The Parker Family

The Parker Family

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

quick update

It has been such a long time since I have written a post! We have had so much going on!! Mike had 2 back surgeries in Aug. and Sept. This forced him to be on his back for about 6 weeks! It was a long season! We are so thankful to be over it!

Our biggest news here is that we are in process of adopting a 9 year old boy from Ethiopia! It looks like we will probably travel in the late Spring. We are praising the Lord that my good friend that lives near us is adopting our sons best friend! God is so good! I love his heart for the orphan... putting best friends from Ethiopia in the same town! There are so many amazing things that led up to this adoption! I will download the pictures soon of the man (Gabe) that runs our sons orphanage in Ethiopia! He came to visit!

One Life - One Legacy: Calling All Men - It's Time for War

One Life - One Legacy: Calling All Men - It's Time for War

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

adoption provision

Linny from a place called simplicity posted today about remembering ways the Lord provided during your adoption journey. Here is one of the stories about the Lords faithfulness to us.

Last year during our wait to adopt our daughter Ela from Ethiopia, I had prayed that the Lord would provide a babysitter. One that could handle 6 kids and be okay with six year old with a clubbed foot that didn't know any English.
Soon after I prayed, I went to the Christian college across the street with my kids, my good friend and her Ethiopian twins. As we were eating ice cream with the kids a college student approached us. She asked my friend if her boys were from Ethiopia. As we continued to talk, I found out this sweet college student had been to the same area in Ethiopia that our daughter was waiting for us in. She mentioned that her parents would be there on a missions trip again that fall. They were visiting some Ethiopian friends that started a Christian orphanage. This new friend let her parents know about our daughter. Her mom contacted me and wanted to go visit Ela and bring her a letter from us! I was so amazed with how personal the Lord's provision was. Not only did he provide a babysitter, he provided for Ela way over there in Ethiopia.
The other amazing thing about this story is that we are now in process to adopt a 9 yr old boy. He is from the orphanage that our babysitters family visits. They know this little boy! Our amazing Lord is still providing from that little prayer way back!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Busy Summer!

We took a 16 hour trip to Hilton Head. The kids loved the beach! We visited Mikes family in Atlanta and Ela met her relatives for the first time. Mikes twin brother and his wife are adopting special needs infant boy named Valor from Ethiopia. Their blog is to the right on my blog list under AllLove. They are fundraising to bring him home. Visit their blog and read their story ! You can also chip in if you feel called to :)
Gabriel Lane turned 8!


We had a great summer. So many firsts for Ela! In July we took the train into Chicago and went to court to re adopt Ela. We had to be there at 8 am!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The Nhams




The Nhams came into our lives about 5 years ago. They came at a time when I was in need of serving and getting my little world expanded. It started one day at the nail salon. Lee was giving me a pedicure (not fun to admit). I could feel my heart drawn to her. We began talking and she shared that she had just moved here from Atlanta. She had two kids the same ages as our two oldest, and they would be going to the same elementary school as our kids. I told her about a basketball program that would be starting in the winter at our church.
A week later I decided to drop off the brochure about the program. I wasn't sure how she would respond, I just met her and thought she might think I am a little strange. Little did I know that God would turn this small gesture into a 5 year relationship!
I was in need of this relationship. I was living the suburban life. One that can consist of signing your kids up for every activity and catering to their every need. I decided that I would not sign my kids up for anything Christian unless they brought a non-believing friend. David and Christine were the gifts we needed. We were able to bless them with the gift of Christian teaching from the Church, and fellowship from the body of Christ.
They would spend the night on the weekends and come to church with us. Little did I know at the time, the Lord was preparing us for adopting 2 older kids. We were learning to get uncomfortable and share our space and belongings on a regular basis.
We have been so blessed by this family! They just moved to California. It was a very sad departure. We will miss them so much. Lee asked if I could find a church for them in California. We are trusting the Lord will provide.
" I was a stranger and you welcomed me" Math. 25

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog: Safe

The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog: Safe

One more great post!!!!

The Great Reversal

I just read the post this morning from NO GREATER JOY( see blogs to the right) . She has posted some of the children waiting in Ukraine. One of these little boys is 5 and weighs 10 lbs. He only leaves his crib to be changed and feed! It breaks my heart.

There is something else that breaks my heart, of the 34 percent of Christians that think about adopting only 1 percent actually do!

So, this morning I am praying that there will be a Great Reversal of this statistic. 34 percent would end up adopting and ONLY 1 percent would back out.

