Chosen & Loved: A Story of Adoption and Redemption

Nicole's profound story of adopting her nephew, Mateo, stands as a testament to the transformative power of familial love and divine providence. In this episode, we explore the spiritual and emotional dimensions of adoption, drawing parallels to the biblical concept of God’s adoption of his chosen as depicted in Galatians 4:5-6. Nicole's decision to embrace Mateo, born under challenging circumstances, underscores the significance of choice in the realm of love and responsibility, mirroring the grace through which Jesus accepts us as His own. Through her journey, we witness the complexities of familial bonds, the trials of navigating legal frameworks, and the unwavering faith that sustains her through adversity. Ultimately, this discussion serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty and necessity of love in all its forms, illuminating the divine call to nurture and protect those entrusted to our care.

Takeaways:

• Nicole Mercado's adoption of her nephew Mateo exemplifies the profound love and commitment involved in adoption.
• The podcast draws parallels between Nicole's choice to adopt and God's choice to adopt us as His children, as highlighted in Galatians 4:5-6.
• The emotional journey surrounding Mateo's adoption illustrates the challenges and joys faced by adoptive families.
• Nicole emphasizes the importance of providing a loving home to children in need, reflecting God's love and grace in our lives.
• The discussion underscores the significance of familial love and the role of faith in navigating difficult circumstances surrounding adoption.
• Listeners are encouraged to consider adoption as a means of providing stability and love to children who may not have that in their biological families.

Links referenced in this episode:

• Abundant Life Podcast
• Canilu Air
• Lamplight Ministries

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to the Abundant LifePodcast, bringing you encouragement
and challenging believers tospiritual change and growth by applying
biblical principles toeveryday life.
And now your hosts, SassoMendez and Ben Arellano.
Welcome, everybody, to theAbundant Life Podcast.
This is episode number 7171,and I'm here with my good friend

(00:26):
and faithful servant in thefaith, Sasa.
So, man.
Hey, man, what's going on?
What's up, man?
How you doing?
I'm good, man.
It's been a day.
I'll be honest with you.
It's been a week.
Yes.
You know what I mean?
Yeah, yeah.
It's been really busy, but Imiss getting paid by the hour.
Excited to do the show tonight.
We've got a repeat customer.
We got a frequent flyer thatis back.
Well, our preferred vendor ofany air conditioning needs, Nicole

(00:49):
Mercado for the officialsponsor of the Abundant Life Podcast.
Welcome back.
Welcome back.
Thank you.
I mean, I'm not as recurringas Rebecca.
She is the queen.
She is the queen.
Co host of the Abundant Life Podcast.
But I'm honored to be back tobecome one.
Right.
So it's.
Yeah.
Sasso.
And you know, I've been on 71 episodes.

(01:10):
Yeah.
What's a brother got to do toget a hat?
You just ask for one.
We'll get you one.
Done.
All right.
All right.
I love my black one.
And I love the old Englishshirt that Kate stole from me.
We'll get you another one whenshe gets married.
I'm gonna take it.
You guys should make it shirtwith Tony because he did the commercial
and, you know.
Yeah.
Like, he's like.

(01:31):
Okay.
You know, he makes that facefor you.
Okay.
Okay.
You show him the picture.
I think Carlos shows him the picture.
I love the marketing ideas.
Yeah, There you go.
Yeah, I'll take that to themarketing department.
Or we should show him thepicture from Tony from ftl.
You know, the.
Oh, yeah.
Where he's super annoyed bythis guy and so he puts his head
back.
That would make a good sticker.
Oh, wood.
Ben.

(01:52):
Ben.
Or my.
I mean, our.
I might send it to you.
So the picture's hilarious.
It's so funny.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
He was just super annoyed.
And he didn't hide his.
He doesn't hide him.
His facial expressions, hisbody language.
It was.
Yeah.
Especially when you're 64 and £315.
It's hard to hide those.
It's hard to hide anything atthat point.
Exactly.
Yeah.
The funny part is I don'tthink anybody else noticed.

(02:13):
I noticed because I wassitting across And I took the picture.
Yeah, I can see his nose hairs.
Yeah.
Yeah.
100.
So, Nicole, on just a.
Another note, I see you had mydad over for dinner.
What did you guys.
What did you serve?
Oh, we served quesadillas,carne asada.
What else did we make?

(02:33):
I've not been to the HolyGrail, the mercado household, yet.
Did we?
What was that meat?
Maybe one day, this meal.
Is that what it's called?
Oh, that's just his beef.
Yeah.
Like a ribbon.
Type of like a flank.
Like a costo or something or.
Well, the flank is different.
That's the ra.
I think that's.
That's the.
We had carnesada, but we hadthese other little things that Carlos
makes, and they have littlebones in them, and he's.

(02:54):
He's looking at me like.
Like, short ribs.
Short ribs.
That's okay.
There we go.
Short ribs.
Okay.
Rebecca loves short ribs.
Yeah.
You grilled them or smoked himor what?
Grill.
Carlos said he grilled him.
Then I think I had maybeguacamole, Maybe.
I don't.
Oh, I made some jalapenos.
Jalapeno rice?
Yeah.
So it was good.
Jalapeno rice?
Yeah.
Your dad kept saying, I'venever had green rice before.

(03:16):
And I was like, oh, is thatgood or bad?
I don't know, but it was delicious.
Never had jalapeno rice?
No.
Every rice.
I mean, Mexican rice that I'vehad is all, you know, red.
Red rice or orange rice, whatever.
Diane makes really goodMexican rice.
I know Rebecca does, too, butI've never had.
So this one, like, instead ofa tomato, you put.
You blend jalapenos, cilantro,onion, garlic, and then you.

(03:39):
Chicken bouillon.
It can be.
If the jalapeno is hot, but,like, the sauce is green and it comes
out really good.
Well, we know it's hotter thana tomato, right?
I mean.
I mean, the scobo levels aremuch higher, Right.
I've seen people.
They put.
You ever heard of el pato?
Instead of using tomato sauce,use that.
It's a little spicier.

(03:59):
And they have the jalapenokind and.
Then the green one.
Yellow one.
The green one's a jalapeno.
Yellow is OG1, right?
Yeah, but it's good.
You.
We used to just dip on that,like salsa.
It's pretty cool.
When I was a kid, my dad andsister would get their own can.
I mean, my mom would share.
Oh, like, to dip.
Dip some chips?
Yeah.
I remember it was like, 10 fora dollar.
My mom would stock up.
They're still pretty cheap, I think.
Pretty inflation.
I'm probably like three bucks now.

(04:19):
Maybe, but maybe.
Oh, I can't even remember.
I think might be older.
Over a dollar each.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
I think we need a dollar each.
No, over, I think.
And then they had the bigger can.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And then they have the bigger can.
They just put little plasticover and put in the fridge.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I'll have you over when.
When my kitchen's done being built.
You're remodeling it or what?
Yeah, we're actually moving itto an entire different part of the

(04:42):
house.
Wow.
Like, are you adding on?
Well, we have an addition andit wasn't really being used for anything.
So our kitchen now is really small.
So we're moving it to thatbigger area.
So when your mom and dad came,we already had the dining room moved
there, but my cabinets werejust all over the place.
So now they're actually on thewall waiting for counter.
Who's doing the work?

