Chase and Elizabeth Hammon were on a self imposed “five-year plan”. The couple met on a mission trip during college. It was during this trip that they began to develop a relationship and discovered some common hopes and dreams. They kept in touch after the trip, eventually started dating and married in December of 2005. “Our grand plan was to build our own hut and be international missionaries,” Chase says as he reflects. “We both loved that movie, ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’.” Even as early as high school, Elizabeth not only wanted to do Christian outreach internationally, she also wanted what she calls, “a rainbow-color” family. “There were at least seven countries from which I hoped to adopt.” Chase wanted a big family too, though his vision was more for a biological family.  

Two years into their plan, Elizabeth began to have serious medical issues that would affect the couple’s ability to have children. The doctor advised that if they intended to have children, they would need to do so much earlier than planned. Elizabeth elected for a surgery that could increase the chances of conceiving. Less than a month later, and even as her body healed, the Hammons rejoiced at the news that Elizabeth was pregnant. Sadly, their joy was to be short lived. At their 10-week checkup, a sonogram revealed their baby had no heartbeat. Since November of 2007, the Hammons have endured four more painful losses. “Each time we praised God and celebrated every day we carried these precious blessings and then mourned when we found out God allowed death to take our babies before we could meet them.”

In 2008 the Hammons began looking toward adoption and got involved in Watermark’s Tapestry ministry, which serves families touched by a biblical call to care for orphans in accordance with James 1:27. Even as the Hammons reflected on their respective childhoods, they could see how God prepared and equipped them to handle the unique challenges of foster care and adoption. Chase came from a small family and longed for a large family. Both Elizabeth and Chase moved a lot as children, so they were accustomed to change and learning to develop relationships with many kinds of people with many different backgrounds. They were equally convinced that God’s plan was for them to love children. They wanted to glorify the Lord in this way and impact the lives of many for generations to come. When asked how they remain certain of this calling, despite what some would view as increasing evidence to the contrary, Elizabeth simply says, “Because Scripture says so.” With an attitude of faith and obedience the couple admits, “It’s extremely difficult to grasp God’s sovereignty in the midst of pain and heartache, and it’s very easy to question His love.”

Although it took time, a lot of prayer and many hard conversations, they were able to see His love and grace in their lives. With the help of other couples in the Watermark community, they learned about the many avenues to adoption and eventually decided to participate in a foster-to-adopt program. At the time the couple really had no desire to provide temporary care for children, but they felt God leading them to pursue this option. After several months of training, Chase and Elizabeth were certified as foster parents.

The next months were an emotional rollercoaster as the Hammons prepared for numerous different foster children, only to find out at the last minute that other arrangements were made. “God used this time to change our hearts dramatically,” says Chase. The couple let go of their need to cling to specific gender, age or temperament criteria. They now wanted to parent whatever children the Lord had for them. They looked around at their empty extra bedroom and knew that the Lord wanted it filled, even if only for a short time. Chase spent time considering his motives for wanting a large biological family, and the Lord began to change his heart from “this is what I want” to “this is where the need is.” From that point forward, Elizabeth and Chase were unified in their desire for a large family, whatever that may look like.

The next foster opportunity was for two girls, an infant and a toddler. The girls needed care for just six weeks, but the Hammons were eager. They knew that God would form their family how He wanted, and they wanted to allow that to happen. Nearly a year later, they still have the girls and will soon be caring for their older sister as well. In August of 2009, the Hammons received a newborn baby boy with the understanding that they would be able to adopt him eventually. But after four months of care, the couple learned their boy would have to return to his biological parent. Again they were heartbroken, but this time they considered that the Lord was teaching them that attachment does not come from knowing a child is biologically yours, but from daily interaction, the constant contact and the meeting of that child’s needs. The Hammons share a picture of the Lord as caretaker to all of us, His adopted children; “It isn’t just calling ourselves Christians or knowing that we are His that develops our walk with Him. It’s the constant love, grace and provision for all of our [daily] needs that is the foundation of our relationship with Him.”

The process of foster care is rewarding despite its ups and downs. When they first received the girls, the 15 month old was unable to socialize, and she never smiled or laughed like other kids. In 11 months, the Hammons have watched with joy as she has blossomed into a spirited little girl who loves to play dress up and laugh with her older sister.

The Hammons still don’t know what will happen with their girls or when their baby boy will have to leave, but they know God is sovereign, and He loves these children so much more than they ever could. Though the pain is coming and one day a child they’ve fully given themselves to will leave, they confess it is all worth the chance to love these children as Christ loves them.

Written by Aaron Horton