• God’s good things

    ByKristin adoption, books, review

    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

    This verse has anchored my faith for more than two decades. I remember reading it in my childhood bedroom as I questioned what a life of faith was about. I’ve seen God work so many hard, broken things for good so I can give glory to Him. And I believe He’s still working and orchestrating and growing and mending things together for our good and His glory. 

    This same verse anchored Isaac Melber’s story that began in Ethiopia and included adoption by a family in Kentucky. I don’t know what it’s like to become an orphan and continue to know family loss, but I do know how adoption is relational at its core and is a beautiful picture of being welcomed into the family of God. I became a mom because of adoption (three times), and I know I’m a child of God because Jesus made that possible. 

    Talk about good things. 

    We have to walk through hard things to see the good, though. And that’s what Isaac writes about in Twice Delivered: A Story of Two Families, Two Worlds, and One Redeeming Love. He vulnerably shares how he explored an identity shaped by suffering and redeemed by grace only God can give. 

    As a mom, Isaac’s words encouraged me to continue to be faithful to God’s good ways for the sake of my kids. The past few years with my 16-year-old son have been hard and have challenged me in ways I just didn’t anticipate. But God has been there, and I’m grateful to have witnessed His provision and protection. 

    We don’t always get to see the whole picture on this side of heaven, but I’m grateful Isaac has seen and known the goodness of God and shared that in this book. His testimony will help kids who were adopted, parents who have adopted, kids who struggle with belonging, and weary parents. 

    I loved all the reminders about God as the conductor of our lives, providing and protecting us in ways we can’t even imagine. Isaac writes:

    “He is not merely reacting to events or piecing together a plan as He goes. He is intentionally and sovereignly weaving every moment, decision, relationship, and detail into something far greater than we can imagine – something centered on His glory and His purposes. Often, this work unfolds quietly in the background while we go about our daily routines. Yet behind it all, God is directing, shaping, and ordering our steps.” 

    About the book

    Born in a remote mountain village in Ethiopia, Isaac Melber’s life began with loss. Orphaned at a young age and placed in an orphanage, his future seemed uncertain—until a family from Kentucky crossed an ocean to bring him home. But Isaac’s story is more than an adoption story. In his debut memoir, Melber shares the raw, deeply moving journey of growing up between two worlds, wrestling with grief, identity, anger, belonging, and faith. Returning to Ethiopia thirteen years after his adoption, he confronts the questions that shaped his childhood: Who am I? Why did this happen? Where does my story fit in God’s plan? With disarming honesty and profound spiritual insight, Melber reveals how what once felt like abandonment became divine placement, how painful providences became sacred turning points, and how adoption points straight to the heart of the gospel. 

    Blending memoir, Scripture, and pastoral reflection, Twice Delivered: A Story of Two Families, Two Worlds, and One Redeeming Love speaks powerfully to adoptees, adoptive families, foster parents, and anyone who has ever struggled to see God’s goodness in the middle of loss. This is a story about sovereignty and suffering, about identity and redemption, about a God who wastes nothing. Adopted once into a family. Adopted again into the family of God. 

    This 164-page paperback book was published by Innovo Publishing LLC (May 20, 2026). 

    About the author

    Isaac Melber is an author, speaker, and adoption advocate whose life spans two continents and two families. Born in Ethiopia and adopted into a Christ-centered home in the United States, his journey of identity and redemption has deeply shaped his faith and calling. A student at Carson-Newman University, Isaac is preparing for pastoral ministry and future theological training. Through biblical teaching and personal testimony, he encourages adoptees and adoptive families while helping the church see adoption as a powerful picture of the gospel. Find him on Instagram or his website.

    *****

    This book was recommended by my dear friend Monica Bidwell, who knows and loves Isaac Melber and his family. I bought the book and wanted to recommend it here. These opinions are my own. 

    If you’re interested in adoption, I’d love for you to check out my first book, Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Family & My Faith. Here are other adoption books & resources. 

    God authors the stories on our porches – in every season, wherever we are. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.

  • The beauty of open adoption

    ByKristin adoption, Ben, Cate, family, Rachel

    Throughout the years, we’ve always talked about their infant adoptions with our kids. Even so, I think their stories come with a fair amount of fantasizing about what their biological families look like, physically and in every other way. Generally, open adoption seems messy, but I’ve also been blessed to see the beauty.

    Cate met her birth mom when she was 6. Circumstances with the mutual loved ones who were our initial connection put us all in the same place, so it was a natural progression. It was wonderful for Cate to put a face with a name. Over the next few years, she saw her birthmom a few more times and could reach out to her today, if need be. Her biological maternal grandparents send birthday cards and gifts each year. 

