This picture was taken by our good friends at their home in February, 2011. Back L to R: Joseph, 17, Daniel, 15, Joshua, 13, Laura, 11 1/2. Middle L to R: John Michael, 5, Peter, 4, Joe, 44, Stephen, 2, Susanna, 39, Verity, 8 months. Front: Jane, 9, James, 4.
Our names are Joe and Susanna, and we are a very ordinary couple who probably wouldn’t stand out to you if you saw us out and about. Well, unless we had our ten children with us. It’s getting harder for us to hide in a crowd!
God has given us Joseph, Daniel, Joshua, Laura, Jane, John Michael, twins Peter and James, Stephen, and now our little Verity! We don’t take any of these interesting individuals for granted. We are well aware that the desire to have children does not guarantee having children.
Long before God brought Joe and me together, He gave each of us a strong desire to someday welcome many children. We are living the privilege of doing exactly what we had always dreamed of! We love having a house full!
Part of the reason we hoped to have many children was that we are Christians who believe that the Word of God is truth and applies to all of life. God says that children are rewards. We agree with God. We stepped out of the cultural boat, because Jesus called us to do that, and we have found that there is solid ground under our feet out here.
We also believe that discipling our children is the primary ministry God has given us at this point in our lives. He has called us to do this by educating them at home. He has shown Himself to be faithful at every point in showing us how He wants us to carry this out.
Life is an adventure when God is in charge of it instead of us! We are better off trusting Him than trusting ourselves. If you knew Him, and knew us, you would agree!
Thank you for looking in on this little bit of our family’s journey. We welcome each of you and hope you take time to talk to us!
Could I steal your quote, “We stepped out of the cultural boat, because Jesus called us to do that, and we have found that there is solid ground under our feet out here.”? I promise not to steal it but borrow it. I’m speaking at a women’s missionary conference on Faith and love this quote of yours. I don’t need to use your name, just mention that it’s from a mother of soon to be 10 children!
Of course, Tami!
Susanna,
What a blessing and encouragement to read through your website posts! We will be in prayer for sweet Verity–a precious gift from our sovereign God. And, we’ll pray for you too as you have the responsibility of managing a home and completing the final weeks of your pregnancy. God’s amazing grace is sufficient! Micah is our third in 3 1/2 years and we look forward to the blessing of God filling our home with children in His time.
Grace and peace,
Jessica
Hello,
You are an amazing family! So full of faithful. Your story is amazing and your family has now become part of our family’s daily prayers. Jesus is so faithful, he has proven to us time and time again that no matter what is happen or what the world speaks to us. Truth is the way and must walk there in.
Blessing to your amazing family.
Hi Susanna,
Hope you are doing well. I saw a story on the news tonight and I thought you might be interested in it for next year. Here is the link.
http://www.chop.edu/export/download/pdfs/articles/trisomy-21/buddy-walk-2010-save-the-date.pdf
Take Care,
Kristen
Thank you, Kristen! :)
Susanna- I really didn’t intend for this to be posted but I couldn’t find a “send Susanna a message” link.
I have some little boys winter clothes that I’m weeding through. I found a couple of things that I had doubles of in a 4T and it made me think of you. Do you need any little boys clothes? Mostly 18 months to 4T. Just email me one day this week if you are interested!
Thank you for continuing to post! Your last one about “what every mom needs” made me want to cry (in a good way!). We are still praying and waiting on the Lord. I see God moving in my husband but it’s slow and steady as usual. I know that God will bring to fruition what He has begun!
Blessings- Robin Osteen
Hi Susanna! Just want to share this link with you. My daughter shared it with me and I thought of little Verity. A warning about the comments below the video-there is offensive language so don’t let your kiddos read it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b7y9UYt_fM&feature=related
Maria! That makes me cry every time I watch it! I’d seen it before (more than once *blush*) and decided not to post it, but here it is, sitting sneakily in an unnoticed corner of the blog-lol!
Have you had a family photo recently?
I’m trying not to think about that, Ginger! Lol! Seriously, we usually get one between each child, when the baby is between 6 and 12 months or thereabouts. It takes some advance planning, as you doubtless know!
Susanna, I just found your blog through Micah Six Eight, and wanted to let you know that I was blessed by ‘meeting’ your family, and I will be praying for your sweet Katerina. We are also in the process of adopting from [that country], a little boy with special needs. We are between trips right now, but thankfully, he is in a good place and we know he is being well-looked-after until we can get back to him and get him home. I will pray that in your daughter’s case, the process can be expedited somehow.
I also loved what you said about stepping out of the cultural boat! We have stepped out, too, it seems, though not quite as far out as you (yet!). We have four girls so far and God in His sovereignty has chosen to bless us with another pregnancy *while* we’re adopting! It’s been an adventure, for sure, but you are right that there is solid ground, and we are so excited to be be on this adventure with Him.
Your blog has encouraged my heart today – thank you and God bless you!
Jodi, thank you for writing! What a beautiful family you have, and congratulations!
Susanna, I found your blog through a facebook friend…I just wanted to let you know that my wife and I are praying for you and your family. We understand this whole process as we are in it right now. We have just submitted our I-800 and are waiting for our approval. I was wondering can I post your blog on my blogroll?
I am a board member of Karina Association, an organization begun to help abandoned children in [Katie's country]. You might want to talk to Biliana, our President. She was born in [Katie's country] and has knowledge of the situation in the orphanages [there]. We are a Christian organization. Let us know if we can provide any support in your efforts.
Thank you, Sylvia. I am sending this link to our attorney. Thank you so much for passing this along.
A friend of mine recently shared your blog with me and I have enjoyed reading about your beautiful family. You have such an amazing heart and I love it.