We're adopting again!

The week before I turned 36, the same week my son was recovering from a tonsillectomy, three friends separately asked if we were still interested in adopting and then referenced specific situations. We said yes, yes, yes.

This came after Greg and I had some conversations – for the first time ever, really – about international adoption a couple weeks before. We’d even looked into different programs and Greg emailed a contact of his at adoption agency about Korea and Hong Kong. We asked our small group and a few close friends to pray for clarity of whether we should pursue any kind of adoption again.

We’ve always been interested in adopting again, even though we had much peace about not knowing whether it was going to happen. In December 2013, I knew I needed to lay down the desire and live the life right here. I realize that all sounds weird. But that’s the epitome of peace that passes understanding.

Initially, we most intrigued by what was the third scenario – a Kenya baby girl whom a missionary found in a bush. We have a dear friend from Kenya and immediately started a conversation with him about this. Turns out, international adoption from Kenya is nearly impossible. Our friend Daniel and his connections there offered some advice I passed along to the lady who was the go-between the missionary and me.

As I was drafting the email to this lady on May 5, my phone rang with a familiar number. Turns out, one of the other friends who had inquired about our adoption interest wanted us to talk to a local birth mother.

Stacy* and I talked about private adoption in general, our family’s previous experiences specifically, her motivation for making an adoption plan, and what would happen next. What happened next is Greg and I met her for face-to-face conversation later that same week and committed to an adoption plan with her. She had a sweet spirit and spoke of her relief to have a plan for this child.

Talk about clarity, for which we had prayed.

The following week, we met the birth dad at our attorney’s office. The four of us talked in the waiting room before our attorney shared with the birth parents what the legal process will look like. Our attorney is a friend and has pictures of Ben’s adoption finalization on his book shelf because he connected us with Ben’s birth mom in 2009. We’re thrilled God orchestrated this adoption in a way that allows him to be involved again.

Twenty-one weeks along, yesterday we accompanied Stacy to her doctor’s appointment that included an ultrasound. The BABY GIRL (!!!) wasn’t fully cooperating with her position, but everything seems good and we’ll get another look in a month when the ultrasound tech tries to get some more measurements. She’s due Sept. 28.

And, yes, I’m already working on the home study documents, aka The Mighty Stack of Papers. I bought more fire extinguishers and child locks yesterday not long before filling out more papers. And, speaking of papers, I found some Post-Its in Cate’s room this morning declaring her excitement  – "Yes! We're going to have a baby!" – and baby girl name suggestion.

It’s been neat to see God’s timing unfold before our eyes …

Greg and the guys in his Bible study had prayed we would have clarity regarding possibly adopting again Tuesday morning – YES, THE SAME DAY I RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL.

Remember I told you Greg emailed a contact about international adoption? Well, he thought it was strange he hadn’t heard back. In the weeks we never heard back, we learned his contact had left said agency for a different job. Someone else from the agency emailed Greg THE SAME DAY I TALKED WITH STACY. She apologized that his email was overlooked. We didn’t need the international adoption information anymore, but we did need domestic adoption home study information.

I already mentioned this, but it needs repeating: The phone call with the local birth mom came AS I WAS COMPILING AN EMAIL ABOUT KNOWING THE DOOR TO THE KENYAN BABY WAS SHUT. Y’all, I couldn’t have orchestrated this if I tried. One door closed, another one opened in the same moment, literally. {I mentioned three friends asked us if we wanted to adopt again. Well, the other of the three scenarios was quickly a closed door, obviously not meant for us.}

I knew Greg, Cate and I were supposed to go to Guatemala this summer. I didn’t like the idea of leaving Ben, but I knew God wanted us to commit to this mission trip. So we did. And now I see at least one reason why: I won’t be in a position to go for a while if we’re bringing home a baby in September.

We’d appreciate your prayers – for our family, the birth parents, and this baby girl – as the process progresses. Adoption is beautiful – but there are so many emotions for everyone involved. {And, yes, there will be more updates here.}
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*Stacy isn’t her real name, but it’s going to be her public name, you know, for writing purposes. Obviously, my ebook will need an update ... one day! 

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