(05:02):
Carlos?
Well, yes, but also our dearpastor, Pastor Eckblad, who is a
man of many talents.
You better never leave ourchurch because I'm putting blood,
sweat and tears in here.
I love you guys.
He does.
That is a labor locked us in.
Yes, he's.
He's definitely a blessing,that's for sure.
He has put in many long hours.
Like what I mean is, is he.

(05:24):
Working right now there whileyou guys are doing the body cast
or.
You know what?
You joke about that, but hey, joking.
When we were in.
Where were we?
Sandwich Diego.
And when we went to Hawaii, heworked while we were gone on vacation.
He went to our house to paintand do all that.
So he's.
Does he have a key?
He's an angel.
He.
That.
That day he had a key which hepromptly returns after he's done

(05:47):
with his work.
So it doesn't seem like, youknow, whatever.
I just seen your house atnight when I dropped Carlos off.
Oh, yeah.
It's pretty scary at night, probably.
Is it?
I think he had Christmaslights on or something.
Oh, yeah.
That was a lot like the yearround Christmas lights, you know.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Drew.
Mexican.
I know.
We have.
We have a neighbor.
I wait till the last possibleminute to celebrate Christmas and

(06:09):
then they promptly come offwhen it's time.
I just, I.
There's a season for it andlike, I just can't celebrate Christmas
right now, you know, it'sstill hot.
Some people do.
I want to get those ever lights.
That'S just me though.
My investment.
Yeah, those are pretty nice.
But four grand and just neverput them up again.
Honestly, I don't.
I. I could care less aboutdecorating Christmas.
It's just Diane, she loves.

(06:30):
Wow.
She loves the lights under the bus.
Yeah, it's okay.
But I. I love her.
So I do it.
I hope so.
I mean she's right here.
She's gonna throw a chunkle at you.
Would you say?
I like fall?
Actually that's my favorite decor.
And my birthday is usually thefirst day of fall, so.
When is your birthday?
September 22nd.

(06:51):
Oh, it's coming up.
It's coming up.
Oh, wow.
Wow.
That is coming up pretty soon.
So I will collecting cash andgifts all week, guys.
Cataloo Air.
Just look it up.
You can send.
She's registered at Amazon.
You can put my birthday.
My cash app handle at thebottom of the screen if you want
Apple pay.
Apple pay on the YouTube channel.
Tony 22nd.

(07:12):
So that is.
What is that?
Sunday?
Monday.
Monday.
Sorry.
I think today's Wednesday.
Wow.
What do you got planned?
Nothing.
The fair?
No, nothing.
Nothing.
Yeah, I'm sure Carlos, he's aromantic guy.
He took you to Hawaii.
I'm sure he has something planned.
Well, my mother in law'sbirthday was yesterday, so we're

(07:32):
gonna celebrate together on Saturday.
But really, I don't haveparties for my birthday.
I just.
I know, but dinner or likewhat's your favorite restaurant?
Oh, I. PETA Jungle.
Really?
Yes.
I love people like above every.
Like, like that's your.
That's your go to your birthday.

(07:52):
I will never get tired of PETA Jungle.
So like, you know howsometimes you have different tastes
on a.
On a certain day?
You're like, oh, I'm feeling Italian.
Or this.
If somebody's like let's justgo to PETA Jungle.
I could be feeling like eatingChinese food.
I will go eat at Peter Jungle.
I love it that much.
Wow.
Because even I get sick of B Dubs.
But if you go back to the timebefore you got sick of B Dubs, I

(08:12):
mean that's kind of that wholescenario, right?
I mean.
Well, just.
You wouldn't.
It's a day or two, then I'm back.
I'm just saying.
You wouldn't pick B dubs foryour birthday though, right?
I mean.
No.
Yeah.
No, right?
No.
As much as you like it or kindof don't like it, but whatever.
I would pick Matt's.
Well, I mean I've gone to likeRuth Chris like for an anniversary
or birthday.
But like, you know.

(08:32):
Yeah, but those are like oncea year stuff.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Which is your birthday?
Which.
Your birthday.
Yeah.
Like, I like Houston's.
Right.
That's my kind of in between.
Ruth.
Chris.
I've never heard of that place.
Is it here?
Sorry.
Yes.
How about Hillstone?
I'm sorry.
Wow.
Clearly I'm not assophisticated as you thought.

(08:52):
Maybe not.
That's okay, though.
We can get you there.
Okay.
It's good stuff.
I take.
You can take me for my birthday.
I could.
Okay.
There you go.
I'd be okay with that.
Locked and loaded.
Carlos.
Coming.
Yes.
Okay.
Water with lemon for this guy.
Extra lemon, please.
I'm feeling generous.
No, that'd be great.
So we talked about food, right?

(09:13):
You kind of weird.
You don't like other things inPETA Jungle, but that's okay.
Very strange to me.
There's a lot of.
Lot of restaurants we can go to.
But just on a serious note,you know, we had texted a little
bit about, you know, CharlieKirk, and I think we'd be remiss.
And I think Ben and I willdiscuss maybe doing a podcast about
his life.
And I would love to make thatour next episode.

(09:34):
Yeah.
We got the opportunity to gosee him live last October with Carrie
Lake.
And I feel so dumb that wedidn't get a picture with him.
He was right there.
I really wish that I got apicture of him, but not with him.
Right.
I would like to have got onewith him.
I did.
I got a picture.
He was a foot taller than I,so I didn't.
You know, he was a tall guy.
I know he was drinkingStarbucks and.
Yeah, he was.
I was kind of thinking,charlie Kirk, you're a conservative

(09:57):
guy.
Drinking Starbucks like I was, anyway.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Good dude, man.
Yeah.
Tragic.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And that really is.
And we really see the heart ofthe people of America and even the
world, I think, is showingmore respect than where I really
believe we are in the last days.
And what I appreciate.

(10:19):
And I was saying that's afreedom at last, is that these people
that have been vile and saidcrazy, ridiculous things for a man
that was murdered in front ofthousands of people and probably
millions that have seen itonline, that God would still save
the killer that killed CharlieKirk and Charlie Kirk would be welcoming

(10:40):
him to.
To.
To heaven.
And that's the power of the gospel.
Right?
The gospel is the gospel for everybody.
It's just not for.
Because we're all in the same spot.
Right?
Ben heard a message thisSunday about Paul being you know,
on the level of the shooterpersecuting Christians at the death
of Stephen, who was one ofGod's people.
And Stephen said, God forgivethem, right?

(11:02):
And he went up and God took him.
And that was all of us too.
We just, you know, the Biblestandard of murder.
And so I just appreciate thepower of the gospel and that God
is willing to save everybody,even those that would say the most
vile things, blasphemous,grotesque things towards God, towards
Charlie Kirk, towards a manthat had a family and kids.

