It’s not right for anyone to judge the personal discernment process that parents go through on this issue. Sometimes things like this need to be said, and I’m glad you said it. From everything I’ve read and seen here, you have a beautiful family, and you seem to me uniquely equipped to give these kids a great home and also honor their ethnic identities.

And, yes, when quilting, it helps to have someplace to hide your project where little fingers won’t get into the pins, although I do a lot of my sewing on the kitchen counters (more space to spread out).

The best sermons I’ve heard have usually used the 10% as a good starting point, but encouraged the listeners to also consider whether we could give more or if we truly cannot give that much at this point in our lives due to obligations to support our families. I would point out that Jesus did not commend the rich people at the Temple treasury for giving their proper 10% out of their surplus, but did extoll the virtue of the widow who put in her two small copper coins out of what she needed to live on, out of obedience to the command to be generous with what God has given us, even if it may not have been a full 10% of what she had. He also criticized those who used a loophole in the Law as interpreted at the time to donate their possessions to God (sometimes while keeping the use of them), then deny support to their parents (see Mark 7:11).

We are not obligated by the law, but by love. “The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:6–7)

There’s a great discussion of this over here (10% or not, OT vs. NT, tithe to the local church or charity in general, etc.).

AND cute kids!