For the past ten years or so, my nomination for Mother of the Year has always been the same. Katie is the adoption world's answer to The Duggers (18 kids and counting)! Her mission in life has been to provide a home to children in crisis or kids who didn't have another hope for being adopted into a family. She has adopted several older sibling groups of three or four kids at a time. We all know how much fun teens and pre-teens are to parent! She took on that task times six when she began her adoption journey with two sibling groups who were just about to enter their teens. Being a first time mom to a half dozen kids in transition while still trying to get to know and love them is not for the faint of heart. Katie took it all in stride and with a sense of humor.

Later on, she adopted a set of triplets and their sister, again pre-teens. I'm sure plenty of people have used the word "crazy" to describe this woman of faith and courage! She is crazy. She's crazy for kids and for the work God has given her. She has had her share of heartbreak, including a few adoption failures. She had a baby girl for four months who had to be returned to the birth mother. In her heart, she's still the Mom of that baby. She had a young sibling group of three fall through later on. She waited a very long time before being able to rescue three of her boys from foster care. She was able to adopt one premature newborn who was so fragile, people were scared to pick him up or care for him. This is Katie's life. How she does it is a mystery to this mom of three. I can't imagine how she gets everyone in line and where they are supposed to be on time and without pulling her hair out. Each child has his or her own interests and talents and those are nurtured. There is a system for everything (I won't even talk about laundry for that many people!).

Katie has been through unbelievable trials and tribulations. With older kids coming out of foster care, she has dealt with abuse and neglect of every kind imaginable. She has taken these kids with broken lives and given them a sense of security, a place to call home, an education, and more than anything else, love. Her husband, Dale, is no slouch either! Dale has to be a saint. If not, he will be! He is kind and patient and supportive and knows that when God talks, Katie listens and he's there to help.

Tomorrow, Katie and Dale will be headed out to South Carolina for a very special birth. They will be adopting their 15th child (the older ones are out of the house!). October 29 will be baby Mia's birthday. I was speaking with Katie today and she talked about the excitement of having a newborn baby after missing out on the baby and toddler stages with her older kids. She can't wait. She cried when she told me how God put this child in her heart and that, despite having many children, she is not done and she knows she needs to be the mother of this little one. Katie has always told me that she wants the children that need her most. It doesn't matter about past history, age, or race. She just wants to be there for the ones who need her. She went on to say that her birth mother has nothing and she wants to help, but can't due to restrictions in PA about support or gifts of any kind to the birth mother. It breaks her heart to know that her birth mother is living in a house with no heat and no furniture.

I have yet to figure out how from 3,000 miles away, but I want to do two things. I want to give Katie the first baby shower she has ever had. I also want to find a way to provide some assistance and gift cards for her birth mother, who has two children, ages 3 and 14 months. She's just trying to find a way to take care of her kids and provide for them at Christmas, and she hasn't asked for a thing. When Katie offered to bring a used toddler bed for her, she profusely thanked her four times saying, "It's a blessing. I don't have anything." If anyone wants to help, please let me know. If you have any ideas, send them my way. If anyone deserves a baby shower and anything we can do for her, it's Katie. I feel privileged to know her and call her friend. She is quite an inspiration.