(11:23):
And so I was just grateful toGod that he forgave me too, for all
the, you know, the dumb stuffI've said.
And.
But yeah, I just, I think we,our next podcast will probably be
Charlie Kirk.
I want to work on a devotionalfor that, but I just praise God for
the stand he had.
And then I think this is God'sthrowing out the net to the world
to say all these people thatare watching his clips where he gave

(11:46):
the gospel another opportunityto say, like Noah, right, the door
is shutting.
You better get into the boator you're going to perish.
And this is, you know, God'sfinal call to, to the world, really.
I, I believe that he usedCharlie's death to really get it
out there.
Well, I mean, it's, it'sglobal news and there's people worldwide
reacting to this, whether it'sbe positive or negative.

(12:08):
But I would agree.
I mean, this is, this is notjust, you know, a celebrity dying.
It's.
It was, it was literal apersecution in the United States
of America.
Our kind of our first major persecution.
And it was heard globally.
And there's people that arecoming to Christ because of this.
It's almost like, I think of,you know, talking about separating

(12:30):
the goats from the sheep.
Like, it almost seems likethat's kind of what's happening because
you're, you're seeing all thishatred bubble up, but you're also
seeing people that were onthat side coming over.
People.
I was at a Wednesday nightservice and they were saying that
they had 20 new families cometo church this past Sunday as a result.
And so I think people are nowstarting to think and starting to
look at Charlie Kirk and say,well, who's this Jesus guy that he's

(12:53):
been talking about?
And I think it's making themthink, and I think there's just this
change or shift that'shappening right now.
It's kind of exciting.
Honestly, I'm not.
I mean, it's tragic.
Is, is I'll get out for ForCharlie and for Erica and the kids.
But.
But I think God can bring goodout of evil, and I think that's what
we're seeing right now.
And the crazy thing is that hehad just spoke on Romans 8, 28, 29,

(13:15):
right?
That God works all thingstogether for good, for the.
You know, that the.
The man of God may bethoroughly furnished into good works.
And I think a lot ofChristians are being like, wow, challenged
to say, man, this guy stood.
Stood for something.
And you had sent me a verse, Ithink, believe, last night, saying
that.
That we would all be ready togive an account of our salvation

(13:37):
of.
Of the eternal life.
And I think Charlie in thelast years had become really, really
good at that.
Even to the fact where Mormon,before he got shot, was questioning
him.
And he gave the gospel to allthose people.
And just people at church, wehad new people come too, that said,
my parents come here.
I'm not interested.

(13:58):
But, man, that, that testimonyof Charlie Kirk, like, I want to
be like that, man.
Right?
And he puts all his husbandsto shame and like, wow, this guy.
Unbelievable.
Not, not.
Not Carlos.
No, not Carlos.
He just took you to Hawaii, sohe hard to compete with that.
Oh, that's a whole nother story.
But.
But that's a whole notherepisode about how I survived a tsunami
evacuation.
Hashtag, I'm a survivor.

(14:19):
That Oprah wasn't there tosend a plane.
I wasn't.
I was on the other island, actually.
We were in Oahu.
She shut down the Maui.
So you weren't in Maui?
No, I was not in Maui.
Okay.
No, but I like Oahu.
Pearl Harbor.
But I, I didn't.
I did die, though.
Five times in the car.
Yes, but that, like I said,that's a whole nother story.
Carlos brought you back five times.

(14:39):
He.
He had to use, like, maybe youdon't know, but when you take, like,
child.
I know you have children, butwhen you take like, childbirth classes
and they're like, okay.
When the wife is like, youknow, saying, oh, I can't do it,
I can't do it, then you haveto do, like, the take charge method,
like, say, look me in the eye.
Okay, breathe.
That's what he had to do inthe car.
It was more like, I need youto get it together.

(15:00):
And I'm like, okay, so get in shape.
Make it.
Yeah.
But I want to give a shout outto Pastor Max Fowler from Salt and
Light Church in Hawaii inOahu, because he did our vow renewal
earlier that morning.
We didn't know he was a Christian.
Because you don't know who'sgoing to, like, show up when you
do a vowel renewal, when youpay through a little company.

(15:21):
But we got to talking beforewe did it, and we found out that
he was a pastor, and he hadtold us after we were all done, know,
if you need anything whileyou're here, give me a call.
Little did he know that thatnight I would be calling him in tears
because I was, like,hyperventilating about this tsunami
that was coming.
Right.
And we went to his house, andhe made us dinner, and we got to

(15:43):
hang out with him because helived in a tsunami safe zone, which
was literally three housespast the tsunami safe zone sign.
Right.
But I felt better.
Did anybody die in that tsunami?
The tsunami didn't happen.
Oh, boy.
Yes.
So he's, like, drowning infour feet of water.
Yeah.
Well, stand up.

(16:04):
Here's the thing, is that Iget to tell.
I have the mic, right.
So Carlos could counteractthis entire thing.
But this is my truth.
We're going to use that term.
I'm just kidding.
Yeah.
But it was.
It was definitely an experience.
But Max was great.
Him and his wife Vanessa, theytook us in, we prayed, got to know
about their life.
We got to share our testimony.

(16:24):
And now we have friends in Hawaii.
Dr. Tillotson.
And now friends in Hawaii.
I don't know if you know this.
I'm a big deal.
Your net is widely cast.
It is.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
I have to hit you up on LinkedIn.
I should probably update that, but.
Yes.
Yeah, me too.
I'm trying to get in your network.
Yeah.
Maybe if you feel.

(16:45):
If you'll accept us.
I mean, accept our friend request.
I'm taking applications, so.
Okay.
Wow.
Okay, So I already got mydryer fixed.
You know, Ken Luair scared ofa house fire because of Tony.
Great marketing.
Yeah.
Oh, man.
Shall we get into some content?
Let's get in the content here.
Sorry.
Taco talk went pretty long today.
Sorry about that.
That's okay.
Sorry.
Love you.
Bye.

(17:05):
Real quick, before we get intothe content, just a reminder.
Visit us at Abundant Live fm.
You can see all of our oldpodcast episodes along with show
notes and other recommendations.
I don't know that we've addedcanaloo to the site.
We may have to add canaloo asa link on the side, as a reference,
as a.
As a referral.
But that Tony commercial, youguys do.
Affiliate, like, payouts,like, for, like, people that refer
you business, like, you know,a little commission.

(17:26):
Oh, man.
We can talk about that.
How about hats?
I Could pay hats.
For every five people, you geta hat.
I just want to tickets.
I just want a Tony T shirt.
That's what I want.
Listen, once we get the Tony Tshirt out, you guys will be the first
two to have one.
Okay?
That head kick can't get anybigger, though.
If you give him his own shirt,he's gonna be like, he's already
big.
You know what I mean?

(17:47):
Like, Carlos told me, yourhead's too big to fit in the room,
but Red Tony's head's even bigger.
Wow.
And you can also visit us onsocial media.
We are on Facebook, Instagram,and Twitter, I believe.
And so with that, we're gonnaget into our content.
Today we're gonna be talkingabout the topic of adoption.
I know we've had otherepisodes on this, but this is just
a little bit different spin on it.

