Pete and Carol, happily married for 39 years, were ‘empty-nesters.’ Their 3 children were all in their 30’s, married, and now Pete and Carol were enjoying grandchildren. A phone call…
Julia DesCarpentrie
Julia DesCarpentrie is passionate about orphan care, adoption and fostering. She has been blessed to live out God’s call on her life in those areas through her work with The CALL (Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime), a foster care church initiative encouraging more Christian families to foster children in need. Julia has been an advocate for the fatherless for 10 years, as both a volunteer and also serving with Hope for Orphans before her work with The CALL. She is also an active volunteer in the community and has served on several community boards. She continues to minister to other mothers and foster/adoptive families through writing and speaking with MomLife Today. Julia is the mom of five children entrusted to her care through birth, adoption and fostering. She and Branden have been married for 16 years.
Four Little Words
My kitchen was a chaotic deafening hurricane. Six people in my little kitchen eating breakfast, finishing lunch-packing, and the decibel level quickly rising to unbearable levels. Two of my boys…
Before Fostering/Adopting, I Wish I Understood…
My friends tried to explain some things to me- really, they did. But, like many other experiences in parenting, you just don’t understand until you’ve experienced it. Parenting adopted and…
Slow Growing Roots
I lived in the same small Midwestern town throughout my entire childhood. After having our first child, my husband and I decided we wanted to raise our children in the…
The Gift of Compassion
The most important gift we are giving our children this year won’t fit under the tree. It can’t be wrapped nor can it be opened in one day. This gift…
Global Giving
Every year our parents ask for Christmas lists for our family. And every year I struggle to come up with enough ideas. I also dread the crowds fighting over the…
How to Help an Adoptive Family
A month after welcoming our toddler son home, I sobbed to my Bible Study sisters, “We prayed for this for the past year. Remember? We really wanted this adoption to…
Bonding Over a Bucket
“Ok, Lord, this is NOT helping with our bonding!” I was screaming the words to God in my heart as I tried to murmur reassuring words to my retching son,…
Public School Mission Field
My mom, a public school teacher, often declared “I’m the only Jesus many of these children ever see.” And she would remind my siblings and me that we were representing…
Joy Born from Loss
I’ve been nesting lately. Toys sorted, clothing passed on, bedrooms repainted and furniture rearranged. Our fifth child is arriving this week! We have been experiencing the emotions all expectant parents…