Mother's Day weekend 2001 had been planned well in advance. Reservations were made and plans were laid for Pedro and I to get away with another young married couple to a cute little bed & breakfast near the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Since both husbands were studying hard in seminary, getaways like this were a real treat and didn't come along too often. Needless to say, the four of us were looking forward to this trip with great anticipation!
So it was no wonder that my friend Melissa was disappointed when I called her three days before the trip to say that we would have to cancel. Her disappointment didn't last long, however, when I shared the reason behind our change of plans. Pedro and I were going to become parents in just 48 hours with the arrival of our daughter Eva! Melissa immediately shared my joy and from that moment on was one of our greatest supporters and encouragers as we adjusted to life with a new baby. Her husband Jathan was Eva's first babysitter (a funny story in and of itself) and we like to think it was that wonderful experience that led to their decision to start a family soon after. :)
One child quickly led to another for Jathan and Melissa, and it seemed that two children might be it for awhile. But it was our turn to be surprised when they informed us of their plans to adopt! Both had been separately and individually convicted and challenged about the needs of orphans and prompted to open their hearts to a waiting child. We were thrilled to have another common bond with our friends, one we knew would knit our hearts together in an even more special way.
And so it has been. We celebrated with them when Drew came home from Korea and have enjoyed wonderful visits with their three kids and our three kids having a blast together. They are currently in another adoption process, this time hoping to foster/adopt in California, and we have encouraged and commiserated with one another as both of our processes have stretched longer and longer.
Waiting in adoption is hard. It has been hard for us to wait, knowing already who our sons are and waiting to bring them home from Haiti. It has been hard for them to wait, not knowing who their future children are and having their profile submitted for situation after situation with no match as of yet. A frustration they have experienced is being told time and again that the need for adoptive families through the foster care system is so great, yet having a placement take so long to come through. Their hearts and their home are ready, but they just don't know when their dreams of adopting again will be realized.
We are praying that this might be the month that a very special family with love to share meets a very special child (or children) who needs that love. Won't you pray for them, too?
So it was no wonder that my friend Melissa was disappointed when I called her three days before the trip to say that we would have to cancel. Her disappointment didn't last long, however, when I shared the reason behind our change of plans. Pedro and I were going to become parents in just 48 hours with the arrival of our daughter Eva! Melissa immediately shared my joy and from that moment on was one of our greatest supporters and encouragers as we adjusted to life with a new baby. Her husband Jathan was Eva's first babysitter (a funny story in and of itself) and we like to think it was that wonderful experience that led to their decision to start a family soon after. :)
One child quickly led to another for Jathan and Melissa, and it seemed that two children might be it for awhile. But it was our turn to be surprised when they informed us of their plans to adopt! Both had been separately and individually convicted and challenged about the needs of orphans and prompted to open their hearts to a waiting child. We were thrilled to have another common bond with our friends, one we knew would knit our hearts together in an even more special way.
And so it has been. We celebrated with them when Drew came home from Korea and have enjoyed wonderful visits with their three kids and our three kids having a blast together. They are currently in another adoption process, this time hoping to foster/adopt in California, and we have encouraged and commiserated with one another as both of our processes have stretched longer and longer.
Waiting in adoption is hard. It has been hard for us to wait, knowing already who our sons are and waiting to bring them home from Haiti. It has been hard for them to wait, not knowing who their future children are and having their profile submitted for situation after situation with no match as of yet. A frustration they have experienced is being told time and again that the need for adoptive families through the foster care system is so great, yet having a placement take so long to come through. Their hearts and their home are ready, but they just don't know when their dreams of adopting again will be realized.
We are praying that this might be the month that a very special family with love to share meets a very special child (or children) who needs that love. Won't you pray for them, too?
2 comments:
Steph,
Thank you for the post. I miss you so much. I have been working on a post about how God led us to adopt Drew and what is going on in our process right now.
We love you so much and am so grateful for our friendship.
Love,
Melissa
Here I am again. I read your post again and tears are welling in my eyes. I remember sitting at my desk at FiNet when you called to tell me about the trip having to be canceled and Eva. I remember a few days later going to your apartment and seeing Eva for the first time lying there peacefully sleeping. Oh so cute! Oh what a miracle! The adoption road is hard, but so worth it. As I look at our families' pictures with Eva, Isabel, Owen and Drew and anticipate the pictures with Ian and Alec, I am reminded of God's miracle in the way He has built our families from across the country and even the world. I thank Him for our precious little gifts (that aren't so little anymore!)
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