some thoughts... on adoption, of course.

Here's my three blessings. I cannot tell you how often I look at each of these kids and feel so honored to be thri mom. Yes, they all have their share of "issues" (but SO DO I!!!!), however, each of them share their own amazing story of how God brought them into our lives (both biologically and by adoption).

The adoption bug has hit the Cordell home again- it has for some time, actually. My husband was ready long before i was. Honestly, our adoption process for Mercy was anything but easy. We had hurdles from the beginning- but that will be the case for anything that is worth having. It will cost you... (and i am not referring to finances). It has taken me about a year to be ready to do it again.

Many people ask us if we want to adopt again and i always respond, "Yes!" But our question now is, "When?" Some days i am ready to jump on a plane and go across the ocean to bring another baby home. Other days I feel like i may melt-down with the three that I have. So, we are in the process of praying, and searching out WHEN God would have us start the process. The burden is there, for sure... but now we wait on the Lord and ask for His wisdom. However, it often feels like i carry around a weight with me that is hard to explain. It is the heavy burden and the weight of what we saw in Ethiopia. Not a day goes by that I do not think about our trip, or I smell something that reminds me of Ethiopia, or I think about what time it is in Ethiopia, etc. The memories of Ethiopia will forever be on my heart. Each day as I lay Mercy in her bed i tell her what God has done for her. Every night i say Psalm 103 as a blessing over her little life... May you bless the Lord, Mercy. WIth all that is within you may you bless His holy name...forgetting not all his benefits. Who can forgive all your sin, who has healed all your diseases, who redeemed your life from the pit and crowned you with love and compassion, who can satisfy your desires with good things! Every day we remember what God has done. Every day we stand amazed at His power. Everyday, we remember Ethiopia.

I wanted to share something that i wrote to a new friend who is beginning the adoption process. She has a lot of questions (like we all do!). I think one year ago i would have written something different than what i wrote to her, but after a year of processing "adoption" this is what i wrote. (It was more for me than her, I am sure...)

You know, we do not adopt because it is easy- we do it because it is right. We do not adopt so that a child to love us- we do it because we love Jesus more than anything. We do not adopt simply because there is a need (meaning, there is a need, but that cannot be our only motivation)- we do it to because we are convinced that this is what pure and undefiled religion is in God's eyes. We do it because Christ did it for us. It is a picture of His gospel and those who are led by God to adopt a child will get the benefit of seeing this gospel in a clear and practical way. They will see what it means to love someone who you cannot see. They will see what it means to do whatever it takes to bring their child home. They will see how a family is not made up of those who look the same or share the same story- it is those who are called by God.


Adoption is a multi-faceted miracle. It is hard... but it is good. I am excited that we will do it again...now, just when??