I saw the name and number pass across my phone and didn’t think too much of it. We had been receiving phone calls from the Guatemalan National Adoption Council somewhat regularly because we were still finishing out some of the follow-up process with our adopted daughter Genesis. Seeing as I was visiting with a precious … More Moses: an adoption story
*I originally wrote this for ThatsWhatShe. We both kneel down next to the small coffee plant poking out of the Guatemalan soil. At this level, I can look into this woman’s soft eyes instead of a couple of feet over her head when we are standing next to each other. She explains to my husband … More Embraced
Grieving well is hard work… like trudging through thick molasses. It is slow, it is painful, and it can be utterly exhausting. And so it is with some hesitation that I take the incredibly personal journey of grief and write some of my own and other’s experiences in broad generalities; however, when I was in … More Encouragement for the One Whose Heart is Broken
My heart beat wildly in my chest, and the darkness of the room closed in around me as I woke up with a jolt. I sat up straight, straining to see through the blackness as if it was the first time I had been in this shadowy bedroom that contained over nine years of getting … More The Onion: a continued journey with grief
Her beautiful long lashes scrunched up as she tightly closed her large brown eyes, and let out a high-pitched, “NO, NO, NO!!!” while shaking her head vigorously. It was hair-washing time in our evening bath routine. And while this spunky little youngest daughter of mine had only even gotten soap in her eyes a couple … More Eyes Wide Open: a beginning lesson in trust
I hung the verses on our wall over eleven years ago as a newlywed, hoping they would serve as a visual reminder throughout our marriage that the seasons would not always be pretty, but that God is still God and He still moves in each season, even the dark and hard ones. Almost twelve years … More Seasons
The past few months have been filled with a wide range of emotions. We find ourselves viewing our world, our lives, and our friends & family through seemingly new eyes as we are acutely aware of the fact that I am blessed to be here on this earth, and yet we also mourn the death of two … More
Gabriel was a fighter. And in his short life, Gabriel encouraged all of us to fight as well: to fight for life, to stand strong in Truth, to draw close to God, to draw close to each other… to believe that God is our strength, that He is a Mighty Warrior who does fight for … More
On Thursday, December 10, 2015 little Gabriel Ficker joined his little twin sibling in his Father’s joyous arms in Heaven at almost 26 weeks of life. While our arms still ache to hold our little fighter that held on inside for so long, we truly thank God that Gabriel did not suffer on this earth, … More in His loving arms
It’s a boy! And we have decided to name him Gabriel. Hebrew in its origin, it means “God is my strength” or some translations also say, “Mighty Warrior of God.” And that is what this little boy has been – a mighty warrior who will testify forever of the strength of his God. I have … More Gabriel
katie shaw ficker 