RUBY: How long have you attended Troy United Methodist Church?
Ever
since we moved to Troy, back in the fall of 1998.
RUBY:
What drew you to this church?
Family-friendly
atmosphere where the Word of God is taught not only to adults, but to
the youngest of children as well. We wanted to attend a church where
there were lots of opportunities for our kids to be nurtured in their
faith and to develop friendships with other Christian kids from their
neighborhood and their school.
RUBY:
Which service do you typically attend?
9:00
Service
RUBY:
Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this
is a favorite.
Favorite
verse: For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope
and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
I
have liked that verse for a long time because it speaks to God’s
love for us and to the assurance that even when I might be
discouraged or feel like I’ve lost my way, God knows the end of my
story and has plans and promises beyond what I could ever fathom. I
think this verse became even more significant to me after we adopted
our daughter, because I am assured that even though she was born on
the other side of the world into what many would call tragic
circumstances, God had a plan and a promise for her life. I am
blessed to be a small part of that story.
RUBY:
Tell us about your involvement at Troy UMC and/or the community.
Over
the years, I have been involved in the children’s ministry, been
part of small groups and numerous classes, served on committees,
hosted events and youth in our home, and sing as part of the 9:00
praise band.
RUBY:
Tell us about your family.
I’ve
been married to my husband Jordan for 22 years. We have four amazing
kids, each with very distinct personalities and unique gifts. Andrew
is 19 and in his first year of college. Claire just turned 16, and
is a sophomore. Jackson, my third-grader, is 9. Ella just turned 7
and is in first grade. Quite an age span. Last year I had a senior
in high school and a kindergartner. It gets pretty exciting around
our house some days!
RUBY:
Given that you had three children of your own, what led you to adopt
another child?
I
grew up in a family where taking in kids was something that my
parents did quite often--kids who were in a bad situation for one
reason or another and needed a place to feel safe and loved. Some
stayed for a few days and others became a permanent part of the
family. So I’ve always had a heart for adoption and thought that I
would do that at some point in my life.
Several
years and a few kids into our marriage, Jordan and I were
particularly touched by words from Steven Curtis Chapman at a concert
we attended. In sharing about his own family’s adoption journey,
Steven shared his realization that God’s word tells us to “care
for those in need… care for the least of these… care for orphans
and widows,” not so that we can check off chores from our to-do
list. Rather, they are invitations from the God who made us, who
knows us so well, saying “if you want to know Me, then come where I
said you’d find Me. Come to those who are the least of these…step
out of your comfort zone and act in faith…be my hands and feet to
the people that I created and I love.” He went on to say that it’s
not just a story of adoption, but that it’s our story as
Christians… the story of God’s grace. We were hopeless and
helpless, and God came through space and time to find you and me, to
take us into His heart, to adopt us into His family, to say that He
will give us a hope and a future. He’ll give us a name, His
name, and He’ll give us a love that not even death can take
away.
A
short time later, Jordan and I stepped out in faith and started the
adoption process to add a new member to our family. At times, this
journey has been a test of our faith, our patience and our notions of
what it means to love unconditionally. Months later, we travelled to
China to adopt our new daughter. We held Ella in our arms for the
first time at the age of 13 months, appropriately, on Mother’s Day
of 2007. Six years later, we can testify to the blessings that we
have gained through this experience. Even though we have felt tested
at many turns and have totally abandoned any foolish notion we had
about having “parenthood” figured out, we are blessed beyond
measure and can honestly say that our family was not complete until
we brought that little girl home.
RUBY:
What does being a mother mean to you?
That’s
a big question. A mom is many things at different times and at
different stages of their child’s life. At times a mom is
nurturer, cook, teacher, disciplinarian, chauffeur, cheerleader,
prayer warrior, role model, and the woman who loves their dad.
Author
Lysa TerKeurst once said, as a mom, you can love your children, teach
them, pass our faith along, and pray for them, but eventually you
need to turn them over to God and trust Him enough to write their
story—their own testimony. As someone who tends to want to control
situations, I think that is a remarkable insight.
RUBY:
What trait do you most admire in others?
I
admire those who have traits of wisdom, patience and a gentle spirit,
mainly because those are traits I do not possess, but wish I did!
RUBY:
How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?
You
can find me on Facebook, email me at jordanandbarb@sbcglobal.net or call my cell: 618-363-2847.
