So here’s what we’ve got so far:

1.  A blog post I wrote when we were adopting the triplets – it pretty well summarizes what was going on at that time and how they came into our house.

2.  A blog post I wrote when we found out about the twins.

3.  A video that one of my former students made for her videography class at the local university. If you’re only going to look at 1 of these, this is probably the best one.
4. A TV interview we did when the “stuck documentary (adoption movie)” came through town.

5. Some sermons I’ve given on the topic of adoption. 1. The Doctrine of Adoption (Aug 2013), 2. The Theology of Adoption pt 1 (Aug 2012), 3. The Theology of Adoption pt 2 (Aug 2012), 4. Adoption Discussion Panel that I hosted (Aug 2012).

These boys were born at 25 weeks, you can see their weights right there (yes that’s not a typo he didn’t even weigh a pound… only 13oz – to date he is the smallest baby to ever survive from Pres). Abortion at this timeframe is legal in New Mexico… Think about this for a second. The picture you are seeing when they were first born is a picture of what they would have looked like in the womb – a few hours before that picture was taken they could have been aborted – what makes it wrong when it’s outside the womb?

Here is another on of sons, Declan  – a few weeks back we called a planned parenthood giving them his diagnosis (Arthrogryposis) as it was at 36 weeks, telling them Sherry was 36 weeks pregnant. They told us they would help align the timing so they could “take care of it.” We will probably not abolish abortion (this side of heaven) but if you live in Albuquerque you can do something about late term ones… Go vote. – keep in mind he was born at 32 weeks.

Here is a video of someone going into the main abortion clinic in Albuquerque… this needs to stop.  –

Last if you’ve had an abortion know that we don’t hate you, we LOVE you – there is forgiveness in Jesus and he wants you to be comforted. Talk to us, we’d love to comfort you. 

Please go vote – get the word out and share this post.

We have received all kids of criticism! And while some of it is completely off the wall, I am sure that some of it seems reasonable to whoever is writing/saying it. I am young, I am single, and I do have a lot of children and a lot of responsibility. Criticism is to be expected, I suppose. We get a lot of encouragement from a lot of people as well though. I believe that the Lord has put our family together in a way only He could have, and I am so thankful for what He is doing in and through our family. Ultimately, my desire is to please Him, to follow Him and to glorify Him. While I am happy to answer any questions about our family openly and honestly, and take advice and Godly wisdom anywhere I can, I try not to let the criticism bother me. We have been very blessed in that the positive encouragement we receive is far greater than the occasional negative comments.

I know that the goal of Amazima is to keep children in the care of a parent or other relative. With the recent evangelical emphasis on orphan care through adoption, can you talk about the importance of keeping birth families in tact?

I believe that biological family is God’s first choice for a child. After all, that is the family that He placed them in. Of course, because of sin and brokenness in the world, families often crumble just like everything else, and adoption can be a beautiful, redemptive response to this tragedy. But we must view it as such, a redemptive response to tragedy and brokenness. We are in a dangerous place if adoption ever becomes about us, how we are serving or saving someone else. I very much believe in James’s call to care for the widow and the orphan and Jesus’s call to love our neighbors as ourselves, and I believe we must do this wisely. “Care for” and “love” might mean adoption, but it could also mean many other things. It is my belief that before a child should be adopted every possible effort must be made to keep that child in his biological family, and then in a foster or adoptive situation in their own culture before international adoption is considered.

This is how Amazima started, out of a desire to keep families together as much as possible and keep children from being institutionalized. Of course, as in the case of my girls and so many other children, sometimes there is no biological family, or the biological family is just really not in a place where caring for a child would be an option even with support. In these cases adoption can be a beautiful solution.

I think education is the key here. I don’t think any well meaning, God-seeking family would ever intentionally take a child from his or her biological family if it were not necessary, but unfortunately we do not always have all the facts, especially in the case of international adoption. I would encourage people to ask lots of questions and educate themselves before pursuing adoption of any kind. Jesus is pleased when we love others well, in the compassionate and sacrificial way that He loved us. This can happen in the form of adoption, but in can also happen in many other ways, including that of keeping families together even when it is difficult.

