Leah Stirewalt

Out of Deep Waters

Big News to Share!

by 10 Comments

I am so very, very excited to share some BIG news from our family to all of you!

God has been working this out in our hearts long before Joel and I ever met, but it’s exciting to see it finally come to fruition. I’ll give you the news first (no…you don’t have to wait until the end of the post…you’re welcome…ha!), but keep reading for more of the details!

IMG_5742-001edi

We are in the process of adopting!


For those of you that have been following Out of Deep Waters for any length of time know that God called me to adoption when I was still a widow. At that time, it looked a little differently than it will this time. God also started tugging at Joel’s heart about adoption before he even knew I existed. So, you can imagine that during one of our first conversations…the topic of adoption came up! I shared with Joel then how I was pursuing adoption of a little girl in Africa.

Fast forwarding the story a bit, Joel and I ended up getting married in August, 2012. The adoption process was placed on pause for a little while until we passed the one-year anniversary mark (as most countries understandably will not allow adoptions for couples married less than a year, some even longer). Additionally, we had a crazy-busy first year of marriage, and God knew we needed that down time before embarking upon this exciting, yet somewhat overwhelming, new adventure together.

Last fall we knew that God had given us the nod to proceed. It took us until early 2014 to actually start taking baby steps in that direction again, but once we did, the ball started rolling pretty quickly.

We are once again working with the same agency I worked with before, and we are further in the process than I ever was the first time. However, all donations received previously have been transferred to this adoption, and we are so excited to see God already working in the area of provision!

There are many facets of this adoption that we are unable to share just yet, because of safety reasons for the children involved, but here are some facts:

  • We are adopting from Bulgaria.

  • We are seeking to adopt a sibling group.

  • We are looking at children ages 3-8.

  • We HAVE begun our home study process, and that will ultimately determine much of the above.

Friends – we know that we’ve been called to adopt. And, this is going to be hard, but as a wise friend shared recently with me, “God doesn’t call us to do hard. He calls us to do the impossible.” And she’s right! God often calls us to do those things that seem impossible, because ultimately He gets the glory!

  • It’s impossible for us to imagine ever getting through all the required paperwork.

  • It’s impossible for us pay for this. Impossible.

  • It’s impossible for us to even fundraise nearly $40,000+ to cover these expenses.

  • It’s impossible for us to parent children that won’t speak a lick of English when we meet them for the first time.

  • It’s impossible to share our heart’s passion for the orphan and express our desire to obey in this calling effectively.

But, God will make all this possible. It’s His money. These are His children. WE are His children.

We are excited, and a bit overwhelmed if truth be told, about this journey. As a result, we humbly ask you to pray! We know that prayer is vital in all of this. We prayed before, we’re praying now, and we’ll continue praying even after these children are home. But…we need others on their knees along with us. Will you join us in praying?

Please pray also about how God might be asking you to help. And…we’re not just talking about money. There are so many ways to help us bring our children home that don’t just involve giving cash (although that’s needed too!). We’ll be providing more details about our adoption process and ways to come alongside us as the days, weeks, and months progress! Stay tuned…and please pray!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~James 1:27

A Letter to Holly

by Leave a Comment

Dear Holly,

My sweet daughter that I have yet to meet…I love you already with a love that could only come from our Creator – God Himself. I can’t wait to tell you all about Him!

I think of you all the time. I pray for you daily. I’m not even sure what you look like or your age, because I know that could change depending on when God allows you to come home to us. But, I know you. In my heart, I feel I already know you.

I don’t know your story just yet sweet girl. I don’t know why you were orphaned, but I do know that this God I can’t wait to tell you about has never left your side. Even though you can’t see Him, He’s there with you all the time. He’s also here with me…helping me to be patient as I wait for you in His perfect timing.

I admit that I don’t understand why adoption has to be so difficult sometimes. I don’t understand why it costs so much money. I don’t understand why there are some people with abundant resources that could write one check to cover your expenses, but they hold so tightly to that which was never theirs to begin with. And yet…God is bigger than all of my questions…bigger than all of my frustrations…bigger than any dollar amount!

Although my days of widowhood are coming to an end (only by God’s grace and mercy), He knows that I understand your plight better than most, because I have been an “orphan” of a different type. That’s why I think he called me to adopt you while I was still a widow…knowing that He gets all the glory for it! He matched us up – you and me, my daughter. He gave your birth mother the blessing of bringing you into this world, and yet He knew I would also be called your mother. I cry as I write those words to you. To think, He loves us so much that He’s already handpicked us for each other.

And now…He’s handpicked a daddy for you too. God knew my willingness to adopt as a single mom. I never asked Him for more, but He’s blessed me…and YOU, my girl…with someone that is ready to call you his own as well. I can’t wait until you find out for yourself how great this God is that I speak of…He’s more wonderful than any word I type can convey.

So, while you wait…yes the waiting is hard for both of us…I pray that you know you are loved! I pray that you know we’re coming for you sweetheart! I pray that the people caring for you now are taking such good care of you that deep loneliness doesn’t take root in your life. I pray that you stay healthy. And…I pray that you start to feel God’s love surrounding you…even if it’s something you have yet to understand.

You, my daughter, are a blessing that I can’t wait to wrap my arms around! I love you sweet Holly (my little Holly-lujah!)!