Jonathan Herron

November is National Adoption Awareness Month

Everyone is created to be loved and to share love.  And that's what makes adoption so amazing; adoption unites both the being and the sharing.  More people are loved when adoption enters the picture.

In the Bible, we see adoption as something God is FOR (which makes sense since God is love).   Moses was adopted.  So was Esther.  When someone begins to follow Jesus, they are lovingly adopted by God the Father.

I share all this because November, besides being the month of Thanksgiving and of another national holiday - my birthday, is also Adoption Awareness Month.  I am a HUGE raving fan of adoption; our family has personally been touched by adoption.  Look at any Herron family photo and its pretty obvious :)  What may not be as obvious is that we've adopted not once, but twice (and we'll start the process all over again very soon)!

Adoption has been a life-changing and life-enhancing experience.  My eyes have been opened in fresh ways and I love sharing about our adventures learning about open adoption.

I plan on writing more about our experiences in adoption throughout this month.  In the meantime, here are some awesome links on adoption that you should check out:

• Top Ten Annoying Things People Say to Adoptive Parents That, Even Though They Mean Well, Drive Adoptive Parents Up a Tree

• An easy, easy way for your family to engage in the life of an orphan: Compassion International

• Our favorite Christian adoption agency in Michigan: Adoption Associates

• Help families across the country keep adoption affordable.  Take two minutes to lend your support toward the Adoption Tax Credit currently before Congress. 

The Only Way to Live is to Love

"I'm learning that the only way to live is to love." - Emily Powers on open adoption.

This week would have been my Grandfather's 90th birthday.  He was a remarkable chap who spent his first 18 years as an orphan in the shadow of the Hymalayas.  When he was my age, he led his family through the years-long process of immigrating to the United States.  40 years later, he would be personally honored by the President.

My grandfather abruptly passed away this past January as we were slowly making plans to celebrate his 90th, which would have been this week.

And so how providential that this week, when our family's thoughts were reflecting on his life, we would officially and legally welcome a new life into our family.  The court papers appeared yesterday.  By decree of the State of Michigan, little Ainsleigh Grace is now legally adopted into our family!

Adoption is is tender to the heart.  It is the yearning of all humans: to be accepted and loved.  The Scriptures tell us that we are all sojourners temporarily walking through this life.  Our home is elsewhere, so like orphans and immigrants, we yearn for something More.

Welcoming someone into your family through adoption produces a range of emotions: thankfulness, excitement, anxiety, etc.  It's like having a baby, only you aren't afforded the luxury of nine months to prepare.  Sometimes, as in Ainsleigh's case, there isn't even a baby shower.  Just a big BOOM, here she is!

And I love it.  God works in big BOOMS.  

Adoption is a beautiful picture of the gospel:

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 

Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. 
(Ephesians 1, The Message).

To accept and love is to experience and share a taste of the gospel.  

And so we celebrate.  As every state has different laws, Ainsleigh's adoption finalization was ushered in differently than Josiah's was in Ohio.  But different is good.  If it means keeping this little lady in our lives forever, I'm good with different.

And I know that a former Indian orphan is looking down with a huge smile on his face.  

 

How to party when you turn 6-months-old?

   

VIDEO: Are You Kidding?!?!?!

Last weekend I was invited to speak 
at Heritage Church as part of their parenting series, Are You Kidding?!?!?! 

Best.  Series.  Name.  Ever.

Just as tv's first blended family, The Brady Bunch, brought us wacky hijinks, so also this message unpacks the mixed blessings of blending a family together through divorce, remarriage, or adoption.

 

 

In this video you will learn:

• How Heritage Church is helping launch Life Church at The Dow Event Center

• God's love is given, not earned

• What movie I took my first-date-ever to in high school

• Which Bible character surprisingly grew up in a blended family

• What the Roman adoption system was like 2,000 years ago

• How my family has personally been touched by divorce and adoption

• Practical tips on living in a blended family

 

 

This coming weekend I'll be officiating a wedding for two of our Lifers who are getting married in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (when you look at a map, it's our state's Middle Finger), and then speaking at Genesis Church in Petoskey, Michigan.