(18:08):
I think you guys will beblessed with this story.
And Sasso is going to kick usoff with our key verse today.
So we are going to Galatians4, chapter 5.
I mean, I'm sorry.
Galatians, chapter 4, verses 5through 7.
To redeem though.
To redeem them that were underthe law that we might receive the
adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, Godhad sent forth the spirit of his

(18:29):
son into your hearts.
Crying, abba, Father.
So, Nicole, kick us off andjust kind of tell us what brings
you here to speak about thestory of adoption and how it relates
to God adopting us into his family.
Sure.
So, as you know, Carlos and Ihave five children, four of which
mercy.

(18:50):
Why did you know Hawaii?
Wow, that seems like nothing.
Hey, if you want to get a goodnight's sleep after having five kids,
you have to fly 3,000 milesacross the ocean and survive a tsunami
evacuation.
I will plug that again.
Tsunami's nothing compared tothe five kids.
Exactly.
So, yes, we had four daughters.
Right.
And we're not planning to haveany more children.

(19:10):
And people would always ask,are you gonna have more kids or are
you wanting a boy?
And that was, like, not evenon our radar.
We were happy with the fourgirls that God gave us, and we knew
it was for a reason.
Well, now we have a son.
His name is Mateo.
He's gonna be 2 in November.
And it's really, like, crazyto think that we got him when he

(19:32):
was 3 weeks old.
So the first, like, 17 monthsof his life were a really trying
time.
Like, emotionally, maybespiritually, mentally, physically,
all the things.
But pretty much Mateo isactually biologically my nephew.
His biological father is mybrother, and my Brother is at the

(19:56):
moment and has been for awhile on drugs in the streets, unfortunately.
So we knew that this baby wascoming in 2023.
We just didn't know when.
And one day we just got a callstating that the baby was born.
Right.
So we didn't kind of, wedidn't know what was going to happen

(20:18):
with him because at that pointthe biological parents were trying
to, you know, keep him as.
I don't know.
Anyways, December 20, though,was the day he was born, November
28.
He was six weeks early becausehis biological mom was, is a user.
Right.
So when he was born six weeksearly, he had fentanyl and meth in

(20:40):
his system.
And so he had to be get, like,get special care, obviously, because
he was also really small.
He was like four and a halfpounds when he was born.
Um, so the time came for himto be discharged because thank God,
he wasn't as bad or he didn'tneed the level of care that most
babies that are born that way needed.

(21:01):
So he was fine to be releasedfrom the hospital.
He just didn't have twohealthy parents that could take him.
So they called me at 8 in themorning and they were like, hey,
we have this baby that's readyto be released.
Would you be willing to take him?
And I'm like, yeah, we cantake him.
And they said, okay, well, weneed to get some stuff signed by
the courts and we'll, we'lllet you know.

(21:24):
So in my mind, I'm like, okay,well, that's going to take like a
few days.
And I said, well, how soondoes that happen?
They said, oh, by this afternoon.
And a DCS caseworker is goingto go to your house and investigate
your house and then interviewyou guys.
And when they interview you,they really interview you.
Like, they made us separate.
Like, we, they interviewed me.
They sent my mom outside andmy husband outside, and they ask

(21:47):
you questions like, how do youresolve conflict?
Do you and your husband fight?
Were you spanked as a child?
Do you spank your kids?
Like, lots of things.
Well, we passed.
So what did you say?
Did you spank your kids?
Maybe that's personal.
I don't know.
You okay answering that?
I think I, you know, I don'tremember what I said, but the answer

(22:10):
I gave.
My kids were sitting on thecouch and they were like, not.
They were shocked at my answer.
I guess.
It didn't be your kids.
Yeah, we spanked our kids.
I mean, it was me too.
It was just a. Yeah, well, we did.
I mean, if this is beingrecorded, I don't remember what I
said, but yeah, I spanked my kids.
Okay, so there you go.
But that's biblical, right?
There's nothing God commands.

(22:31):
Yeah, we don't spread the rod if.
You love your kids.
Right.
But when you're being putunder all that pressure, like you
don't know what the, what theright answer is.
Yeah.
So that, that's what I'm saying.
Like, yeah.
So by one o' clock thatafternoon, we had ripped open a car
seat from Target and we wereat the hospital, right.
And getting ready to take thislittle redheaded baby in who was

(22:56):
now five and a half pounds.
Like Carlos Canelo, bro.
Maybe, maybe you're right.
Maybe you are related.
I think so.
Little Cinnamon.
Little Cinnamon, that wasactually his nickname for a while.
Yeah.
It'S better than his other name.
His first name.
Yes, yes.
At the time that was his old name.
Right?
Yeah.

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(24:00):
your home cool, comfortableand cared for with values that matter.
So quick question just to go back.
So when you found out thatyour brother, you know, was expecting,
did you guys already have likea thought that you would become the
parents or you would you takehim in or how did that transpire
where you became like next inline to take sure the baby?

(24:24):
It wasn't until he was born that.
Because we didn't know forsure if the mom was pregnant because
they were living on the street.
So it was just more likerumors of what she said.
We had a few family memberskind of see them out on the street
and be like, well she doesn'treally look pregnant because she's
a very tiny woman.
So we didn't know if shereally was pregnant.

(24:45):
But anyways, once she wasborn, once he was born, I had asked
Carlos at the kitchen tablebecause I knew they couldn't take
care of a baby.
I said, if they ask us to.
To take this baby, becausethat's a big responsibility.
Right.
We were done.
I mentioned that in thebeginning, we were not having any
more kids, and our youngestone was already two, so it was like
we were sleeping through the night.
We had our routine, all thatgood stuff.

(25:07):
So he's like, yeah.
And I said, okay.
And that's kind of just wherewe left it.
And then just through thewhole, like, you know, a DCS case
being opened because the babywas born exposed and all this other
stuff.
Um, you know, my name got inthe orbit because I was family.
And so I did have a talk withthe case manager maybe about a week

(25:31):
or so before we knew what wasgoing to happen.
And he had asked, would you bewilling to take the baby in if needed?
And I said, yeah.
But we didn't really know thatthat was going to happen because
based on the stories that wewere hearing from the parents, they
were going to get the baby.
And as you know, people thatare in that situation don't always
tell the truth.
Right.
So we were really kind of leftin the dark.

(25:51):
And also my brothers and minerelationship was not good.
So I wasn't talk.
I hadn't spoken to my brotherat that point for like a year and
a half, so he wasn't gonna.
I. I was the last person thatwas going to know any information.
So.
Yeah.
And even since then, I haven'tspoken to him.
So it's been a long time, Ithink, Since.

(26:14):
In.
Since October 2022.
I've seen him one time in person.
Wow.
And that was when we had totake the baby to get a paternity
test, which is a whole notherthing of why I believe.
I know God had his hand on this.
Because when the baby wasborn, the biological mom is legally

(26:36):
married to another man.
Right.
So the.
The lawyers did not know this.
So when I got the baby, I'mthe paternal aunt.
We had a court date inJanuary, so a few.
A few weeks after I've had the baby.
And then it was brought upthat she was married.
Well, she's not married to mybrother, so at that point, the husband

(26:57):
is considered the legal father.
Had that information beenknown in the beginning.
I'm nobody to the baby, Right.
So I wouldn't have gotten the baby.
So that was kind of my first.
I know this is like, prettydeep, heavy stuff, right?
Yeah.
It just shows the Lord'sprovidence in.
It all though this.

