Vanya

Several months ago I wrote a post about a sweet little boy, Vanya.  He is in the same orphanage & room as Paulina & we've been praying for him for a long time!  A few days before we got on the plane to come to Ukraine we found out that a family in Alabama would be adopting him!  We are SO unbelievable excited and thankful and have had the added blessing of being here at the same time!  What joy to spend each day able to get to know this family & see God's hand at work in Vanya's life!  Vanya is such a sweet and fun little boy & his parents love him like crazy.  He will always always hold a special place in my heart as we've prayed for him so much through our journey to bringing Paulina home and also because he has quite the friendship with our girly!  They make us smile & laugh & I so look forward to the day when the Tucker family can travel up to NWA for a Groupa 4 reunion!

home for a bit

Well we knew this would be a long journey, and we knew we were trusting Jesus with it all, but we had no idea what all that would truly look like.  We found out shortly after our initial appointment in Ukraine that, due to a 2 week holiday, the earliest possible court date we could receive would be the end of May.  And court marks about 3 weeks left in the process before coming home.  We found this out at the end of April and thus began debating whether or not we should all come home for a bit.  The decision was hard but we again prayed a lot, and kept trying to figure out how to trust Jesus with our days, our decisions, and all of our children.  

We were able (thank you, Jesus) to change Andrew & Madeline's plane tickets for free (!) and add me for a very low fare so we booked tickets & came home this past Wednesday.  We've experienced God's goodness and clear direction for us so incredibly through these last weeks in Urkaine and knew He was directing us in this as well.  Seeing Simeon & Anna after 2 1/2 weeks away has been wonderful!  We've spent the last day just relaxing & playing & soaking them in.  

Leaving Paulina was not easy for us but we know that ultimately, whether we are with her or not, God is near to her, as He has always been.  Praying for her heart daily and for these 2 weeks without us to go quickly for her.  I've posted this song before but I love it so much and God has used it to continually remind me that He loves her and cares for her and she is guarded over within His tender hands.  

referral...yea!

We got it!  Our referral for Paulina is in hand and we are so thankful and amazed at how God has worked it all out.  He is showing us daily how BIG & how INTRICATE He is.  So thankful.  

good days

What a whirlwind of a few days we have had here!  I can't even begin to go into all the details but let me just say God has worked some incredible miracles on behalf of Paulina to work out some seriously big roadblocks we ran into!  We are so deeply humbled and thankful to be walking with Jesus through all He has for us and for His goodness in bringing us to Paulina, and her to us.  Our time with her has been so incredibly joyful and sweet.  She is so wonderful and we love her more now than ever!  Because of the problems we had we are having a few week delay but are trusting Jesus and thanking Him it is not longer.  We should be bringing her home in June!  Here are a few pics of our time.  Watching Madeline with Paulina has been beautiful.  Moments I will cherish forever!

we made it!

We made it!  

Wow, this last week or so has been a whirlwind!  We found out Monday that our appointment with the Ministry of Social Policy would be the following Monday, April 22^nd!  So we gathered our stuff, prepared for leaving our kiddos, and got on a plane…20ish hours later, we were greeted by our facilitator & her husband, Olga & Alex.  Madeline was an excellent traveller!  We spent today resting & touring around Kyiv with Olga, Alex, and a woman from Illinois & her 10 year old son.  They were so great to get to know today and especially for Madeline to have a friend.  I have so many things swirling in my head but for now, too tired to get anything out!  We are all 3 healthy & doing well and looking forward to our ministry appointment tomorrow & meeting Paulina on Wednesday!

Titus Task

Six weeks ago, Andrew & I sat down to talk a bit about the finances we needed for our adoption.  We had applied for several grants and were praying that we would hear back from all of them around the beginning of April.  God has definitely answered that prayer and not only have we heard back, but we have been given a matching grant from a local organization called the Titus Task.  