I'd love to have you join us for our first monthly worship service - It All Begins Sep 16th!

Get Fresh Updates from Life Church Michigan

Phriday is for... Birth Announcements!

Ok, ok, so we might be a few months late with this, but hey,
we didn't have 9 months to get ready, just a quick 9 days heads up!

Always more photography and nonsense on my twitter, my instagram,
my vimeo, and some new start-up called facebook.

 

Phriday is for Photos | 06.29.12

 

Dare you not to smile:

 

Took this photo on Tuesday when Little A turned four-months-old:

 

And finally, some silly-fun (insert your own Godzilla background music):

 

 

Always more on my twitter, my instagram, my vimeo, and some new start-up called facebook.

 

Adoption and the Gospel: God Wants You Around

Recently, this little lady became part of our family.

I love her so much - - she is part princess, part diva, and definitely all Herron.

Ainsleigh Grace is part of our family - we even named her purposefully as we did Josiah Nathan;
she shares some of my wife's name (Amber Leigh).

Adoption is a beautiful picture of God's Gospel:

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.

Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 1, The Message).

When Paul wrote these words two thousand years ago, he used rich imagery to explain the Gospel. 
When we place saving trust in Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God's family.  This idea of adoption was rooted in ancient Greek culture, a way of creating heirs who immediately had access to their new family's wealth and position.  Roman government saw the adopted person as the true heir to the family; any past obligations or trespasses were completely and irrovocably erased.

That's the rich beauty of God's Message - through Christ, we are freed from Adam's broken family tree and grafted into the New Adam's perfect family tree.  The past is completely erased; we have immediate access to the Father. 

Adoption gives us a new identity and total security.  It cannot be undone; no one can take it away from you.  It doesn't matter what your background was - race, tribe, denomination, nationality - God doesn't see it that way in His family.  In Christ, we are united together by Him.  Adoption is forever.  It is proof that God wants you around!

Which brings me back to little Ainsleigh.  She is a Herron and we're thrilled to have her in the family! 

Our friends at Adoption Associates saw many little ones become part of forever families in March. 
I love their tag-line: Futures Built Through Adoption.  That easily sums up the Gospel.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans...
                                                                                                                          - James 1:27, NLT

* top photo: beth eggert photography

 

Phriday is for Photos

Family SnowBlast - 02.26.12. 

Little did we know that at that exact moment, a princess was being born...

 

Our Little Angel - 03.19.12

 

One more:

PINK CIGARS FOR EVERYBODY!!!

After 14 months of waiting, we received the phone call from Adoption Associates last Wednesday:

A preemie.

Born Sunday, February 26th.

Completely healthy.

We met her birthfamily on Friday.  Beautiful, loving Christians.  Making a beautiful adoption plan.

And then we met her.

Today it became official.

We named her Ainsleigh Grace.

And as soon as the judge signs the paperwork in coming days, Ainsleigh will be coming home!

You may be asking yourself, "Self, how can I help out with the Herrons' little newborn baby girl?" 

We definitely request your prayers. 

And if you're so inclined, here's our Baby Registry.

 

20 Seconds Toward Helping Families Adopt

I'm usually the last guy to sign a petition.

But I believe in this one for two reasons:

• As a follower of Jesus, I am FOR helping orphans
• I'm also an adoptive parent and hoping to adopt again in 2012.

Most of you know that expanding your family through adoption can be a huge expense.  Over the last several years, the federal government has attempted to ease that burden with an adoption tax credit (made fully refundable for 2010-2011).   Personally I can say that this credit (from adopting our son) played a significant role in providing us funds for our current adoption process. 

This credit is set to expire after 2012.  But you can help save it! 

Please take 20 seconds to sign this petition to not only extend the credit, but to continue making it refundable for families hoping to adopt!  Thanks!