I know it's not for everyone! But it's got to be for more than 1 percent. :) Pray for us as we seek to adopt again. Where, when and who :)

The video below is about 30 minutes long. It' s John Piper addressing the fears and blessings of adoption.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Friday, May 28, 2010

Happy Birthday Sweet Cara Ebeth! Here she is doing what she loves! Holding her nephew Levi. She loves having 4 new nieces and nephews under the age of 4 months. Cara has such a beautiful heart. We are so proud of how she opened up her room and everything she owns :) to her new sister. She is such a blessing and I can't believe she is 10!
Hudson and Ela ask to go through the car wash almost every day! Mia isn't so sure about it :)

Mia is so much fun! She just started walking at 19 months. She has been enjoying her new freedom. She decided to hop in the bath with her cousin, all of her clothes on, and one of Mikes running shoes.

I just started reading David Platt's book Radical, about taking back your Faith from the American Dream. It is SO good. Convicting and inspiring. Thinking and praying through the fact that God has given us excess, not so we could Have more, but give more. Praying that the Lord would show me areas of blindness in my life. I am so thankful the Lord is patient and kind with his sheep!

Monday, May 17, 2010



Surgery is Over! It was a long couple days in the hospital and Ela was in a lot of pain. She will wear this next cast for about 4 weeks and then get fitted for a brace. We are so thankful for the Lord's provision. We found Ela through Rainbow Kids exactly one year ago!

Yesterday I was reading through my prayer journal from that day one year ago . The verse the Lord gave me in my devotions on May 14, 2oo9 was from Isaiah 54. It spoke of enlarging the place of your tent.

" Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. " These verses burned in my heart that morning. I looked in the study notes to read more about these verses.
The notes spoke of " preparing for more people to be added to your family" Later that day I saw Ela's picture. I showed her to Mike and he immediately knew she was our daughter. It was a little crazy how it all fell into place. It was so quick that it was tempting to doubt the Lord was really speaking to us. But He was and here we are one year later finished with surgery and living life with our new daughter! Sorry this is a bit choppy but the kids are now awake and need some breakfast.

One more thing! Yesterday was the shower for my friend Carissa! She will be traveling soon to get her little girl Gianna from Ethiopia! Ela will have a neighbor that is from her same town in Ethiopia!


Wednesday, May 12, 2010




Happy 5th BirthdayHudson Robert!!

We have had a very busy couple weeks. Hudson had a party on the Sat. and then the next day was Ela's dedication and Mothers day.

Mothers day was so special. Mia's birth mom Amy came to church with us and then we all went to my mom and dads for a celebration. We had many things to celebrate! Graduations, dedications ( my sisters son Levi and my friends daughter Chloe were also dedicated) Mothers day and birthdays! We are so thankful for Amy who gave us the most wonderful gift!



Ela's dedication was so special! The pastor said the meaning of each child's name and then the church prayed for them.
Over the next few days we had to shift gears to prepare for the final cast removal by me and surgery. Every week I remove Ela's cast and she takes a long bath. We are always amazed with the progress of her foot.








Thurs. morning we drove to the city for her surgery. My brother Jon was there to pray and read scripture with Ela.


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

If you have time go to louxfamilyblog.com. An amazing testimony of Our Father in Heaven being there for the Fatherless. Pray for this sweet family.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Trying on dresses for Ela's dedication at church. These dresses are from my sister's weddings a few years ago.

Thursday, April 22, 2010


Katie from the Journey, see my blog side bar, writes about a woman in Uganda.
" Todi, widowed after her 3rd child was born, had recently taken in her sister's 5 children after her sudden death. " what was my choice" she asked. " God says I look after the orphans, I look after the orphans."
I am struck by this woman's sacrifice, taking on more children will mean less food or at times maybe no food for her own children. It is so clear to her that this is the right thing to do. I do wonder what it would be like to see this kind of suffering right before your eyes. Would I respond the way she would?
Lord, show me ways I need to "follow you". Help me to be willing to sacrifice like this woman has. Like your son has for us. I pray that I will always be willing to hold loosely to my time, family, space in our home.
For ways to help women like Todi go to http://147millionorphans.com/uganda

Friday, April 9, 2010

Gabriel is our 7.5 yr old. He has such a sweet heart. Adoption has opened our kids eyes to the needs around us and caused them to be salt and light at their schools and in the neighborhood.
I was looking through some of Gabes papers from school and found a paper with the question
What would you do with 100$ ? This is what Gabe wrote.

" I would put some of it in the bank. I would buy my sister Ela a Bible. Then would give the money to Ethiopian people and Indian people."

The other question he was asked is, Why I think I am lucky.

" I have food and most countries don't even have food. I am also lucky to have parents that care for me and I get to go to a nice school."

I love that his heart sees that there are needs in this world. It is so easy to become fixed on the material things of this world, thinking we don't have enough.

So thankful that the Lord called us to adopt!

