all, you are gorgeous inside and out, as usual. But to see that precious Isaiah without the wild fear in his eyes is what I needed today.
I miss home so badly. I miss being amongst people who love the Lord and who make it easy for me to walk and talk. Living here, I must admit I feel like a very infantile believer. I am never quite sure how much to say or not say. I'm still feeling my way in the dark. I don't want to come on too strong, but I want to shed the light of Christ wherever I can. Anyway, I'm learning a little about what it must have been like to live in the times just after Christ died.
Thanks for these last two posts. Much love!
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