The unique calling on your life is not the call for many Christians. How can these ones participate in caring for the families God loves that are at risk of splitting apart?

I think that if we are to really take the call of the Gospel seriously, we must be involved in caring for the vulnerable in some way or another. Of course, for many people this does not look like moving to a different country or adoption or working for a non-profit. People in need of love are everywhere! They are in our neighborhoods, at our work places, on your street corners.

I think that sponsorship can be a very practical way for people to get involved in helping an at-risk family, even on another continent, from right where they are! Amazima currently has over 600 children who have lost one or both parents, or were at risk of being institutionalized, in our sponsorship program. When sponsored, a child is provided with food, education, medical care, family support and spiritual encouragement. This allows the children in our program to stay with a biological family member or even a Ugandan foster family while still having their needs met. I love watching these children grow and thrive in their own culture and communities because of the generosity of people all over the world who choose to share!

I think folks can be tempted to view you as a glorified nanny. Put some flesh and bones on what it is to mother thirteen children…

I think that anyone who would get a glimpse into our family’s daily life might be surprised to find that my days are just like those of so many mothers of one two or three children, just with more children!

I wake up and drink coffee and spend time with Jesus before my kids wake up, I make breakfast, sign homework books and kiss foreheads before I send the oldest 7 off to school. The younger 6 are still homeschooled and they are in 3 different grades so that makes for a busy morning of spelling corrections and math problems and phonics and lots of fun!

What the day looks like after lunch largely depends on how much school we got done in the morning! Sometimes we still have work to do and other times we have the opportunity to go serve in one of the many villages Amazima works is. Sometimes we go on a long walk to the river or sometimes we all pile in the van to run to the grocery store.

By around 4 when the big girls get home from school, I have usually already started on dinner. Cooking for this many is time consuming, but I have lots of hands to help. We eat dinner as a family every night and it is often my favorite part of the day. The conversation is lively and I love listening to the girls recount to their sisters what they found fun or interesting throughout the day. If we are being honest, sometimes it is so loud at the dinner table that I can hardly hear, but then I just laugh!

We also study the Bible after breakfast and dinner. Sometimes, we use a devotional book in the morning and other times we just read. At dinner we usually are reading through a book of the Bible and sharing what we’ve learned. I love watching my children grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord! What a great privilege it is to study His Word with them. Bedtime at our house is early, but that helps me stay sane. Then I usually have a couple of quiet hours in the evening to get work done or spend time with Jesus!

When I reread that, it sounds picture perfect doesn’t it? It’s not.

Our days are full of spilled things and sibling squabbles and messes just like every other family’s. Our days are constantly interrupted by people who need help or people who just want to share their hearts. I get frustrated, discouraged and exhausted just like any other mom. Sometimes I look around at all my children and the enormous task or raising another human being seems absolutely impossible. But God is very gracious to us and gives so much joy. I am very thankful.

What words would you share with another twenty-two year-old woman with a bee in her bonnet to imitate what you’ve done?

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1.

Sometimes the media can make my life seem glamorous or adventurous. Just the idea of so many children and so much responsibility has the propensity to draw other dreamers to think, “I want to do that.” I can promise that while I love the beautiful life God has given me, there is nothing glamorous or easy about it. Surely there was nothing glamorous or easy about the cross either. I would plead with any person, young or old, woman or man, not to follow my lead but to get down on his or her knees and ask the Father, “What could I do for You today? How could I say,“Yes”? How could I love as Christ loved and give my life up as a fragrant offering for God’s glory?” Dear friends, be imitators of God alone.

– See more at: http://www.redletterchristians.org/now-red-carpet-katie-davis/#sthash.GGmz4eCn.dpuf

Source

Some shots captured in the Bosque when we were at dinner with some friends.

Here’s this week’s shots using a Nikon d90.