(27:17):
So this is how I knew at that.
At that moment, like, okay,like, as Hard as this is, I know
that God has a bigger plan.
And I'd like to say that itwas always that easy to say that
it was not.
But at that moment, two weeksin that.
That that's what had happened.
So just kind of going back.

(27:38):
So they had to do a DNA testto make sure you were the maternal
aunt.
Yes.
And that was the longest wait.
Because when they say theyneed a DNA test, then that puts a
seed of doubt, especially, youknow, like, in my mom, because my
mom.
My mom helped me a lot withthe baby in the beginning, and so

(27:59):
she really started to bondwith him.
Well, we had him for about twoor three weeks.
We had to get the paternitytest, and from there, it was about
another three week wait.
So there was that chance that,what if this baby is not my brother's?
Then what do we do?
Because she already startedbonding with him, and she had even
asked me, if he's not his, canwe still keep the baby?

(28:21):
And I'm like, I'm not acertified foster parent.
I'm what was called kinshipcare, which means I only had him
because I was family.
And at that point, he wouldhave to go with, like, a certified
foster family.
So that was a long wait.
It was.
It was rough.
But we looked at the baby, andas you know, the Mendes have a very
distinct feature.

(28:41):
Right.
And so we looked at him.
We're like, no, he has to be.
He has to be his.
But he was.
After we waited three weeks.
Yeah, because what.
And so I imagine the.
The woman that.
That she.
You know, and the marriage.
That the husband wasn'tbeating down your door wanting the
baby, right?

(29:02):
No, he had actually.
So the woman has otherchildren, and so she has children
with her husband, and he hadtaken them and moved across the country
to be back where they'reoriginally from on the East Coast.
So he was kind of like, tryingto rebuild his life and.
And take care of his kids.
So.
Yeah.
And I found out shortly afterthe adoption that he really doesn't

(29:26):
want to have anything to do,for obvious reasons, with Teo, but
he also doesn't want hischildren right now to even really
know him or anything.
And that's kind of sad, butI'm praying about that, because he
has his four sisters from thatlive with him.
He has a brother, anotherchild that my brother has who's a

(29:47):
few years older than him, andthen he has three other siblings
from his biological mom.
So, like, I got money just incase he's here today.
I told him I'd give money.
So he's like one of nine, maybe.
I think he's the youngest ofnine or eight, if you count all together.
Yeah, if you count adoptedhalves and all that.
So.
Wow.
Wow.
Yep.
Go ahead.
I'm sorry.
No, I was going to say how.
So how did that play on yourspiritual life?

(30:09):
Like, I mean, you know, fromthe time that you kind of had the
conversation with Carlos,like, hey, what.
What are we going to do if.
Up until you going through the.
The.
The.
The test.
The DNA test?
Like.
Yeah.
I think for me, the mostdifficult part of it was in the beginning

(30:30):
was the late night feedings.
And I know that doesn't soundlike a lot, but it was because again,
like I said, I was sleepingthrough the night and having to wake
up and feed him.
I would just look at him andbe like, I shouldn't have to be doing
this.
Like.

(30:50):
And I got.
I was angry at my brotherbecause I'm like, this is your responsibility.
Like, I.
Okay, this is gonna sound bad,but if we're being perfectly honest,
I was like, I did my time, youknow, Like, I didn't ask for this.
They'll be listening to this later.
Sorry, buddy.
And this is like in the middleof the night, you know, this is like

(31:13):
around the holidays.
And I. I would dread knowingthat I wasn't like, I'm gonna go
to bed and I'm just gonna haveto get up and I'm tired.
And it's a very selfish thing.
Okay, so we can highlight that too.
I was being very selfish, butit's real how I was feeling.
Yeah, you had four kids andthen you guys have a business.
Right.
And so, I mean, that's noteasy either if you're running your

(31:34):
own business.
Yes.
It's a lot of time that you'rehaving to give.
So I can understand the frustration.
Like, that's.
That's tough.
And some resentment.
Right.
It's not hard or it is hard.
I mean, it's not easy to.
Because you're carrying aburden that our responsibility that
really is someone else's, thathas not fulfilled their parental
obligation or fatherly ormotherly, both because of poor choices.

(31:56):
Right.
Well, and then, too, when wespoke to the lawyer, because the
baby had his own lawyer.
And so when we.
He called me, the first courtdate we had, I asked him, I said,
how long does this process take?
Like, as far as knowing what'sgoing to happen with him?
And he said, it could be up to18 months.
And I had him for two weeks atthis point.

(32:17):
So when you HEAR the word 18months, you're like, oh, my.
Like, this is.
This is a lifetime, right?
Because every day at thatpoint felt like 10 years long.
Like, it was just.
It was a lot.
And so I.
So that was part of it, too, right?
So I'm like, wow, this is.
This is going to be a long time.
And I didn't know if he wasgoing to stay or if he was going
to go.

(32:37):
And just that, too was like,do I bond?
What do I do?
Right?
And my mom, who lives with us,was an amazing help, but she also
works full time, so she wouldsay, when I have my days off, I'll
help you.
And when I have my days off,I'll keep them in my room at night
so I can do the feeding.
So in the beginning, it waslike, great.

(32:59):
I'm going to get a goodnight's sleep.
But then one day, she washolding him when it was going to
be her day off, and she wasfast asleep.
And I looked at her, and I'mlike, I felt terrible.
I'm like, how about this?
I'll take nights, and you justhelp me on your days off.
And she's like, okay.
And Everest.
And then from that day on,like, I kept him every single night.

(33:20):
And it was a lot.
But, yeah, I mean, like, howBen's asking about my spiritual life.
If there was anything thatteaches you to wait on the Lord,
it was that, you know, justbecause every court date was like,
okay, we'll reconvene in three months.
Okay?
You wait for three months.
You go to your court date.
All right, well, they didn'thave this paper they needed, so we'll

(33:41):
set another court date threemonths from now.
And that happened a lot.
And so it just got to thepoint where I was like, I'm not even
gonna think, oh, what are theygoing to decide now?
Because they're just going tokeep kicking the can down the road,
you know?
And there was a court datethat was pretty important, and his

(34:01):
parents didn't show up.
And this was probably aboutfour or five months into the thing,
and I just thought to myself,wow, nobody's here for him.
And that's like a second timethat it hit me, like, they don't
care.
And how can you.
You know what I mean, when youdon't know this little person?

(34:22):
And they were notified, I imagine.
Oh, yeah.
In their own way, they do everything.
They.
They do everything.
They provide bus passes,everything for you to be able to,
like, get a drug test, everything.
They put things out in thenewspaper letters.
They even go to your house inperson to try to find you.
You know, they tried, but they.
They didn't show up.

(34:42):
So.
And in that state.
Right.
I think, you know, drugsbecome more important than anything
else in your life, even yourown family and your own son, which
is really sad.
And I think of, you know, justbaby Moses right in the water, and
God had provided for him to berescued and not killed.