Monday, April 5, 2010

I have been following this blog for a little while... www.nogreaterjoymom.com, their story is so beautiful. If you have time check it out.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Worth the Journey

Ela at the Doctor with Dad. I look at these pictures and see a new person. Praise God for his goodness!
This is the 1st picture we saw of Ela.

If you have not adopted, your missing out :)

That is a bold statement. But I have to say it. I can't imagine life without my two sisters, I can't imagine life without my two daughters.
Adoption brings something to your life that is like tasting a bit of heaven. Yes, it can be hard, it can be expensive, etc... But you are opening your life up to see the hand of God work. You see his heart for the orphan and his amazing provision. You see his heart for yourself, a former orphan. You see the road Christ walked in order to adopt you. I am a better person because of adoption! Don't miss out on this beautiful journey! Don't be afraid! Consider adoption because you also are adopted! :)

Monday, March 29, 2010

Adoption through the eyes of a almost 5 yr old and 6 yr old

They get it! I have been so amazed at Hudson and Ela's view on adoption. It's natural!! It's childlike and pure, undefiled.

The other night at the dinner table we were explaining to Ela that we are her family forever. That we love her and will never leave her. During this conversation Hudson reached over and put his hand on top of hers. They see one another as brother and sister! This is the Gospel.

Ela has completely embraced our family as her own. It is actually pretty unbelievable! She has come in and expected what any child living here since birth would. It is like she has been here all along. She has a deep confidence that she is a Parker and expects what comes with the new name.
I have been thinking a lot about this childlike faith. What would my life look like if I claimed all the rights that our Father in heaven gives us.
I was adopted into our heavenly fathers family about the same age as Hudson and Ela. It was so concrete, nothing caused doubt. As we get older some of that can fade.
We can be tempted to place our identity in things other than Christ. Those of us adopted by Christ have a new identity, a new family a new inheritance. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit that reminds us of our new identity.

" But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an Heir through God" Galatians 4:4-6

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then Heirs- Heirs of god and fellow Heirs with Christ." Romans 8:16

"And from this fullness we have received Grace upon Grace." John 1:16

May we all be a little more child like and truly believe that we have exchanged our "old self for the " new self", created after the likeness of God" (Eph. 4:22-24)

Sunday, March 21, 2010



We have been casting for 6 weeks now. I think Ela's surgery will be April 8 or 15th. She really has been such a trooper. She has only had a few rough nights. It has been amazing to see her get around with her cast. She figured out how to ride a bike!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Last Wednesday I met with Ela's orthopedic surgeon. We have a plan to begin correcting her club foot. Next Wednesday we will begin a series of about 6 castings to prepare her for the surgery. Her foot will need to be stretched. Every Wednesday we will go to the doctor, he will stretch her foot and then recast it. The process will most likely be pretty painful for her. She will not be able to walk with her cast.

After her foot is stretched we will plan her surgery. She will wear another cast for at least 6 more weeks. The whole process will take 3-4 months. Hopefully by July she will be walking and able to swim. She will have to wear a brace for a while at night and during the day.

While Ela's foot is being stretched to prepare her for something better, I am reminded of my need to be stretched. The Lord is preparing those of us who know him for something better. Our real home, Heaven. He is making us more like him each day.

" God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains his soldiers not in the tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service, He makes them ford through streams and swim through rivers, climb mountains ,and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow. " C. Spurgeon

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Pet. 1:6

Jesus tells us in John 14 " I will not leave you as orphans: I will come to you " He also says " let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

Just like with Ela's adoption we sought her out and came for her. We are going to put her through some stretching, but this will ultimately be for her good. We pray that she can trust us through this process. That she will believe we love her and want to heal her. May we all wait patiently & faithfully as we are stretched and waiting for Jesus to come back and bring us home. May we be believe that he is good and that he loves us.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

I am so excited for my friend down the street! Today she will get her referral! I am praying for my friends who are seeking wisdom about adoption, I can't wait to see who the Lord has for your families. Lastly, I am rejoicing over the news of someone close to us beginning the process!
All of this made my day. We have the stomach flu going through our family, and I needed some fun news. Praying for all of you!

Friday, January 22, 2010

If you have time, read the post under " Journey" on my blog list. It is SO beautiful!!!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Ela at home, holding her 'bamboola'. We are blessed to have sweet friends, Mehret and her mother Tsega, who are both from the same town in Ethiopia (Mekele) as Ela. They have helped translate Ela's Tigrinya language, shared so much of the Ethiopian culture, and cooked wonderful meals for our family to enjoy.
Ela, Mia, and Hudson. Hudson wore his Ethopia shirt, hat, and necklace on his first day back at pre-school.
We are Home! Jonah, Cara, Gabe, and Hudson enjoying their new sister (... little Mia was napping)!