Adoption has been something we always said we wanted to do, but never made plans and put them into action until this year.
Here's our story:
When we first started to plan for children after two years of trying, we were told that we more than likely would not conceive unless Mr. B was to have an operation. Some snip, snip near his genitalia was quite freaky deaky, but hey we wanted children and this was a no brainer. We were told the surgery only benefited 50% of the men that had it, and it would also take about a year before we would know if it worked or not. We knew then that we wanted to go ahead and look into adoption instead of waiting to see if the surgery would work. At that time Steven Curtis Chapman our favorite artist had just adopted their little girl from China and we thought that was maybe the route God wanted us to take. We were still going to go through with the surgery, but wanted to be active in the adoption process as well. Anyway, the day before his surgery we went into sign the papers- ya know the ones that say we won't sue, you may lose an appendage etc. Well that same day Brian whispered in my ear as we were sitting in the office, "wouldn't it be great if you were pregnant and we could just cancel this surgery." Well long story short and a fall from the toilet, urine on my shorts, screams heard throughout the land- I found out that very same day that we were expecting our first child. What a miracle! We called that very afternoon and cancelled the "Operation Snip Snip".
We now have three beautiful boys, whom we feel certain Brian's doctor believes were from a donor on the side. Seriously, we truly believe and know our boys are such a gift. Oh how He's blessed us! Parker Harrison, Paul Henry and Pierce Hezekiah are our three P's. How fun it is to be a Momma of boys. We know just about every word there is for flatulence, every tune to be sung to the diarrhea songs and every finger and toe was really given to be pulled.
What brought us to where we are now.
In 2011 we were so blessed to conceive not one but two children from the Lord. Here's my FB posts that will get you up to date:
April 11, 2011
For those of you who don't know we found out two weeks ago today that our 11 week old babies heart had stopped beating. I just passed the baby on Sunday afternoon at home after a long process of miscarriage. Brian and I were able to see and hold our child and prepare him/her for burial. How awesome of a Creator we have that at 11 weeks, there was NO mistaken our babies humanness. We are so grate
ful to God for being able to be blessed with yet another child from Him. Although, when I first found out I was pregnant we never would of imagined that our holding the baby would have been under such circumstances, but we truly give praise to God that we were still able to do so. We believe and feel assured by scripture that the very life God created went instantly to Heaven, and as if Heaven wasn't already great enough, we just can't help but be more excited to get there. I was so blessed by a sweet friend to be given the book, "Safe in the arms of God" by John MacArthur and was able to read the book in one afternoon and what a great joy God gave me. Thank you precious friends and family for celebrating the life God created through Brian and I as well as grieving with us in our loss. -My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness.(2 Cor. 12:9) -The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. (PS. 34:18) "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials"(James 1:2) Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. (PS. 63:3-5)
September 28,2011
Brian and I lost another baby on the 4th of this month for those of you who didn't know. I was 8 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I wanted to post sooner, but wanted my heart to match up with what my mind was telling it, before I posted. Praise God that even when His children have anger towards Him and don't feel like praising Him, He never leaves us. Hebrews 13:5 “…God has said, “I will never leave you
... or forsake you.” I truly with my whole heart praise Him. I may not always understand or even like what He allows in my life, but none the less will seek to always give Him glory. If you are a believer, then you can believe these truths when facing a trial 1. It's hard 2. Good will come from it 3. God can be trusted even when we don't understand 4. God knows what He is doing 5. The way out is thru it -Byron Yawn Here's some questions and quotes that have been so healing to me: How can this make me more like Jesus?- Dawn Iverson It's so simple to adjust your attitude when you're in the word of God. -Dawn Iverson Do you live with Joy above your circumstances?-Dawn Iverson Thank you Lord Jesus for your word, that gives me such comfort. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. "12 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. Man, I don't feel so blessed when going through a trial, in fact I feel a bit cursed. Good thing I filter what my heart tells me through His word or I'd have no hope. Thank you God for reminding me through your word in the book of James that there is an end to this present time and that it will be more glorious than we could ever imagine in our present circumstances. To endure for me is to continually turn to God as my only source of life. How He loves me, that when I seem to only give Him my darkness, He still gives me His light!!! This sermon is one I listened to at home from my Pastor and let me just say I pushed play with such a hard heart after my husband asked me to listen, and well... of course I didn't want to add unsubmissive to my list that was getting longer by the day, so I clicked on it, and praise God I did! Thank you Lord for loving me, even when I'm so unlovable. Please take the time to listen...
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/life-is-hard.-god-is-good./id409399787?i=97004146
After many prayers we are truly being called to grow our family through way of adoption and can't be more excited! Here's a list of some of what we have done to date for this journey:
- November 4th- 3 hour orientation
- submitted application paper work to start the process and 1st fee
- Had papers sent to several referrals: Kelly Willams, Brian Romkee, Danny Woods, Byron Yawn, Henry Wood "my Daddy" and Charles Snow "Brian's Dad"... Some of them really had their work cut out for them... Kuddos to all of them for being so prompt. Truly a blessing!
- Then had more paper work "formal application" oh and 2nd fee
- February 3rd- all day orientation "so awesome"
- Given more paper work- have mercy :0)
- February 7th adoption meeting 3 hour training
- physicals for the entire family updated shots, poked, prodded & etc.
- finger prints
- background checks from police station
- February 21st 2 hour expectation consultation
- Physche evaluations for Brian and I = 3 hours of torture
- weekly homework consisting of about three pages of questions on material we're required to read, due each week
- Tomorrow night last night of required training... ya to da HOOO!!!
- This week all of our paper work and 3rd fee will be turned in, and then we wait for someone to come to our home for the home-study process to be completed...
There is so much I could share about each of these experiences and the trials that were put before us in trying to complete the above, but I'm too exhausted to type them all out, and I've got some boys to school for the day. Thank you so much to all of our family and friends for praying for us, our little girl, her birth parents and the entire process. We are so excited about God's plans for our family! More news to come...