We are so grateful for the way God is providing every detail for us and so thankful for the blessing this grant is for our family.  The grant will match every dollar donated up to $2500 making the total possible amount $5000.  If you would like to join us in our adoption by making a donation we would be so thankful and so blessed!  You can do so in two ways:

1. To make a Tax Deductible donation by Paypal please use this link:

http://www.thetitustask.com/brill-family.html

2. Or mail checks to: PO Box 82, Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Titus Task will keep our account open through May 6th.  

Generosity: The Receiving End

Proverbs 11:25

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

We are finding ourselves in the midst of a God-given season of need.  We are needy because God has called us to our calling and it is being played out in accordance to what He has also called others to as well.  Our callings are different but all are necessary.  We can confidently say, yes, we are called to adoption.  Yes, we are called to our daughter with special needs.  Yes, we are called to make sacrifices which I pray we will be ready to make.  And yes, we are called to be in need and to be dependent on the hands of others to do what God has called them to do.  We need those who’ve been equipped by God to uphold our weak arms as we all seek to worship and glorify God with our obedience to His different calls on our lives.    

In this season, we are finding ourselves on the receiving end of the generosity through the faith and obedience of others.  Some our family, some our friends, and some complete strangers.  And we are so very humbled and thankful as we watch God do all that He promises to do in order to accomplish His purposes in our lives.  We have been beyond blessed by the generosity of others in our lives as we work toward bringing our daughter home.  Generosity of money, time, care, prayer, conversation, service, gifts, and on.  We’ve been truly blown away.  I so badly wish in my heart that I could repay people somehow and let them know how thankful we are but I can’t.  And I know they don’t even seek that.  

But to all of you who have so generously blessed us, we pray you know that you have greatly refreshed us, and we pray that through it you yourselves will also be refreshed. 

waiting, waiting

After months of prayer, tears & paperwork I think I can safely say we are finally so very near to bringing Paulina home!  On Saturday I finally got the email that started an actual countdown of days for us.  Our dossier is in the hands of the governing ministry that will approve us as adoptive parents within 20 working days and will then officially "invite" us within 10 more days to our appointment in country that will be scheduled 2-3 weeks from that letter.  Whew.  There may be fewer than 8 weeks that stand between my and my sweet girl and I cannot wait!  I am so ready to know her.  

Going through these last months I have and still am learning so very much about faith, waiting, God's sovereignty, and peace.  I don't have it all (or much of it for that matter) figured out but one thing that God has made clear to me has been the difference between anxiety/fear and eagerness/longing.  When I talk of Paulina and the road God is guiding us through I struggle because sometimes it can seem like I am anxious and not trusting God.  And there are surely times and circumstances in which I am being driven by my fears and worry but I think there is a great different between that and the deep, deep eagerness and longing I have to bring her home.  When I say I am so ready, or I can't wait, or it is so hard, I am not saying I don't trust God and His plans, I am saying I completely do trust Him and depend on Him and long for the promises that He has made to us as we've walked this journey.  I am not doubting His goodness, I am ready to see it more and more through Paulina.

The difference for me between not trusting Him and fully trusting Him is definitely whether or not I am being led by fears or by eager longing.  Fears produce lack of faith and attempts at "controlling" the path, while eagerness produces a greater and growing desire for more of His plan and His control.

So, I keep waiting, casting my anxieties on Jesus and eagerly longing for the goodness that I know is coming.

Little Light

Finally, finally we have every document we need to send off our dossier!  We are so thankful and so very eager to meet our daughter and bring her home.  If you don't mind, we would love your prayers that all our paperwork would get there safely & quickly and that there would be no delays.  Pray for peace for me as we wait to hear and peace also as we prepare for our next steps.  Pray for Paulina as well.  That she would be healthy & growing, that her heart would be prepared for us, for her transition, and truly anything else you can think of!  

I came across this song recently, Little Light by Matt Hammitt, and have officially claimed it for our sweet girl.  Brings me to tears & I absolutely love it.   What a beautiful hope that we can know God is near to her.  She is beautiful because she is created and loved by her Creator God.  He gave her life and guards it now, tenderly holding her every moment.  What love He has for us!

