It's been quite a while since I took the time to sit and jot my thoughts into the blog-o-sphere.
Here's a glimpse of what's been happening with the byrds in this nest...
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| Thanksgiving |
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| Trick or Treating |
Christmas
New Year's
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| Luke attempted to stay awake to welcome in 2013. |
Celebrating their sister's birthday



Valentine's Day
.......Thanksgiving......Christmas....... Lydia's birthday........Valentine's Day.......
have all passed and I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet joy the Lord gifted during these times. I find my thoughts of her days bring a smile quicker than a tear. My memory is flooded with the many ways the Lord used her life.
Her days were not wasted, nor were any stolen from her.
Trusting in His Sovereign will for her life (and her momma's),
means nothing happened that wasn't suppose to happen.
Being rooted in this truth bears the sweet fruit of peace.
I do not wish her to be back here with me;
that would be contrary to His will.
She is HOME.
I'm still a pilgrim trodding this earthly soil.
And while I'm here, I want Him to continue to apply His truth to the pages of my days.
So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You
a heart of wisdom.
That we may present to You
a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Looking back at what has happened in the past, what He has done,
fortifies my trust in Him.
Looking forward to what He promises in Eternity through Jesus
gives me hope.
Living in this moment, in light of the past and the future,
gives me courage and strength.
There are reasons my heart has been silent on this blog.
Many ponderings I wasn't quite ready to share.
But, here goes....
Many ponderings I wasn't quite ready to share.
But, here goes....
A Brief Sharing of Our Hearts...
Since the beginning of our courtship and marriage Willie and I have often conversed and dreamed of one day adopting. We view children as God's blessings and consider it a privilege to love and teach them the most important life lesson ~ God's love for them and His provision for eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Our hearts yearn to see our family grow through the adoption process.
God adopted us into His family through the sacrifice of His Son.
He poured His love into our hearts and we desire to pour out His love into the lives of children.
We have experienced the joy and honor of being the parents to biological children;
we yearn to experience the unique path of adding to our family through adoption.
We actually started filling out paper work February of last year, but I got cold feet and wasn't ready to step onto this path. My tender, grieving heart wasn't ready for the rough road of adoption. Wondering, if as grieving parents would we be rejected and looked at as "broken" and unsuitable?
It's been a year and God continues to bring adoption to our minds and hearts. My heart is healing, though there will always be a scar. Perhaps my understanding and experience of grief will be a blessing for an orphaned child who has experienced the loss of family. I pray so. Willie and I are so eager to provide Home and Family and Love to a little one.
Willie and I will soon be submitting our application and hopefully be starting the home study process that begins this adoption journey.
Lydia's life and death is a catalyst that has put our dream of adopting into action.
Recognizing life is short, our days are numbered
and we should embrace our calling to love "the least of these"
and "live out true religion ~
taking care of the widows and the orphans".
Our hearts yearn to see our family grow through the adoption process.
God adopted us into His family through the sacrifice of His Son.
He poured His love into our hearts and we desire to pour out His love into the lives of children.
We have experienced the joy and honor of being the parents to biological children;
we yearn to experience the unique path of adding to our family through adoption.
We've never done this before.
It's unchartered territory for us.
It's scary.
We actually started filling out paper work February of last year, but I got cold feet and wasn't ready to step onto this path. My tender, grieving heart wasn't ready for the rough road of adoption. Wondering, if as grieving parents would we be rejected and looked at as "broken" and unsuitable?
It's been a year and God continues to bring adoption to our minds and hearts. My heart is healing, though there will always be a scar. Perhaps my understanding and experience of grief will be a blessing for an orphaned child who has experienced the loss of family. I pray so. Willie and I are so eager to provide Home and Family and Love to a little one.
It's time.
Willie and I will soon be submitting our application and hopefully be starting the home study process that begins this adoption journey.
I am so thankful that Lydia is Home, in her forever home with her Heavenly Father.
I am thankful the Lord allowed us to be her "home" during her earthly days.
I am thankful the Lord allowed us to be her "home" during her earthly days.
There are children on earth who do not have a home, who do not have a family, who do not have love.
My heart breaks for them.
We covet your prayers for guidance and direction from our Heavenly Father
as we take the first step (which feels like a giant leap!),
onto this new and unknown path of adoption.
as we take the first step (which feels like a giant leap!),
onto this new and unknown path of adoption.








Prayers for all of you as you go through this process. Your words are inspiring as always.
ReplyDeleteThis makes my heart smile. There are so many precious children waiting for a family. We have been blessed with 3 beautiful children by adoption. I will be lifting your family in prayer as you begin this journey. God bless........
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you as you begin this wonderful journey!
ReplyDeleteThese are the sweetest, sweetest words. I will be praying for you.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to see how the Lord will reveal the next chapter in your journey... I love your willing hearts that want to continue on the path you have been pondering for so many years... Venturing into the unknown takes faith, and I know you have plenty of faith!
ReplyDeleteWhomever the Lord brings to your family will be blessed beyond measure... Personally, I am praying for twins... I know the chances are slim, but I can pray... :)
You and your family so inspiring and I am continually humbled by your words of wisdom. Adoption is such a special process with so many blessings. I have worked with kids with special needs both in a foster care setting and in an educational setting. Foster/adoptive parents are so needed. I will pray for your family as you start this journey. Best of luck:)
ReplyDeleteTotally excited for you!! We have an adopted daughter from Taiwan and have friends currently waiting on their 2 kids from Haiti. We also have other friends in the process. 2 of our closest friends here in VA both fully raised all funds for their adoptions. It is such an exciting time! Enjoy the small things along the way:)
ReplyDeleteJennifer Slade Davis
Speaking from the side of the adopted child...God blessed me with two loving parents and they with a little girl to embrace into their home. When I ponder the "what if we weren't brought together" the options are pretty grim (considering the situation I was in prior to adoption). God saved my life. I have so much love for my mom and dad. They are beautiful and very loving, just as you and Willie are. I will be praying for you all...all 5 of you! Your family is very wonderful and loving. God bless!
ReplyDeleteHi Stacey!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog for several years now, ever since I first heard of your precious Lydia and fell in love with her and your sweet family.You have been such an encouragement and inspiration to me! I cannot tell you how excited I am that y'all are adopting!!! We are currently in the process of adopting our daughter from Ethiopia. We have three bio sons. I would LOVE to be an encouragement to you in your adoption journey, as adoption is my passion! My email is jbjjbobbitt@earthlink.net, would LOVE to hear from you!!! Again, I am so thrilled for y'all! What a blessing this child will be to your family as well as what a blessing this child will recieve to have y'all as parents! (: