Okay so A little insight to the name of the blog....
When I landed on Kazakh soil in 2007 I knew that my life would never be the same. Little did I know that God was forming some kind of Crazy Love in my heart, nor did I know how much it would change my life. You see growing up I NEVER one time thought about adoption. To me adoption meant nothing. I knew nobody that had been adopted, I knew nobody that had adopted a child and if they had they sure didn't talk about it. I didn't have any bad thoughts about adoption but it wasn't a life long dream of mine to adopt. Part number 2 that I didn't ever think I would do is travel to third world countries for fun. Yes those of you reading this blog that know me from "the good ole days" ( LOL) Yeah did you ever think I would be a follower of Christ, let alone travel to THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES to love on the least of these?? Let me just answer for them, NO! Seriously. I grew up in suburbia USA, drove a new car at 16, did way to many things my parents told me not to, Dated crazy boys, smoked at 15, Moved to Hawaii after a vacation I took one year, lived in Vegas, waitressed at a bar in Houston, I lived in my own little comfortable world as if the world around me didn't even matter. As long as Stacy was happy, my life was good.
I finally got all of the Gypsy stuff behind me, settled down and got married ( which I NEVER thought would happen either- smile...). Let me just say God was watching over me, even when he wasn't proud of the choices I was making, I know this because I can not count on one hand how many times I made a decision that could end my life ( not purposefully but stupidly). After Brad and I were married we decided we needed something more in our marriage and in our life. We decided to go to church. The rest is history, really. If you have a few more days to sit down and read I could tell you the WHOLLLLLE story but trust me its long and boring ( most parts) and not so full of life changing events until the landing in Kazakhstan thing. Well maybe it started in 2006 when I decided ( notice I say I) that we needed to adopt. My husband, yeah, he was not convinced. (Thank God he loves me because I have complicated up his oh so not complicated life.)
Back to the title. I knew when I met my first Kazakh baby girl that I would never be the same. That was the day that I realized how much my God really loved me. Here I was holding this stranger ( MY BABY) that I did not birth, that did not look like me, that I do not share one ounce of DNA with and I LOVED her like CRAZY, with every ounce of my heart. I would get in front of a bus for her. I looked at her and I thought this is how my God loves me. I am not his DNA, nor do I look like him, I have even disappointed him my entire life ( almost) but he loves me just like I love this little stranger baby. His love is unconditional to me, as is mine is to my babies. I will tell you the truth, I didn't know if I could love a baby that didn't "look like me" ( I can't believe I said that out loud) but I DO. Amazing how good our God is. He has called me to be the mother of many babies that don't look like me. ( I don't know if I can convince Brad of that-but I will die trying...smile).
When I got home from that trip to Kazakhstan I knew I could not just forget about the Revelation I had there about my Crazy Love nor could I forget about all of the other babies that had nobody to bring them home. My heart was burdened for the least of these. My heart ached, physically ached for the babies I had grown to know over that 8 weeks that would never ever find a home. How could I not ache? How could I forget? Since April 23, 2007 my heart has never been the same. It has not changed in a bad way ( well I will tell you sometimes I WISH that I didn't feel the pain) but in a good way. My eyes were opened and now I can not pretend that I did not see..... I am responsible.
So my journey started.. Two Hearts was born with the help of another God fearing Friend ( that I LOVE dearly) and I have never looked back to the life I used to have where I thought only MY happiness mattered. Some may say I am crazy. ( well maybe more then some). I will admit sometimes I think I am crazy. Good crazy. Is there such a thing?? LOL.
In the past 5 years I have traveled to Kazakhstan 7 times, adopted another daughter ( that makes 4 girls-yes my husband loves me) , traveled to Africa 3 times, adopted an Ethiopian son into my heart ( a 17 year old boy- boy people - seriously God??), sponsored a girl in Ethiopia, hosted 4 girls from various other 3rd world countries, whom have all been adopted, moved our ministry into Russia and Africa, and I am sure I am forgetting some other crazy things I have done but the point is that I have a Crazy Love for mission work, adoption and the least of these. My heart was Forever changed in 2007 because I let God be first in my life. So yes I am crazy, please don't judge. I am NOT perfect, please don't judge. I will fall, stumble and make bad choices, please don't judge. Come along for the Crazy ride that I am on. You never know how God could change your life one day if you just say YES.
Trust me, its not easy, the crazy road I am on it not always easy. It never will be. Thats why I need all of you to pray for me, my family and my Crazy Love because it isn't easy.
To keep up the Craziness in our lives I will tell you a secret that I have been keeping.... but shhhh don't post it on FB ( LOL), I am traveling to Ethiopia this summer for 6 weeks. ( yep that's not a typo 6 weeks). I will be working in Korah helping with summer programs. Oh and the crazy part..... ALL 3 of my girls are coming. Ummmm yes, I am crazy. Don't judge... ( smile). Just pray.
