What began as merely being acquaintances grew into a friendship when Hunter went to work at the University of Missouri where Natalie was in her senior year. After working together for a year, Hunter finally gathered the courage to ask Natalie out on a date right as she began her first year of medical school--not the best timing. Little did we know, but this was the start of a topsy-turvy dating journey for the next few years, which included a break-up at Buffalo Wild Wings of all places (which Hunter still regrets to this day). Finally, we got engaged at the beautiful St. Louis Botanical Gardens in Feb. 2020. That's right, just before the world shut down. At that point though, not even a global pandemic could stop us! We had a beautiful, small, outdoor wedding with our closest family and friends in May 2020, just a few months after getting engaged.
God brought us to Alabama exactly one year after we were married for Natalie's family medicine training, and we have since come to know and love this place as our home. This is primarily because of the wonderful people here, especially those who are in our church family. We always had planned to leave after three years when Natalie finished residency, but it became clear that God's best for us was to remain here.
Over the course of our whole relationship, we have had two desires. To move overseas to tell people who don't know the Bible about Jesus, and to adopt. And a big part of why we are waiting to go overseas is because God has also made clear to us that he has kept us here this long in order to pursue adoption. At times, it's been a difficult journey to trust the Lord with the timing and circumstances of our lives. Between the pain of experiencing not being able to have biological children and the confusion of God keeping us in Alabama, there have been hard times. But, it's now clear that in all of that, God was leading us to the joy of adoption, and we are so grateful for how he has patiently guided us every step of the way, even when we didn't understand.
We don't know all that our future holds, but we do know that we love our lives, our home, and our community here now and that we will be here as long as we need to be to in order to love the precious child the Lord brings into our lives.
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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 “Jewett 12138”, 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.
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<li>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.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>*3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card</li>
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