The Hunter Home

Father of the fatherless [is God].
He settles the [fatherless] in a home.
Psalm 68:4-6

One week ago this evening, our family pulled into the parking lot of the Mississippi Children’s Home to meet the rest of our family, Shae Miracle Hunter, for the first time.

Shae was waiting for us in a crib that has been used for just under 100 years for the day when children meet their parents.

She was with her foster family, who has cared for her for the four months since her birth. And with this family, she has had no lack of love or attention or entertainment. This family of six cares for babies in transition as a way of life. They may have a foster baby for a day, or, as in our case, for four months. They enjoy the privilege of loving children between birth and their adoptions. They loved Shae, and we thank God for that.

Shae’s eyes are stunning, her tuft of hair is so Mr. T like, and her manner very sweet. She sleeps through the night, moans when she sleeps, and laughs at her brother and sister.

Carson and Madalyn, by the way, have taken to her very well. They fight over the middle seat in the car so they can look at “baby Shae.” They take turns feeding her, kissing her, and holding her (basically, sitting on the couch with Shae on top of them). But they talk right over each other when speaking about or to their new sister, “It’s okay, sweetheart,” or “Isn’t she sweet?” They must have heard someone speak to the baby this way. They can tell us that she was born in Mississippi, and they know not to wrestle or do cannon balls off the couch in the living room anymore…or at least when the baby is around.

Shae’s birthmother gave her the name, Miracle. We don’t know this woman, but we know how she looked upon the human life in her womb. Since we are their parents, we have taken the privilege of specially naming each of our children. But we’ve been pleased to keep the names given to them by their birthmothers as their middle names. We have done this with Shae as well.

Our very breath is a gift from God, marriage is a gift from God, and children are a gift from God. We thank Him for it all. We’re honored to have this precious girl settled in our home and made a part of our family. May God give us the grace and strength and wisdom to parent Shae to know Him and to love Him with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Here are some photos from the last week:

The weekend began here on Friday afternoon, April 1. 

When we arrived in Mississippi, we stopped by the welcome center and took this sweet shot.

When we arrived, Jerri, the adoptions coordinator for Mississippi Children’s Home, had us sign paperwork before meeting our daughter, since adoptive families are hard to distract from their children once they are united. This room is home to 100 years of adoption paperwork. She showed me the files from 1912.

Here she is! We found her in this crib, chilling out hard.

And there are the eyes. Platinum. And the puff. 

We did not tell them to do this. They asked if they could. 

Us with the foster family. 

Shae’s foster brothers and sisters. They know how to party. 

Now this is a good story. Shae’s foster sister saved up her money for this zebra. When she saw it, she wasn’t sure she’d have enough time to save for it before Shae received parents. But there was enough time and she saved enough money. Shae will have it forever. 

Moms doing their thing. Communicating. 

Jerri is our hero. 

Rowdy.

The hotel room. Carson making me nervous. 

Back at the border. 

These shots were taken on a hill by the Mississippi River at the welcome center. 

Thank you Madalyn for doing this to a wonderful shot. 

Ok, better. 

Yes, this is digitally enhanced. 

We stayed with friends, Tyce and Bethany Jensen on our way through Dallas. 

On our way from Dallas to Albuquerque, we spent a few hours in the afternoon with good friends, Nick and Jennifer Miersma in Lubbock. Jennifer can take some photos. 

This photo cannot be improved. 

We returned home Monday night. But since it was the same price to rent the car for an entire week, we rolled mighty all the way through Thursday.

On Saturday, April 9, Shae was celebrated by a number of friends from church. We’re grateful for their joy in our children, and their joy in the gift of adoption. 

Genius. 

Welcome home, Shae.