(35:03):
And in this case, I mean, Idon't know, Mattel can be Moses,
too.
I don't know.
But how God has a plan for hislife even when.
For all of us.
Right.
Even the moment we're born.
And thankfully, you know, we.
I had parents and, you know,you did, too.
But how you now have becomethat mom and dad for somebody, as
you said.

(35:23):
Right.
That if he didn't have them,if not me, then who.
Right, right.
And I think that's what we'relearning, what we talked about.
Charlie, Kirk, like, we canall feel bad about it, but what are
you going to do about it?
Like, what actionable thingsare you going to take?
What steps you going to taketo provide for him?
Right.
To be a family more than anything.
And so go back.
I mean, just.

(35:44):
I remember the day we werethere for his.
For his official adoption.
Yeah, I know that was probablya really.
Because that was just the final.
Like, he's ours.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
And when one of that.
Was that April.
No.
So we had gotten him onDecember 20, 2023, and our adoption
was finalized May 1, 2025.

(36:05):
So, you know, you're at theend of the year, and then you got
the whole year of 2024, andthen a little bit of 2025.
So it seems like a really long time.
I think it was like 17 monthsor something like that.
It was a long time.
And I don't want to notmention that throughout a lot of
this, I was meeting with yourwife, Rebecca, and not like to use

(36:27):
her counseling services.
I know that I just have the.
The extreme luxury orprivilege of having her as family.
So we would meet up for lunchand she would remind me of that.
I would pour my heart out toher about what I was going through
at that time with the baby.
And she would just keepreminding me that, like, you know,
God has a purpose for his life.
And before we knew exactlywhat was going to happen, she would

(36:50):
remind me, like, you're hismom right now.
Like, and even if they were tomake a decision where he would go
to somebody else, which youdon't really it doesn't sit in your
mind that it's permanent untilit's permanent.
Know.
I mean, you don't ever want to assume.
And that was really hard for me.
She would be like, you're hismom right now.
And so I'm like, okay, Yep, yep.

(37:10):
And then I would tell her, youknow, with having the business and
all of that, the way I wouldget through these long gaps between
the court dates is I'm like,all right, it's summer, so we're
just going to blow through thesummer season.
I'm not even going to worryabout anything, and we're just going
to focus on work.
And she's like, okay, yeah,you can do that.
You can just focus on what youhave to do, or you can remember in

(37:32):
all her wisdom, Right.
That God is faithful.
And I'm just like, yes, that's right.
So she does it to me, too.
She'll say, did you pray?
I'm like, no, I just want youto listen to my problems.
I don't want to be counseled.
I just want you to say, agreewith me on my complaining and murmuring.
I don't want answers.
I just want you to listen.
Yeah.

(37:52):
So she did help me out a lotthroughout all that.
And then, yeah, fast, Fastforward to May 1, 2025.
We adopted him officially, andhis name was changed to Mateo, which
is what.
Hallelujah.
From what it was before.
And that's what we've been,we've been calling him since he was

(38:13):
about two months old.
But, yeah, and you were there.
Rebecca was there.
Pastor, the carpenter, the.
You know what I mean, Generalcontract Renaissance pastor.
Renaissance man.
And a lot of our church family.
And a lot of our family.
And the judge, I'm, I, I, Idon't know if you had heard him,
but he was pretty shocked tosee how many people fit in that courtroom.

(38:37):
So I'm like, oh, you don'tnormally bring this many people to
an adoption.
And we had a lot of people.
This is a small room.
Yeah, it was a small room.
Yeah.
But, and, but it was, it was nice.
And there was a giant Trumpprotest right that day.
So a lot of our family thatwere trying to get there on time
got there really late, andthey missed the ceremony.
And, but we all went to PeterPiper afterwards and had a great

(38:57):
time hanging out.
So it was a nice day.
I'm Rebecca Mendez withLamplight Ministries, where I serve
the Lord by loving othersthrough biblical counseling and workshops.
Every day, we're reminded ofour fallen world through disappointment,
grief, fear, Despair.
We need a savior.

(39:18):
And in Jesus Christ, we havethat Savior, Savior.
He came to rescue us, offeringhis spirit to guide us and his Word
to comfort, correct and lead us.
If you're a follower ofChrist, eager to grow in him, I'd
be honored to walk thisjourney with you through one on one
biblical counseling.
Together we'll explore God'sword, find encouragement, and pursue

(39:42):
faithful obedience to our Savior.
Please Visit me atlamplightministries.com to book your
appointment today.
What I remember, I mean, youguys were emotional, obviously, but
it's almost like, you know,when we get saved, that's when we
become officially and youknow, the.
The previous months of Mateo,like, that's God's working in your

(40:03):
life, throwing things, leadingyou to himself and then that day
of salvation, like, you areofficially his child.
And what a powerful example ofyou taking in Mateo under unique
circumstances, for sure.
And out of, really out ofnecessity and need.
Most people, like, we learned,you know, show me the father.

(40:24):
I think with the movie iswhere people go to China to adopt
kids.
This was pretty much put inyour lap.
And I think if.
What if you did not adopt babyMateo, what would it.
What would.
Where would he be?
What would he become?
Yeah.
And how God impressed on yourheart and even working in you.
You know, Carlos gave his.
He was on the podcast and yourun the podcast, sharing your testimony,

(40:44):
how you came to know Christand even at that point, working before
Matteo was even born.
And the powerful thing is, youknow, Matteo, he's going to grow
up in a Christian home.
And could he potentially bethe one that leads his own father
to Christ?
Right.
His biological father.
And God can use him.
Who knows?
Right?

(41:04):
Yeah.
Matteo, Kirk, whatever.
You know what I'm saying?
You never know what God.
What God has in store or.
Yeah.
And I want to also, too, like,thank my husband because, like, Teo
is my nephew by blood.
Right.
But like, my husband was theone that, honestly, while I was going

(41:25):
through all of these emotionsand being angry at my brother and
all these things, Carlos wouldlike, just love on him.
You know what I mean?
And he didn't have to.
He could have said no.
Like, he could have said,like, no, like, that's.
That.
That.
That's too much.
Like, we already have four kids.
Like, this is too much.
But, like, he didn't evenhesitate to say yes.

(41:45):
So I just want to say thankyou to him because he's been like,
so patient and loving andgiving throughout this whole thing
that even when I was like,falling short on A lot of areas,
I know we all fall short, butespecially myself because of the
feelings that I had toward my brother.
My husband was just verysteadfast and.

(42:06):
And just loved on him.
And you can see it to this daybecause when he walks in the room,
Tao's like, daddy, Daddy,Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.
And, like, rams them with hishead and, you know, all the big head.
Yeah.
All the things.
All the things that boys do.
And we get looks, you know,when we go out, they're like, where
does he get his red hair from?

