My journey began in international orphan care. My first experience was in the Ukraine, visiting nine orphanages as part of a mission trip with Campus Crusade for Christ with Josh McDowell. That trip changed everything… my heart broke for the plight of vulnerable children.

Later, as a single working adult, I led three mission trips to churches and orphanages in Mexico. Through those years, one thing became clear: if I were to marry, it was important that my future spouse share my heart for adoption.

In 2012, before we brought home our first son from South Korea, I began what would become Embrace Family - right in our living room. As we walked this road, we realized we couldn’t meet the needs of adoptive and foster moms alone, especially those parenting teens. That’s when the Lord reminded us of the power of mentor moms within MOPS, now MomCO, women who had gone before us and could speak hope into the journey.

We also discovered the importance of hosting gatherings in churches, so that everyone, no matter where they were in their journey, would feel safe and welcome in a public, trusted space.

Since then, the Lord has multiplied our groups, leaders, and mentor moms in ways we could never have imagined. What started around our living room has become a growing community of support, encouragement, and faithful presence for families walking the road of foster care, adoption, and respite.