    Ben, 15, hasn’t met his birth mom, but, throughout the years, he has met some biological people: a half-brother, a half-sister, and a maternal grandpa. I think even just knowing they exist and how they fit into his story has been beneficial for him as he processes his story of becoming a Taylor. 

    Rachel, who is 10, asked ot meet her birth mom for years because I felt like the time was right. I reached out to her birth mom as Rachel’s 10th birthday approached and asked what she thought about us taking her to dinner. She was all for it. We found a good time in September and met at Rachel’s favorite restaurant. Her sweet birth mom brought her a birthday present, and the two of them asked and answered lots of get-to-know-you questions about favorites, movies, shows, family, and experiences. It was a sweet time that I felt privileged to witness.

    November is National Adoption Awareness Month. I recognized adoption is complicated and beautiful. The goodness that comes from building families this way starts with grief every single time. I’m thankful for my kids’ stories, the faithfulness of their biological families in loving them from afar, and the opportunities we’ve had to build relationships through open adoptions. 

    I also realize every adoption story is different. I can quickly draw some parallels in my kids’ individual stories, but there are plenty of differences too. Adoption is relational in every sense, and that means each birth mom is her own person. Likewise, each child processes adoption differently as they grow up. 

    My kids, who were raised in the same house over the past 18 years, each have been affected differently by adoption. The circumstances that brought them to us were also unique. Their brain development in the womb, God-given personalities, and childhood experiences give them a perspective that is unlike anyone else’s – and that’s both beautiful and challenging. I don’t know parenting apart from these three kids who came to us through the gift from other women. 

    Adoption Resources

    Other resources, including lists of books, grants, and past blog posts, are available on my website. I also previously wrote about my firstborn daughter meeting her birth mom in 2013.

    *****

    God authors the stories on our porches – in every season. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.

  • Helping adopted teens belong

    ByKristin adoption

    The teenage years get a bad rap – and they certainly can be difficult. But they can also be wonderful, at least in my brief time raising a teenager. 

    Our family was created by three adoption processes when our children were newborns. Now they’re 6, 12, and 15. That’s one teenager and one less than six months from becoming one! And, let me let you in on a little secret, I like having big kids. They’re fun and funny. I enjoy being with them and making memories. Of course, they have hormones and social awkwardness too. (Read our adoption stories in my book, “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family.”)

    Sometimes fitting can be difficult for any teenager. Along with the struggles of growing up and developing cognitive skills that will help any child become a successful adult, teenagers also have to tackle major physical and psychological changes and challenges. 

    When children’s story includes adoption, there can be another layer of challenge for their sense of belonging. Whether your child has been adopted from birth, like ours, or later in childhood but has grown up in your family, or was adopted as an older child, you may have to tackle some unique challenges. 

    Dealing with any challenges as a family helps secure the child’s sense of belonging in the nuclear family before going out into the world. 

    Open Communication

    The teenage years don’t have to mean parents and their older kids are opponents. Open communication helps families work together and stay on the same page, even when that page has to change as we navigate life. The stereotype is most teenagers don’t like talking to their parents, but fostering open communication in the early years helps those lines remain open when those toddlers grow into teenagers. I’m thankful my kids talk to me – and I remind myself of this blessing when there are so, so many words! 

    One way to make yourself as the parent more approachable to teenagers is to open up to them. In the vulnerability equation, someone has to go first. It’s okay for the first step to be by the parent. Tell them how you feel, be honest about your own struggles, and share stories from your own life.

    Another way to become more approachable to your children is to spend free time with them. Share a regular activity with them to take the pressure of being together. Nobody likes being lectured or interrogated, but people, including teenagers, may be happy to talk when they’re doing something they enjoy.

    Privacy is okay because our teenagers are people too, but parents still need to have access to phone and email messages. Allowing teens to cultivate relationships outside the home with friends is important, but so are boundaries. A private journal is a good privacy option, but a therapist can help your teenagers to talk through their life with another, trusted person.

    Language and Cultural Barriers

    Some adopted children and teenagers have different cultural heritages. This could lead to attachment and belonging issues, but it can also be celebrated. Even teenagers who haven’t been adopted can have identity struggles, but cultural barriers from adoption can certainly compound this. Find ways to connect with them by eating food, listening to music, and visiting places related to their story. 

    If the child or teenager speaks a different language, then a newcomer book can help them to learn English. This doesn’t just make it easier for you to communicate, but it also allows them to fit in – both in and out of your family. Of course, you may want to learn their language too to help bridge that communication gap. 

    Whatever the issue, just work through it together. Don’t be afraid to find trusted people to come alongside you as you navigate life – with a teenager and whatever other season you may find yourself. 

    *****

    There are so many good adoption resources out there. Empowered to Connect, Jockey Being Family, and The Center for Adoption Support & Education are full of information. Find more free resources on my website.