(42:28):
And so third generation downthe line.
Line.
It's like, not the milkman forIrish now.
It's the Amazon man.
That's the.
That's the thing.
This is not the milkman.
It's the Amazon man.
It's a new day.
It's a new era.
That's right.
Amazon man, the FedEx guy.
But, you know, when I did seemy brother, like I mentioned earlier
in the episode, the day we didthe paternity test, and that was

(42:49):
the first time I had seen himsince we had, you know, had a big
disagreement, and the lasttime we had spoken up to that point.
And I had thought I hadforgiven my brother for a lot of
things.
And when I saw him in person,you look at somebody who's lived
a hard life out in the street,and it broke my heart because it
made me think, like, did Ireally forgive my brother through

(43:11):
all of that?
And so it was just a lot goingon, you know, seeing him the way
he is, realizing that hecouldn't possibly take care of this
baby at all, and.
And then also feeling thosefeelings of.
Of anger, resentment, youknow, having to take on such a huge
responsibility.
And I don't want that to comeoff as like, I don't love my baby.
I love him.

(43:32):
That was just very early on.
And I think those are justnatural things to feel in that kind
of situation.
But you have to, you know,bring yourself back.
Like, what does God want me tolearn from this?
And, like, our sanctificationis not like, oh, everything's going
to be rosy and easy and allthis other stuff, like, life is hard,
you know, so what is Godteaching me about love, you know,

(43:53):
in taking in.
In Teo and him being my son,you know, And I try to explain that
to the kids because they jokewith each other, right?
They'll be like, oh, you were adopted.
And I'm just like, okay, calm down.
I'm like, let's not say that,because then that's going to give
him a complex.
When he gets older.
I'm like, because, listen,just as much as you're my child,
like, Teo is my child, too.

(44:15):
And I was forced to keep youguys because, like, you know, I birthed
you.
I said, tail.
Like, we chose to keep him.
I said, so.
Really?
He's the favorite.
I'm sure that went over real well.
It did.
Sometimes it's hard.
Lessons.
Yeah.
You know, but every day.
Well, that's a powerful story.

(44:36):
And I just remember you when you.
When we first kind of connected.
I think that was, like,November probably when he was born.
And then we had you at thehouse in January, and he was just
a baby.
That's right.
And then I had saw you themonth before at the cousin's party,
and I was like, I just sawthem a month ago, and I don't remember
Nicole being pregnant, but,man, she lost her baby two days.

(44:58):
Wow, that's impressive, man.
This is amazing.
And then, I mean, I didn'twant to be rude, and I say, hey,
where'd the baby come from?
Yeah.
But in my mind, I was like, that.
That was an awkward.
I'm sure you got a lot of questions.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
So how was it seeing your brother?
Did you guys talk at all?
Was it.
Was he upset about the process?
No, he didn't say anything to me.

(45:20):
He didn't say, like, thank you?
No, no.
And he.
He looked at the ground, and Ikept telling myself, if he makes
eye contact with me, I'm goingto ask to give him a hug.
And he.
He didn't.
He just looked at the ground.
The.
The biological mother, though.
I said, do you want to see the baby?
And she's like, yeah.
And she kind of held his handa little bit.

(45:41):
She cried a little bit.
And then I told him.
I told them.
I said, I'm going to take careof him until you get better.
Because at that point, we onlyhad, like.
We only had him, like, two orthree weeks.
I said, get better.
When you get better, I'll.
I'll give him back to you.
And, yeah, here we are today.
So, I mean, would you feellike it was.
He was ashamed or of what he'sbecome or.

(46:03):
He just was.
I think there was probably alot of that, because I would say
in the time from when I sawhim last to this time, he had to
have lost at least 30 to 40pounds, and he did not look like
himself.
So I think there was a degreeof that.

(46:23):
I don't know so much, and Idon't know that he was Angry with
me.
I think he probably felt ashamed.
Yeah.
And I mean, really, God's puthim in the best possible home he
could be in.
Right.
And that ultimately is God'ssovereign will for Mateo's life because
he allowed it to happen and hehad a plan for him.

(46:44):
And just like Christy was herelast time and she was saying, you
know, I was adopted when Ithink she was 2 years old.
I don't remember quite how oldshe was, but the change that Mateo
can maybe sit in this chairone day.
I probably won't be alive, but.
And tell his story of how God,you know, what a testimony, how God
worked in his life and what astory he has that in Adam and an

(47:08):
uncle were willing to becomemother and father.
And I just think, wow, what anawesome parallel between, you know,
God redeeming us as lostpeople out in the world destined
for hell.
Right?
The wrath of God abides on us.
And he said, it doesn't have to.
You can become my child.
Right.
He became, he became poor thatwe might be rich.

(47:32):
And same thing with Mateo, right?
He was going to be poor.
He really was.
He had no family to take him,but somebody stepped up and said,
you know what?
I'll do it.
And that's what I feel.
God, right?
He said, no man, you know, nogreater love hath no man than him
willing to lay down his lifefor his friends.
And that's what he did for us.
And at this point, probablyCarlos and you would probably lay

(47:52):
down your life for little babyMateo, right?
Because now he's yours.
And I seen him with his littleDiamondbacks, you know, shirt on,
you know, Mercado.
We're hoping he plays for theDiamondback someday.
That's, that's why I'minvesting all this time into him.
Start hitting them littlegrounders, see what he does, you
know.
And then, you know, too, likeI, I mentioned about Carlos, but
also his mom and dad and hisbrothers and sisters, they accepted

(48:18):
him from day one, like beforethe adoption was even final, they
were considering him hisnephew and their grandson.
And so I just, you know, I.
And my in laws, they don'tspeak English, right?
So they just.
And I say that because thislittle tiny, little white, red haired
baby, right, loves his nanantata that just love on him all the

(48:40):
time and look nothing likehim, you know, just like Carlos.
And it's just really pretty dark.
Yeah, but, but I'm saying thattoo, because as in laws, you know,
they have no flesh and bloodconnection to him.
And, and, and they loved himso much they love him still.
So much.
So, you know, it's.
It's definitely a blessing inour life.

(49:01):
And, yeah, God's plan, for sure.
And I think that's what it'shard for when we're in the midst
of the struggle.
Um, we don't see the endresult, and we still don't see the
end result of what he'll become.
Um, and it could be one personthat, you know, leads people to Christ,
that that person has theimpact of the world or.
Or maybe they lead.

(49:21):
You know, Bible says one soul,right, Heaven rejoices.
And the chance he has tobecome a child of God is much greater
in this environment than itwould have been if he would have
went.
And I just.
It's just amazing to me howGod connects the dots.
And sometimes we don't seethis and we'll never see it till
we get to eternity.
And sometimes God allows us tosee that process of his sovereign

(49:44):
will and how he uses us.
If you're willing to be used,right, if you'll say, God, send me,
you know, as Mike would say,God can use you in a powerful way
to influence a young baby, right.
That you.
Who knows what Matteo will be in.
His life, you know, and it's.
Sometimes it's difficult forme when people say, like, oh, you

(50:04):
know, you did this greatthing, or you did.
You're so selfless.
And really, it's like, well,okay, yeah, I did that.
But I really, really want tojust say, like, it was just all God,
because if it was up to me,I'd still be probably wallowing in
tears, right?
And being like, why?
Why?
And no, it was all God's doing.

(50:25):
I only wanted to be obedient,even though it was difficult.
But, I mean, isn't it, youknow, sometimes when you're trying
to be obedient?
Yeah, that's all I want, isjust to be obedient and do his will.
Because I know that you can'tgo wrong when you do that.
It's easy to be disobedient.
I mean, I know that firsthand.
But to obey it takes anelement, right?