Look at all the angels watching you
They're singing songs that we have never heard
And their voices ring like bells over the mountains
Oh, if only we could hear their words

God is near, little girl
God is near, little girl

Your eyes are brilliant, deep sky blue
Their quiet wisdom is an evening song
And the angels must be breathless at Your beauty
Like the world catches its breath before the dawn

God is near, little one
God is here, little one

Jesus bends to hear you breathe
And His tender hands are holding you tonight
And His heart is ravished when you look, when you look at Him
And oh, the endless mercy in His eyes

God is here, little light
God is here, little light
Oh, God is here, little light
God is here, little light  

sweet little boy

This sweet little boy shares a room with our Paulina.  We've not met him but we've been praying for him for over a year.  He is months away from being transferred to an adult mental institution and needs a family.  Please join us in praying for him!  Here he is, rubbing Paulina's back.  Melt my heart. 

For more information check out these two blogs of mama's who've brought their daughters home from this same room. 

http://danielandabbysoldhouse.blogspot.com/

http://orbitofthemooneys.blogspot.com/

He turns a no into a yes...over and over again

Over a year ago we began asking the Lord to show us what He was stirring up in our hearts.  We had no idea what it was but we both knew it was something.  We prayed we would be available to hear His word and be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit.  We had no idea where He would take us.  We could never have imagined it would be where it is.  And we are so deeply thankful for the journey with Him that has led us to where we are.  

In April we finally knew.  He had led us through prayer, tears, disappointment, friends, and family into joy, understanding, and a little girl who is our daughter.  He led across the world and through it all so we could meet a little girl who has struck so deep into our hearts that we can't not talk about her.  She brings tears of joy to my eyes daily and we are excited to finally be making great strides towards bringing her home.  

Through these last 18 months or so we have watched God do only what He can do which is work all things out for His purposes and His glory.  We've been told NO so many times.  Yet nothing can thwart that which God desires and over and over He has turned those NO's into YES's.

No, she is not eligible.
No, she does not have the right medical information to qualify.
No, we can't get the right papers to be signed.
No, no, no.

The picture was painted.  It wasn't looking good.  Yet truly one by one each no became a yes.  

Yes, we were able to get the papers signed by the right person.
Yes, we were able to take her to the doctor and he was able to accurately diagnose her.
Yes, she is now eligible.

I kept getting these emails from our facilitator saying things like,
this is very big...
this is very good information...
this doesn't usually happen...
this is important and fast for our country....

And now, here we are, finally filling out our paperwork, finally having a picture of when we will get to go and meet this precious little one who has changed our lives in every way for the better.  We love her so much, our kids love her, we all pray for her daily and look forward to her being our family and us be hers.  We chose this verse to pray months ago for our daughter and each time I pray it I am struck by God's goodness.  He takes notice & isn't forgetting the injustice and evil of men.  He knows the needs of the needy and His promise is to place them in the safety for which they long.  Thankful we can be a part of Him fulfilling His promise to our little girl and also to us.  Because she is part of His plans for placing me where I long to be.  Closer to Christ and His purposes in my life.  

“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,

    I will now arise,” says the Lord;

“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

The words of the Lord are pure words, 

like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 

You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.

On every side the wicked prowl

as vileness is exalted among the children of man."

Psalm 12:5-8

And here she is, the beautiful little girl who has stolen our hearts...

hands & feet

A sweet trio of ladies are currently overseas right now working with children with special needs in a couple orphanages.  Big yeas, big tears, big prayers going on over here!  I know one of the gals fairly well, one just a little, and one not at all, but I love them all and pray for them daily and am amazed at how they sacrifice themselves to what Christ has called and gifted them to do.  What beautiful examples of literally being the hands and feet of Jesus.  Please pray for them and follow them at their blog!  So thankful for all the work they are doing!

words of life: on waiting...

