Today is my birthday......

34 years ago today I entered this world in lovely Oil City, Pennsylvania. My family, which consisted of Tom, my father, Denise, my mother, Kristin, my older sister, and myself spent just a few months there after I was born before my dad’s job relocated us to Arizona. We moved around AZ as my dad’s job would have it....from Tucson to Phoenix, to Kingman, back to Tucson, to Phoenix again, (phew!) and landed in Tucson for my senior year of high school. I attended my first three years of high school at Horizon High in Scottsdale, where I began dating Brandon, my husband of 14 wonderful years!

Brandon and I married at 19 and had our first baby at 20. Three months after Sydney’s birth is when I was truly born. This is when God revealed Himself to me...through the miracle of Sydney joining our family. Prior to this life change, Brandon and I both led somewhat destructive lifestyles. Today we sit in awe of how God showed up when He did and the change that came over us almost immediately.

We have since been blessed with three more children. Branson (“son of Brandon” – clever, huh?) was born 21 months after Sydney. His entry to the world was a bit of a scary one, having some medical complications it was quite possible we could lose our newborn son. Not only did this draw us closer to one another, but forced us to our knees as we begged and pleaded with God to heal our sickly son. We believe He did just that, and today we have an amazing, talented, and sweet 12 year old boy! Because of this health issue, Brandon and I were unable to have any more biological children...

God had other plans....

Chloe joined our family in 2002 as a foster child. The next 18 months would bring us to our knees yet again, praying for God’s will in little Chloe’s life. God immediately gave us a love for this child that we had a hard time imagining life without her. Seven days, exactly one week after she came to be with us, we were at church. After receiving communion, the elders were up front available to pray with whoever would need it. We explained our situation to the elder and prayed with him. At that moment, God gave Brandon peace about the whole situation. God told Brandon that he could and would love this child as his own. Brandon’s heart would remain peaceful for what the next 18 months would bring. My husband was my rock throughout this process because of how God was speaking to him. Sydney and Branson (ages 6 & 7 at the time) were diligently praying for Chloe to officially become a Grieser. On April 13, 2004, the finalization of her adoption took place. We rejoiced as a family! Glory be to God....

When Chloe was three, God began to speak clearly to me about adopting another little girl. I began praying about it and researching international options, thinking China or Korea would be good possibilities. Weeks into my research, I received a call from my mother one afternoon. “I think I may have found your new baby daughter.” She proceeded to tell me of a run-in she had with a homeless couple at her mechanics shop earlier in the day. They informed her that they had given birth to a baby girl in an alley way just weeks prior. The baby was now in foster care and they would LOVE to find a good home for little Ayla. That began what would be 8 months of crying out to God again! After months of court hearings, when Ayla was 9 months old, the judge ruled in our favor....we would be the chosen family for Ayla Faith!

Our family has grown in number and spiritually through adoption. Every single day I am reminded of God’s goodness through these two little girls. I am often moved to tears when I think of how our family has grown through the miracle of adoption. Adoption is a perfect picture of what God has done for us in making us His children through Christ. I pray this truth remains clear in my heart and that He continues to shine through these two precious little babies!

Ephesians 1:5-6
He predestined us to be adopted as his sons though Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Have you entered into this loving relationship with God?

Have a blessed day.
Karen Grieser