Once upon a time ....

 ... in a land and time that seems so far away, a little girl held a dream so close to her heart.


This dream was to one day be a momma. She rocked her baby dolls. She gave them their bottles regularly. They got baths, and clean clothes.


They were so very well loved and cared for.


This little girl was not ordinary. One of her biggest prayers was that when she awoke, the baby dolls that were entrusted to her care would wake up and they would be real live, living and breathing babies.


Morning after morning, night after night, this prayer remained on her lips.


Her desire and hope to be a momma was so intense.




As time went on and the little girl became a big girl, she knew now that baby dolls would not become live babies. She wanted to travel the world and care for the orphans. Her biggest dream now was to open an orphanage in the heart of the city.


It was a sad day when she learned that America no longer runs orphanages. Babies need nurturing and love. They were not getting this in orphanages. This girl wanted to change that. She wanted to prove that she had enough love to raise world changers.


Many years later, the big girl was now a young lady and thinking about courtship, marriage and raising a family. She had a place to live, but so longed for the pitter patter of little feet, the sticky finger prints on the wall, and cuddles in the rocking chair as bed time stories were told. She longed for play dates and trips to the park. She knew it wasn't all about fun times, and that there were going to be temper tantrums, and "terrible twos" and diaper rashes, and teething babies, and all the responsibilities that cone along with the joys of motherhood.


One afternoon, she felt a nudge. A whisper, if you will, asking her if she would be willing to be a foster mom. "There are so many littles in the world that don't know me, they don't know my love," she heard. This young lady didn't know what to make of it. Was she imagining things? Was this something she could do? She wasn't married. She didn't own a home. She was working 3 part time jobs. Could she give up her "freedom" and commit to this task?


Years went by but this desire in her heart grew. It went with her as she moved several times in a year. It remained with her as she transitioned from 3 jobs to 2 jobs and an internship. It stayed with her as she went to school and pursued a degree. It remained with her so much that she often daydreamed about and prayed for the babies needing love.


Finally she moved into a home that was far too large for just her and her normal day to day life. She had come to possess so many material riches that her closet was actually 2 closets. There was so much stuff that it took up not only 2 bedrooms, but also a utility closet.


She just kept packing in the stuff. Her material possession were expanding.


Not long after moving in, she was talking with a very dear friend of her and they were discussing life. It was shortly after this beautiful soul left when this young woman had to sit down in the entry way because she knew. She knew that this was the place where God's glory was going to be shown. She knew that world changers would emerge from within those 4 walls.


Every year, it was journaled about. Every year it was written as resolution. "Inquire about foster care."


"How can this be? I am not married, I don't own a home, I am so young!" These thoughts floated in her mind. She pondered and prayed. She said if it was meant to be, it would be, but she would need to be shown how.


Only though the foster care and adoption of her own baby sister would she realize that the steps had been being prepared for her all along.


"Faith ... is taking the first step without seeing the entire staircase."


It has been an uphill journey for this young woman. She has learned so much in the process. Her passion and love for the broken and hurting in the word increases day by day.


While the journey is certainly upward, it has not come easy. There have been road blocks, and tests. All of which are continually surrendered to the Lord.


Sure she wants to have littles in her home now, loving on them. Yes, she wants to be making a difference and wishes she had children in her care months ago.


But she realizes that anything beautiful takes time. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.


The principles she has learned in this journey so far can be applied to far more life circumstances then just this one area.


In all areas she is learning to trust in the Lord with all of hear heart. To lean on Him and not her own understanding. To have faith that God has called her to something far more beautiful then she could ever imagine or think she wants.


It has been a beautiful journey, and one that will have a magical ending for all involved. A story that will have more than just one happy ending. :)