Psalm 68:4-6

"Sing praises to God and to his name!  Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.  His name is the Lord--rejoice in his presence!  Father to the fatherless, defender of the widows--this is God, whose dwelling is holy.  God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy"

We are in the midst of waiting.  Waiting for a precious little girl whom we love beyond our imaginations.  We are waiting for papers and details and people and so forth.  But our hearts are waiting with eager longing to have our lonely spot in our family filled up with her.  I read this Scripture, this beautiful promise, and know it is for each of us in this story.  She is the lonely and we are her family.  And we are also the lonely, and she is our family.  And above all, He is the Father, the Head, the Family.  The One and only who fulfills and satisfies all our loneliness.  Who draws us each into His presence and frees us to joyfully sing loud praises to Him and glorify His holy name.  

Waiting for me is not easy.  I question, I get angry, I cry, I don't understand.  We live in a fallen, sinful, ugly world where sin and flesh dictate so many lies and hurts that control and manipulate life.  It aches me to wait when I know her face, know her life, know her hope and future are filled with love and love and more love.  So we will choose to enter the suffering, the pain.  And fall before the Lord and recognize He is the Father to my sweet girl and to me.  He is the Hope and He loves beyond my imagination.  Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world.  I will humble and push myself to believe, depend, and trust in God who is always working, Sovereign, Good, Loving, and Faithful.  Entering into the pain hurts, stretches, weakens me.  But she is worth every ache, and He is worthy of my life.  In hardship or at ease He is worthy and I would rather spend every day seeking His all-sufficient grace than one day of worldly ease without Him.

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for theLORD.
Psalm 27:14


My soul waits for the Lord.  More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
Psalm 130:6


Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. 
Isaiah 40:31

a little brill addition :)

About 9 months ago, with a 3 1/2 year old, a 2 1/2 year old, and a just turned 1 year old, Andrew & I came together and wondered out loud, what is God prepping us for? We both had this gnawing feeling in our spirits that God was beginning a new push, a new something. We just had no idea what. We prayed and talked...moving? more kids? We were truly at a loss but we could not shake the knowledge and experience that God was stirring in us and reminding us all over again through Scripture that we would rather spend all of ourselves for the sake of knowing and following Him than live safe & comfortable lives. So we talked and prayed and asked God to keep our hearts always bent towards seeking, hearing, and obeying wherever He led. I think we were quite convinced that was all the stirring was for, a reminder. And then came this.

I went to an informational meeting for 99balloons. We were already fairly well acquainted with the work they do because we are friends with the couple who began it so honestly I went to support them and see more of their hearts and passions in action. The meeting was overall about working with special needs children, locally and internationally, and at the end I grabbed a little prayer card for a boy who lived in the orphanage they worked with in Ukraine.

Let me say, I did not go home flashing this card saying to Andrew “Let’s adopt him!” But, I will also say, (and if you know me this is no surprise), my heart got quickly attached to him! His name was Sergei and he looked to be about 2. I told Andrew about the meeting and we put his card up on our fridge and began praying for him. Praying especially that God would place him in a family. For about a month we prayed for him and one night, as we were praying, I gave Andrew a look and I think he knew what was coming. Finally, I asked it: are we his family? I knew this was a HUGE thing for me to say out loud. We hadn’t really considered anything like this. We both knew God would need to move some mountains for us to know this was His path for us. We talked some and prayed and then quietly let it go for us to both independently process and pray about. I knew I loved this little boy and I knew I would welcome him into our home as soon as God gave us the go. So at this point, my heart was gone. Then about 2 weeks later, again, talking in bed, Andrew said he believed God’s plan for us was to pursue Sergei. I was s.h.o.c.k.e.d. Beyond shocked. We had such a sweet time talking about how God had given him confirmation through Scripture and prayer and we knew for certain we would pursue this little guy.

