James and Lisa Murphy
Children: Madolyn (10), Joseph (7), Charlie (6), Lulu (6) just home!
Church: St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, Delray Beach, FL
My husband and I started our family a little later than most. As we approached our forties, we began looking into adoption, and it changed our lives. We have completed five adoptions in the last ten years.
It all started with our precious daughter, Madolyn (10), whom we brought home from China as a one-year old infant in 2006. Miss Madi opened our hearts to more love than we knew we had in us. She is the light of our lives.
Within two years, the Holy Spirit called us back, and we adopted our gift named Daniel in January of 2010. He was a two-year-old baby boy who had four major heart defects, and he changed us forever. We were given the chance to love Daniel in his physical presence for four months, but then the Lord took him Home to Heaven when his body couldn’t recover from the open-heart surgery that he desperately needed. Our first son made an imprint on us that will last a lifetime.
We were devastated, but even through the storms, God gave us rainbows, and He called us back yet again. It seemed impossible to start the process all over again, but we knew we had to trust God and follow His lead. We were led to our son, Charlie, less than a year after our sweet Daniel had earned his angel wings.
In December of 2012, I knew inside that it was time for us to answer the call again. God had given many signs, but fear was overcoming Jim’s heart. I promised Jim that God would provide, if he would simply say yes. Thank God, Jim did say yes, and God did provide. We brought our son, Joseph, home in September of 2014!
I knew we still had more love to give. I patiently prayed for peace in my husband’s heart, as I predicted that he would again be fearful for financial reasons. Finally, after heart to heart discussions, Jim knew there was no good reason to say “no” to another child—he’d seen God’s provision before. That’s when I saw “Lulu” posted on an advocacy site. She was five years old and had lived in an orphanage since she was a small baby. I knew in my heart that she was the missing piece in our family.
My husband and I stepped out in blind faith for financial provision, and thanks to the generous donors Katelyn’s Fund, we were able to bring Lulu home to our family in May! We are filled with gratitude that Katelyn’s Fund is one of the ways in which God made Lulu’s adoption happen. This calling comes with sacrifice sometimes. My husband and I gave up many material possessions when we discovered what really matters in life, and God has blessed our family with these beautiful children. We feel privileged to have heard his call. Adoption has been the single most rewarding choice of our lives. Friends, the road of adoption is not always easy, but it is always worth it.
