While we’re waiting to hear back from the adoption agency about our paperwork, my wife sat down and told her side of the story about how she came to the idea of adoption. It’s posted over on our GoFundMe page, which should be linked on one side of this blog somewhere. But I thought I’d share it here as well, for anyone not following that page! (Hey! It’s my first guest blog post! I’m a star!)
I always wanted three kids, three girls as a matter of fact. If I couldn’t have three girls then two girls & a boy as the middle child would do. This was my going to be my story.
At the end of my 20’s, I had my first child, a beautiful girl. I just knew I was on track. But just a few short years later, my perfect story ended in divorce. My little girl and I started over, and still I prayed for my three girl family.
I met Joe & we fell madly in love. My girl also fell madly in love with her Mr. Joe. On a beautiful morning in May, we became a family. There was hope for my perfect story.
That same year for Christmas, we gave our girl the gift she had been praying for: she was going to be a Big Sister. She was so happy she ran to her room, praising God for her gift.
A month later we suffered a miscarriage.
We were all heartbroken. We really didn’t understand. Another year of disappointment passed, so we went to the doctor for help. Many terrible and invasive tests revealed I had a blood clotting disorder. To get pregnant, I needed to give myself shots twice a day in the stomach. We finally had an answer and a plan. But a year later the only thing that changed was the colorful bruises on my stomach.
We went back for more tests and saw three more doctors. This time we learned our problems wasn’t just me, it was both of us. Chances were slim we could conceive naturally. Even IVF was a long shot according to one of the doctors. More heartbreak and bewilderment. I really didn’t understand. I was supposed to have three kids, three girls. But that was not going to happen. My perfect dream was fading.
Then Joe approached me about adoption. I thought adoption was great. I know lots of couples with fertility issues that quickly became pregnant when they started down the adoption path. This must be how we would get pregnant!
It wasn’t. I really didn’t want to adopt. I wanted to carry our baby. I wanted Joe’s baby. I was angry and God was hurting my feelings. I was done. Couldn’t do it anymore. No perfect three kid family for me.
However, Joe knew God was calling us to adoption. He began praying for my heart to change. He knew only God could break through my stubbornness.
On a cold morning nearing Thanksgiving break, that is exactly what God did.
A sweet girl from my church showed me a picture of her and her brother standing in the chapel of Texas Baptist Home for Children on their adoption day. I had no idea this sweet girl and her brother were adopted! My heart was turning.
Within a couple of months, Joe and I attend a fostering seminar at Texas Baptist Home. My heart opened more. But as we sat there listening, we knew fostering was not where we were being lead. Later in the spring, we attended an adoption summit at a local church. We met with a number of agencies, but we were drawn to one. We filled out the application with great anticipation. As quickly the application was submitted, the rejection came. We were told we were not a good fit for domestic adoption as we already had a child. More heartbreak and confusion. Joe quickly got in touch with another agency., but he never received a call back. Again I was done.
Then great joy and sadness all came on the same day. My sweet AC gave birth to her precious son that afternoon. That night, Joe’s mother suddenly died. It was a roller coaster of emotions. I found myself singing “Circle of Life” the rest of the night.
As we were finally settling down for the evening, I read through all the “important”news on Facebook and saw a dear friend had shared a post from Texas Baptist Homes announcing the opening of their Infant/Private Adoption program that had been closed for two years. I think my heart stopped. Could this be it??? Really?? One new life, one life passed and the possibility of fulfilled promise? My brain was going in circles and I was still singing.
The following months have been a blur of excitement and fear. We attended adoption orientation and training. We filled out the mountain of paperwork…oh the paperwork. This process was intense. I had to answer questions about past and present topics I never thought I would need to share, things that hit insecurities that I believed to be passed.
The insecurities kept building at every step. Why would someone pick me? I never get picked. And if I get picked they will change their minds as soon as they know about me. This is exactly where Satan wants me to live. But Satan didn’t open my heart to adoption, God did. My God chose me. He adopted me. He loves me. He opened my heart to Him. He showed me, once again, that this is not about me or what I’m doing. It’s all about Him and what He is doing in me and in my family. The insecurities still creep in and pride can overwhelm me, but I am continually reminded of Christ and I’m brought back to Him.
The paperwork is turned in. And now we wait. We wait for home studies and background checks. We wait and we pray. We pray for the precious birthmother to give us her gift. We pray our fundraising efforts. We pray that God continues to move in mighty ways. We pray for our families, as they continue to support us. And we are grateful. Everyday.
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