I am excited, nervous and downright thinking I am crazy, but God said Go and we said Yes. Isaiah 6:8 says "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Love sees no color
When I landed on Kazakh soil in 2007 I knew that my life would never be the same. Little did I know that God was forming some kind of Crazy Love in my heart, nor did I know how much it would change my life. You see growing up I NEVER one time thought about adoption. To me adoption meant nothing. I knew nobody that had been adopted, I knew nobody that had adopted a child and if they had they sure didn't talk about it. I didn't have any bad thoughts about adoption but it wasn't a life long dream of mine to adopt. Part number 2 that I didn't ever think I would do is travel to third world countries for fun. Yes those of you reading this blog that know me from "the good ole days" ( LOL) Yeah did you ever think I would be a follower of Christ, let alone travel to THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES to love on the least of these?? Let me just answer for them, NO! Seriously. I grew up in suburbia USA, drove a new car at 16, did way to many things my parents told me not to, Dated crazy boys, smoked at 15, Moved to Hawaii after a vacation I took one year, lived in Vegas, waitressed at a bar in Houston, I lived in my own little comfortable world as if the world around me didn't even matter. As long as Stacy was happy, my life was good.
I finally got all of the Gypsy stuff behind me, settled down and got married ( which I NEVER thought would happen either- smile...). Let me just say God was watching over me, even when he wasn't proud of the choices I was making, I know this because I can not count on one hand how many times I made a decision that could end my life ( not purposefully but stupidly). After Brad and I were married we decided we needed something more in our marriage and in our life. We decided to go to church. The rest is history, really. If you have a few more days to sit down and read I could tell you the WHOLLLLLE story but trust me its long and boring ( most parts) and not so full of life changing events until the landing in Kazakhstan thing. Well maybe it started in 2006 when I decided ( notice I say I) that we needed to adopt. My husband, yeah, he was not convinced. (Thank God he loves me because I have complicated up his oh so not complicated life.)
Back to the title. I knew when I met my first Kazakh baby girl that I would never be the same. That was the day that I realized how much my God really loved me. Here I was holding this stranger ( MY BABY) that I did not birth, that did not look like me, that I do not share one ounce of DNA with and I LOVED her like CRAZY, with every ounce of my heart. I would get in front of a bus for her. I looked at her and I thought this is how my God loves me. I am not his DNA, nor do I look like him, I have even disappointed him my entire life ( almost) but he loves me just like I love this little stranger baby. His love is unconditional to me, as is mine is to my babies. I will tell you the truth, I didn't know if I could love a baby that didn't "look like me" ( I can't believe I said that out loud) but I DO. Amazing how good our God is. He has called me to be the mother of many babies that don't look like me. ( I don't know if I can convince Brad of that-but I will die trying...smile).
Crazy Love day 1
So my journey started.. Two Hearts was born with the help of another God fearing Friend ( that I LOVE dearly) and I have never looked back to the life I used to have where I thought only MY happiness mattered. Some may say I am crazy. ( well maybe more then some). I will admit sometimes I think I am crazy. Good crazy. Is there such a thing?? LOL.
My God fearing Friend
In the past 5 years I have traveled to Kazakhstan 7 times, adopted another daughter ( that makes 4 girls-yes my husband loves me) , traveled to Africa 3 times, adopted an Ethiopian son into my heart ( a 17 year old boy- boy people - seriously God??), sponsored a girl in Ethiopia, hosted 4 girls from various other 3rd world countries, whom have all been adopted, moved our ministry into Russia and Africa, and I am sure I am forgetting some other crazy things I have done but the point is that I have a Crazy Love for mission work, adoption and the least of these. My heart was Forever changed in 2007 because I let God be first in my life. So yes I am crazy, please don't judge. I am NOT perfect, please don't judge. I will fall, stumble and make bad choices, please don't judge. Come along for the Crazy ride that I am on. You never know how God could change your life one day if you just say YES.
Trust me, its not easy, the crazy road I am on it not always easy. It never will be. Thats why I need all of you to pray for me, my family and my Crazy Love because it isn't easy.
To keep up the Craziness in our lives I will tell you a secret that I have been keeping.... but shhhh don't post it on FB ( LOL), I am traveling to Ethiopia this summer for 6 weeks. ( yep that's not a typo 6 weeks). I will be working in Korah helping with summer programs. Oh and the crazy part..... ALL 3 of my girls are coming. Ummmm yes, I am crazy. Don't judge... ( smile). Just pray.
I am excited, nervous and downright thinking I am crazy, but God said Go and we said Yes. Isaiah 6:8 says "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
My Second Kazakh baby girl
My Sweet Habesha girl
The son of my heart
World Changers
Sweet Kazakh baby with her new momma- Redemption
Oh how I love being his Gigi
Love sees no color
Because we said yes
All of these pictures are here because of moments when we said YES.