Julie Gumm - Author

Interpretative Art

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During the Karyn Purvis pre-conference at Together for Adoption she talked a bit about kids from hard places and how they see themselves. She showed us several drawings done by these kids and explained what they meant. There is a real science to this – extremely fascinating.

Some of the pictures showed the adopted child off to the side of the rest of the family – they didn’t feel like they were part of a family. Others demonstrated how they felt trapped or angry or hurt.

Of course all us adoptive moms had a sudden urge to go home and ask all our children to draw a family picture.

Before I could even ask, I got this.

This is me, as drawn by Beza at school.

In real life I have short brown hair. It definitely would not go in pigtails. Does this indicated I’m not the white mommy she really wanted?

She drew me with a crown. Does that mean she sees me as a princess? Or the wicked queen?

I have cape. Am I Superwoman?

Then I asked her about the bikini top. Because I don’t wear a bikini.

“It’s not a bikini mom. It’s those things….”

<long pause while she searches for the right word>

“Coconuts!”

Um yeah, because I walk around in a coconut bikini top A LOT.

Conference Reflections Day 1

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I find myself really at a loss for words as to how to describe the last 3 days. I have cried abundant tears and laughed until my sides hurt. I have been angered, saddened and encouraged all at the same time. To say the Together for Adoption Conference was a roller coaster of emotions would be an understatement.

But the ride was amongst an AMAZING community. Hundreds of people indescribably passionate about the orphan. While we are fortunate to have friends and family who understand our passion and support us I know there were many at T4A who spend most of their time feeling alienated because of their strong passion. How amazing for us all to come together and support and encourage one another.

Worship with this group was goose bump-inducing. The Holy Spirit was there – fully present – as Aaron Ivey led us to the throne in worship so many times during the two days. I will totally cop to crying – like full on, can’t-sing-a-word UGLY crying! It was beautiful (the worship, NOT my face). And I know I wasn’t the only one. Thank you Aaron and band!

I have so many thoughts to share from the conference that I know it will probably be several posts worth.

Today I’m going to camp on this one.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
Psalms 68:5

The verse is not a new revelation. In fact as an orphan community it’s one of our favorites. But on Saturday Robert Gelanis of Colorado Community Church said something that made so many of us go “Wow!”

If God is father to the fatherless then that means he is a husband.

Who is his bride?

The church.

That means the church is the mother of the fatherless.

Of course we know that as a church we need to be caring for the orphan, no one was clueless on that. But to put it in that perspective was like a light bulb going on.

God is not father to SOME of the fatherless. He is a father to all of them.

So how, as the church, are we going to become a mother to ALL of them.

Not some. All.

Paying the blessing forward

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UPDATE: Friday 7:44 a.m. DONE!! You guys rock!

UPDATE 10:41 p.m. We are $173 from reaching our goal of sending 20 Ugandan kids to school. That means if we can get $86.50 in donations  and add our match, we will meet the goal! Would be SOOO cool to do it in one day!!!

Two years ago we decided to start sending the kids to Christian school. It was actually the year that Beza and Luke would be coming home (mid-school year) and we felt the smaller classroom and biblical-based curriculum would ease the transition and give them the Godly foundation for their life in our family.

Last year we struggled with the decision of re-enrolling the four kids – torn by the cost and whether we should be spending that money on a Christian education when it could go so far to help those in need across the world. It’s that continual balance we fight to find between our needs and wants (and what we feel is important for our kids) and helping others.

Well, two weeks after school started last fall we found out that Luke and Beza qualified for a $6,000 scholarship, reducing our total tuition by half. We were also blessed with friends who used the Arizona Christian School Tuition tax credit which further reduced our costs.

God knew the desire of our hearts (Christian education AND helping others) and provided.

While we originally thought the scholarship was a one year only thing we have been blessed to apply for and receive the scholarship for this year as well.

Because of God’s blessing we want to pay it forward and one of the ways we’re doing that is to help these beautiful kids at one of World Orphans projects in Uganda go to school. Education is a VITAL piece in breaking the cycle of orphaning and abandonment.

There are 20 kids. School fees are $62 each.

So here’s the challenge…

You pay half, we pay half!

We’ll match every dollar you guys donate on our campaign page
until we reach the goal ($1193) and all these kids school fees are paid.

If you donate $36, we’ll donate $36 and that’s one child educated.

We’ll match any amount $1, $5, $100.

Because no challenge is any fun without a deadline we’re going to give you ONE WEEK!

How to Give:

  1. Go to our campaign page.
  2. There’s buttons for $5 and $40 donations or you can click “other” and enter any amount you want.
  3. You can pay by debit, credit or echeck.