At this point, we had told no one we were considering this because it happened so fast. We called our friends and told them we needed to talk. I laugh looking back because they had no idea what was coming either! And they were so excited to hear our news (they were in the midst of trying to bring their daughter home from the same place)! We talked about next steps, getting more information on him, and tons of other things. It was such a fun and joyful time. Over the next few days we began getting pictures, video, and information on him from the therapy team that travels there every year. One of the therapists mentioned a binder with more information on him and said that it was with another gal who was out of the office. So we waited, and continued to pray. I knew in my head there were lots of reasons why this might not turn out the way we thought but still, you don’t see it coming when your heart is sitting with a boy who needs a family thousands of miles away. About 5 days into us seeking information on how to pursue him I got a very hard phone call from my friend. The therapist had gotten back to her and Sergei had already been adopted. I was both heartbroken and joyful. This is what we had been praying for him, to have a family. We thought it would be us, but clearly God knew. He had actually been adopted months prior to us even getting his card. Sadness and confusion set in and we cried and prayed in silence for months. I asked lots of times, what was the point God? We know it was You who moved us to seeking him, yet all along You knew how it would end. There is so much more I could say here about what God taught us about Himself, how He strengthened our marriage, deepened our prayers, and pushed us to complete faith and trust in Him. However, our story continues.

We decided to continue praying and processing but to not really talk about ‘what next’ kind of things until after the new year. Months came and went with no big anything from the Lord and then in January we started asking again, what do you think we should do in light of all God has brought us through and taught us in all this? My answer: let’s pursue special needs adoption. This is surely what God has for us. Andrew’s answer: I’m not sure. Perhaps special needs adoption, perhaps nothing. Yikes...those are two different pages. I am more of a it’s a yes unless He tells us no kind of gal and Andrew is more of a it’s a no until God tells us yes kind of guy. Thankfully, we knew that God’s plan was either going to be a YES to both of us or a NO to both of us. So we began talking daily about this, seeking God through Scripture, we shared with some friends and asked for pray and their thoughts. We tried hard to believe and live out the belief that God’s plan for our family was on the same page and we would find it when we sought Him out. I felt great confidence in adoption being what God wanted for us but I never ever wanted to “convince” Andrew or drag him along. So we waited. And waited. And I may have broken down several times along the way but we kept trusting and seeking. I began writing down Scriptures God had been taking me to and praying them for myself and our family. Andrew also was seeking God in several specific ways for our answer and he had the added job of trying to protect my heart and guide me well for whatever the answer might be.

In March I went to Guatemala with Potter’s House and kind of went into the trip discouraged and wondering where God was. I knew He cared and loved and all the other right things to say here but I just felt very alone and confused. That week I read through several Psalms and this is what God showed me,

“May he grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.” Psalm 20:4-5

“How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord! He shouts with joy because of your victory. For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have held back nothing that he requested...You have given him the joy of being in your presence.” Psalm 21:1-2, 6

“Surely goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

“Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in what is right, teaching them His way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all those who keep His covenant and obey His decrees. Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear Him. With them He shares the secrets of His covenant.” Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14

“My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming!” Psalm 27:8

“The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the might sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” Psalm 29:3-4

God had not forgotten me or hidden from me. He was there. He was with me. He desires to pursue me and talk with me. His voice thunders with majesty and He will fulfill His purposes. This was not a, “God will give you what you want” moment. This was a God is with you, He is faithful, He is working for His purposes to become our desires, and He will be victorious and glorified. This was some much needed peace and encouragement for me!

When I got home I knew we would soon talk about adoption stuff again and I was content to rest and share with Andrew the comfort I’d gotten from God the past week. I was mostly expecting Andrew to say he had been praying still and share some things God was teaching him, too. So when he said he wanted to talk I kind of pushed him off a bit until later. Laying in bed that night, he said, I think this is what God has for us. I sat straight up and asked, are you saying what I think you are saying?!?! He laughed at me a little and said YES! I broke out into tears and hugging and then slightly attacked him to tell me with every detail and as quickly as possible how this had come about for him. Bearing with all my interruptions with questions, tears, and more hugs, he told me how God had brought him to adoption being what was right for our family. His story is long, and it is his, but it is a beautiful picture of how God loves us and teaches us in the ways that fit how He made us in order to draw us to Him and give us the desire to obey Him. I am so thankful for my husband and how he seeks Jesus and guides our family along the way.

