Lil' Light of Mine

What if adoption meant more than giving a needy child a stable home?

I should have started blogging about this a year ago, when God first moved us to begin the process of adoption, but it wasn't the time. I made a list of the different events that took place starting last December leading us to where we are at now. I hope to expound on some through this blog later on.

So where are we? Who are we? Let me start with an introduction. My name is Summer. I have lived almost half of my life serving a God who is right now writing this story. My other loves include, my husband, children, friends, running, the outdoors, cooking, and sleeping on the most luxurious bed I have ever known. I am blessed to stay at home with my children and started homeschooling our oldest going on our second year of school.

I love teenagers, yes. And frankly just love people. People of all ages, colors, smells, and walks of life which happens to work out well because I am also a pastors wife. I am convinced that I have been blessed with the most amazing humble man as my husband, Rick. He is one of the pastors at our church in a suburban church in the Chicago area leading others in worship and developing adult ministry and any other hats he may need to wear for any particular need. We have lived here for over five years having moved after Rick completed his masters at Dallas Theological Seminary. We are convinced that we are smack in the middle of God's will serving this community for the Lord although we vowed on our wedding day that we'd be ready to go where God leads trusting him every step of the way. Is there a better place then this? We pray our daily living is a breathing example of this call and devotion to our heavenly Father in every aspect of how we live our life.

We have been blessed beyond words with four full of character children. Caden, 8 has a slight obsession with Legos. For those of you that know him, you know this is slightly an understatement. Caden will not allow me to play with Legos as he has informed me that I don't have a clue what I'm doing! He is totally right! Ellie is 6, but comes with brains and charm much too mature for her own good. She is the one that tries so hard to make others believe she is shy. Don't worry, you will learn quickly! Will is our four year old tender hearted one. Will has the ability to melt your heart with one grin and spends most of his time following his big brother and sister. Michael is our son that passed away at a full term pregnancy in January of 2010. As I carried this pregnancy, we also carried the burden of knowing that he would pass away at delivery due to the absence of both kidneys. He entered this world with no breath, but I found him to be the most breath taking of all creations. Michael still has the ability to touch lives as God used him powerfully to "speak" God's grace, mercy, and love to the world as his story was and still is shared at: giftfrom316.blogspot.org

So this is a snapshot of who we are. I will forewarn you that the only reason that I am blogging is because of friends like you pressuring me to tell our story. I, in no way, claim to be a gifted or schooled writer as even this week I had to research what an irregular vowel was! Any and all feedback is welcomed and encouraged.

And this brings us to how God's call on Rick's and my life to adopt has caused us to examine His heart for the orphan and the miracle of our own adoption into God's family. Coming next...