Who is Amie, Adoptive Mom?

Amie Cooper is passionate about foster care and adoption. As a college student, Amie spent a summer as a missionary doing orphan ministry in Zambia, Africa. After graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Development from Liberty University, Amie pursued a full-time career in social work. Before having children, she worked as a case manager for the Department of Child Services in Indiana, investigating child abuse and neglect, placing children in foster homes, and facilitating adoptions when family reunification was not in a child’s best interest.

Overwhelmed by the lack of foster and adoptive families within their community, Amie and her husband Zach made a decision to become foster parents themselves. Nevaeh came to live with them at 2 ½ months old, followed by Christina at age 15 just six months later. Another six months after that, Mackenzee and Braydyn were placed in their home, and a year later they found out they were pregnant! That’s right, the Coopers went from 0 to 5 children in just 2 ½ years! In fact, they finalized four adoptions and welcomed baby Levi all in a year’s span!

After filling up her own home, Amie began recruiting other families to foster and adopt, which has recently led her family to South Carolina with SAFY as the statewide recruiter. Amie’s heart’s desire is to encourage families to pursue foster care and adoption, which spills over from her home life to her full-time career and her writing. You can read more from Amie Cooper on her personal blog, Adoptive Mom Amie, in an upcoming devotional, and a book in the works with her husband on pursuing God’s path as a family.

But, What If?

I am so blessed beyond measure. I really can't complain. I have a hilarious and handsome husband that I absolutely adore. We have five incredible children. I have the career of my dreams with a flexible schedule and even a paid day off for my birthday. I live in the sunny south, just a quick drive from the beach in a house big enough for guests. My parents are both alive and well. My sisters are my best friends. 

But, what if something goes terribly wrong? What if my husband doesn't think I'm attractive any more because my belly looks like a Dunkin Donut? What if my inconsistent parenting causes attachment disorder and my children can't form healthy relationships with others? What if I can't live up to the expectations of my boss, lose my job, and put our family into financial ruin? What if my husband dies at a young age and I become a single mother, forced to move back in with my parents for the rest of my life?

Okay, these fears might sound a bit extreme, but I know I am not the only one struggling with anxious thoughts about the future. I read Facebook posts every day from other women who sound completely stressed out about the future. Sometimes anxiety gets so out of hand, that worries about tomorrow steal the joy away from today. Matthew 6:34 says, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

Rather than worry, God commands me not to fear. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4: 6). Regardless of the circumstances, Christ wants us to trust Him with the outcome. This does not mean that we should never have feelings of anxiety or thoughts of worry. Rather, when these feelings and thoughts come into our hearts and mind, we overcome them through prayer and petition to God. Once we present our requests, we must allow His peace to guard our hearts and minds from anxiety.