So, long story still very long, we are so unbelievably excited to say that we are adopting! Big, giant, YEA! We are pursuing special needs adoption from Ukraine and are currently praying about a specific little girl. As soon as we know more, I will definitely share! As for now, we would love your prayers for us as we begin this journey. We are so humbled to be a part of how God takes care of His children, one still in Ukraine, and us over here.

You’ve almost made it to the end...way to go! Just in case you were wondering about Sergei...

Through a little internet blog stalking I quickly found Sergei and his new family. They are a precious, Christ-centered family and his name is now Michael. I have since contacted his mama and I am so thankful I did. She has encouraged me greatly and prays for our family, as we also continue to pray for hers. What a crazy way that God works! Another crazy thing God did, while the Mooney’s were in Ukraine waiting to bring Lena home they got an email from a family who found out they were adopting Lena and said they had been praying specifically for Lena and her family. That family is the same one that adopted Michael. Our prayers are literally coming full circle for each other!

Lastly, again, I just need to say, YEA! We are so stinkin' excited and joyful and eager to bring our little gal home! Psalm 68:6, "God sets the lonely in families." So thankful He set me in my family and that He continues to add as He has planned! I sang this song at BSF this week and I couldn't have agreed more.

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing,

Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart, it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee.

too good not to share

Just talked to Andrew this morning and was blown away by how incredible God is! There is so much beautiful Christ-honoring work going on in Ethiopia and we are so blessed and humbled to watch and pray and get a small part to play. They visited with a wonderful organization that is equipping and mobilizing the Ethiopian church understand God's adoption of us all and toward adoption of their own who are orphaned all around them. Yesterday, Andrew, Seth, Bryan, & Bret got to sit and eat, pray and fellowship, and rejoice with one of the 3 first ever families to legally finalize domestic adoptions in Ethiopia. Praise the Lord!

adopted

Andrew & I spent the past weekend at a conference on orphan care. We weren't sure what to expect but really had a great time hearing from so many people who are working both locally and globally to love as Christ calls us to love and to care for the fatherless. More thoughts on all this later but I will share a bit from one of the sessions I went to. The topic was "honor your father & mother" and was a conversation centered on how to incorporate & honor Simeon's birth family, culture, and country. Much of the talk was on talking to your children about their adoption story. The woman who led the discussion was adopted from Vietnam and continued to press the importance of letting the child lead, creating a safe and positive environment in which he can ask questions, and showing him we will always be there to listen and love. Over the last two years since we began the process of bringing Simeon home I have thought A LOT about his birth mother and how we would share his story with him. What questions will he ask? When will he ask them? How can we ever convey to him the depth of our love for him? Over and over I am brought to Scripture that brings me back to the same truth...I too am adopted. I was chosen, sought after, redeemed. I am an heir to the kingdom of God my Savior and no one can snatch me from His hands. I belong to His family. I am written in the palms of His hand. When I was pregnant with Anna, Madeline asked me often why Anna was in my tummy and if she had been in my tummy. This didn't exactly prompt Simeon to ask (he didn't really care) but it made me think of how I would respond to him. Later, when Madeline asked if Simeon was in mama's tummy I knew what I wanted Simeon to know in the depths of his heart for all his life. No, he was never in my tummy. But God placed him in my heart. He is our family. He is an heir. He carries our name and no one can snatch him out of the love we have for him. His name is written in my heart. My prayer for him, and all my children, is that they would experience the joy of redemption and adoption by our Heavenly Father when they believe and call upon His name for salvation.

"Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands" Isaiah 49:16

"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to be children of God" John 1:12

"Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
Galatians 4:6-8