**Our children’s faces are covered for their privacy during this public fundraiser! Thank you for understanding!**
Our journey into marriage began on a blustery yet sunny day in November - a day filled with joyful memory making and a lot of Lindy Hop! When we reflect back on the road traveled from that day to the heartache of the years to follow, it reminds us that life is a combination of joy and struggle with our faithful Lord as our travel companion. It was unexpected really, seeing that no one in our families on either side struggled to conceive a child. Barren. Infertile. Delayed Fertility. Unable to have “a child of your own”. Since the beginning of creation, to be labeled barren has been a grievous diagnosis, one which challenges our understanding of control. If we truly look at what is behind infertility, we understand that the Creator has a hand in everything. In 1 Samuel, we learn from Hannah’s story that the LORD had closed her womb. This same concept is echoed with Sarai, Rachel, and Elizabeth. This understanding does not make it any easier to process the reality of infertility, but it is a step toward greater trust in the Lord’s plan. If there is a takeaway from our 9 year journey with a still-empty womb, it would be surrender. We can take the aforementioned words and replace them with: Surrender. Obedience. Filled. Child of God. The journey is not over and the grief can be intense but we have a good travel companion guiding us over every mountain and through every valley.
As is the case on trips, we can have unexpected life detours along the way. Before we were married, we both had an interest in adoption but we were not in agreement on the timing and we desired to become debt free. Knowing that adoption is costly, we decided to investigate foster care. Kelsey was raised living overseas and worked with orphans as a child. She felt, even as a young girl, that one day she would adopt. She was unaware of “foster care” until college when she moved back to the United States. Andrew, who grew up in the United States, was familiar with foster care and because the timing was not right for adoption, we decided to learn more about foster care. After 1 ½ years of prayer and decision making, we became foster parents with a treatment foster care agency in Virginia.
Imagine our surprise when, as newly certified foster parents, a call came from our agency asking if we’d consider taking in three young children. The Lord has a sense of humor. We knew the Lord’s presence was near as he lovingly helped us in the early days of parenting. We are now years into our relationship with our children and we are thankful for how the Lord has matured both of us in our marriage, parenting, and faith. The journey has been exceedingly difficult and we face very challenging days still, but we have grown in our reliance on the Father.
As we continue to pray for our family, we know the Lord has more He wants to do in our family. Our children are eagerly asking for and praying for more siblings and we are so happy to see their hearts for adoption growing. They understand that God takes orphan care very seriously as stated in James 1:27. We believe, as Psalm 127 states, children are a heritage from the Lord and we are blessed when we have them in our family. We do not have a specific child or children in mind but are leaving that to the Creator who fashions all things perfectly. As a family, we are on assignment to care for those the Lord puts in our path and we will do it with excellence. We will serve with the strength that God supplies for His glory alone. May the Lord continue to do exceedingly more than we could think up ourselves!
STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction)*. Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Miller 10379”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.
Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
- In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
- Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
- *3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card