(50:47):
He said, without faith, it isimpossible to please me.
And this took an element offaith to say, God, is this something
you really, really want me to do?
Or just a little bit like, sheshow me.
And he doesn't always show uslike that.
We just have to take the stepof faith.
And I praise God that you werewilling to take that step of faith
and take him in.
And ultimately, I praise Godfor taking Us in as lost souls.

(51:11):
And he had compassion.
And I'm sure you guysthroughout this time have compassion
for baby Mateo.
And it's just been neat to seehim from a little baby to see his
adoption, see him in a littlesuit or not his little, I think,
suspenders.
He had on a little dress shirt.
He had an edge up, which wefound out is not the right haircut
for him.
So we will never do that again.

(51:32):
But did Carlos do that or.
No, it was my fault.
I was like, oh, give him alittle edge up.
That'd be cute.
And we were like, ooh, dude,that's not so.
Yeah, it's not fitting for him.
It's not fitting for him.
He still gets his haircut atthe barber, you know, it's just not
that haircut.
And now he was being exposedto the word of God, right?
You guys are going to church.
You're training him in the wayhe should go.
And I praise God for that.

(51:52):
And wow, that's.
That's.
Anything you would say that,would you?
That you would do differentlyor how has God worked through this?
And how is he still working inyour life through this adoption?
Well, I wouldn't do anythingdifferently because I believe that
everything I went through, Ineeded to go through to be where
I'm at right now.

(52:13):
And anything going forwardthat he's teaching me is just continuing
to, like, love, love mychildren, depend on God.
I'm, you know, raising mychildren how God would want me to
is my number one priority.
And yeah, just hoping thatwhen Teo grows up, like, he knows

(52:35):
that he's loved.
That's it, that he knows that.
I think there's a.
A big advantage in him beingadopted by people that are his family.
Cuz he'll never have to growup wondering, like, where did I come
from?
He'll always know where hecame from.
I will always be honest withhim about, like, this is your birth
mom, this is your birth dad atthe right time.

(52:57):
Of course.
I don't want him to feel likeanybody's holding any secrets from
him, but I want him to know that.
That he's loved.
And just because he was bornhow he was, like, doesn't mean that
God doesn't have a plan for him.
And so, yeah, that's it.
Just living every dayaccording to God's will, glorifying
him in everything that we doand just trusting him throughout

(53:18):
the whole process.
Can you have any finalquestions or.
I think you covered it pretty good.
Anything.
So it's neat to see the Story.
I'm excited to see what Mateowill become.
Hopefully I'll be alive so hecan come on the podcast one day and
share his testimony.
Hopefully a diamondback.
Did I mention that?
Yeah, Diamondback.
Yeah.
He may not come on the show, though.

(53:39):
If he's the diamondback, youknow, he might be too big.
Too big.
No, he will.
I'll make sure.
I think Canalo Eric commercial.
He might be a big deal.
You know what I mean?
I don't know if we know we canget Tony back due to his status of
the canal air.
Well, I am thankful that youcame on to share your story about
Mateo and just how God workedthrough all of that.
And it's continuing to workevery day.

(53:59):
Right.
And you can look back and seethe progress that.
That God does with all of usand that sanctification process and
also just obeying him and his will.
And I remember Rebecca wouldmake me nervous because she would
say, what do you think aboutadopting somebody?
I'm like, I think nothing of it.
Like, I don't think of it atall because I know it's tough, right?
It's because you get comfortable.

(54:20):
You have your four kids, youhave your flow, you have your rhythm.
And when you bring someoneelse in the household, whoever it
is, it messes up.
It's not comfortable no more.
Yeah.
And just like you said, right?
You had many nights that,like, hey, I did four kids already.
Like, I want to just wake upat 9:30 on a Saturday morning.
Don't wake me up.
You know, don't.
I don't care if you're hungry,go feed yourself.

(54:42):
Yeah.
You know how to get on thecounter and get your cereal.
But then when you go fromhaving four daughters who, when they're
little, are really like justperfect, little beautiful, studious
children to having this littleboy now that, like, usually has some
sort of a hammer or ascrewdriver or is like splashing
in the toilet.
Like, it's just.
It's a lot, right?
So I'm just like, oh, how dopeople with lots of boys survive?

(55:04):
I don't know.
But then I'm going through preteens now with girls, so I'm just
like, oh, it's flipped.
It's flipped.
Okay, I get.
Now it gets hard.
Yeah.
Now it's a whole nother world.
Yeah.
I remember 12, 13.
I'm at the 12 right now.
Rough.
Yep.
Well, they think they're 21and have rights.
And I don't know what it iswith girls and moms, but they just

(55:25):
seem to battle Like, I don'tknow, like they, I think they're
jealous or they think I'mbetter than mom or I won't ever be
you because I'm better.
And it's.
I don't, I don't get it.
Yeah.
And that's why mom, Moms loveboys, because boys don't give them
that drama.
Sorry, Kate, you probablywon't listen to this podcast anyway,
so I'll just tell it like it is.
I mean, if you don't like it,too bad.

(55:46):
So anyway, well, any partingwords or anybody that you want to
say, like, hey, if you'rethinking about adoption or any words
of wisdom you can impart orwhat God's taught you besides what.
You'Ve already shared, I wouldsay that if you're thinking about
adoption, to do it becausethere are lots of children out there

(56:06):
that every child deserves tohave their biological mom and dad,
to be healthy and to love themand to raise them.
And when they don't have that,there's a piece of their heart just
like God.
You know, there's always thatGod sized hole in our heart.
But there's also thatwondering too.
Like, where did I come from?
The next best thing though, toredeem that broken situation is to

(56:29):
have loving parents to adoptthat child.
And so I would just encouragepeople that if you're thinking about
adopting, if you can't havechildren or you just want to expand
your family or even being afoster parent, that that love can
make a difference.
And I take my hat off to everyperson who is a foster parent because
after going what we wentthrough, I don't know that I could
do that again for a child thatI have no relation to because it's

(56:53):
hard knowing that they couldbe taken away.
So this was just my situation.
But for all of those that arefoster parents and have like 25 kids
that they're able to love andmentor, my hat off to them because
that is a huge calling and ittakes special people to be able to
do.
That and just the power thatGod can use you as.

(57:13):
And Mato can look back and bethankful that God really spared his
life and brought him into agood loving family.
Well, Nicole, thank you forcoming on.
The co owner of Canaloo Air onus to meet your plumbing AC dryer.
Don't catch your house on firevent cleaning.
You can check her out if youhave you want more information on

(57:36):
the website or you can callBen and I or something and we'll
hook you up with the kennel ofair to get you taken care of.
Perfect.
Well, everybody, thank you forlistening to this episode.
If it's been a blessing toyou, please do like and subscribe
and we will see you in thenext episode.
All right, 72.
Thank you.
Thank you, Nicole, thank youfor listening to the Abundant Life

(57:57):
podcast.
We pray you were blessed bytoday's episode.
Please visit us online atAbundantLife FM.
Until next time, May God blessyou, Shape.