Andy & Elizabeth Crump were living a spontaneous and relaxed life with their two dogs when one day they decided that God was calling them to adopt. Adoption had been on Elizabeth’s heart for a long time, and after a year of prayer, they began their journey by adopting a sibling group of three.
After the adoption, the Crumps had to learn to adjust to the new (shorter) sleep schedule and cooking for five instead of two! Although they have dealt with many changes, many blessings have flowed from the adoption. They have created new memories while getting to watch some of the simplest events bring such joy to these kids faces. Elizabeth mentions that, “One thing we have really learned after adoption is that little things, that so many of us take for granted, are of such importance to them and it has helped me, my husband, our family, and our friends see things in a new light that we would have never been able to see before.”
Adopting a sibling group seemed to be the best fit for the Crumps because they understood the importance of keeping siblings together during the adoption process. Elizabeth states that “one thing about sibling groups is to remember that the only pieces they had left are each other and being able to keep them together speaks volumes to their hearts.” According to Elizabeth, one of the most common responses to adopting sibling groups is the fear of having too many problems. She encourages people to push past those problems and she usually responds to that with “Don’t we all?” The ability to help these children grow and navigate their life is greater than the problems that many people fear.
One thing that really surprised the Crumps after adopting from foster care was the range of emotions that they would face during their journey. They often had to call their parents to speak with them about their children and some of the hardships that they faced. They also had to learn what things triggered past memories, and they learned to help their children cope with these struggles by being a shoulder to cry on. “We just enjoy getting to hug them and just sit or hold them during these times and then sneak off to our room and cry it out after they are okay,” the Crumps mentioned. The Crumps were als
o surprised by how their family reacted to children who aren’t “biologically” theirs. They mention that seeing relationships form between their kids and family has been a blessing to watch.
The Crumps are a great example of how God uses His will to bring blessings and create a purpose for your life. Many people have said to the Crumps that “The kids are so blessed to have you guys,” but the Crumps believe it is the other way around. These kids have changed their life. They have endured heartache, celebrated blessings, and fought through trials- all of which they couldn’t do without God’s constant reassurance of His purpose for His Kingdom.
Guest post by Emily Cox, Intern with The CALL
