That has often been the reaction that we get after telling people that we have accepted a referral for three children. Although, we did expect that. We had that kind of reaction at first ourselves. The question then arises, how did we get to this point? Weren't we just adopting one? We have not really shared how God has led us to the point that we are now at peace about adopting three at one time.
Let me share how God has shaped our family so far. First off, there were the multiple miscarriages over the course of a few years that led us to believe that we would never have biological children. Then, there was the amazing adoption of London, in ways that were so orchestrated that it could only have come from our Father above. Then came Geneva, and Capri whose timing we never would have guessed. However, all along God has built our family.
So when we started this process of adoption again we thought that this was how God wanted to complete our family. (Though Adam at least, thought it was complete.) After submitting our dossier for an infant child we kept having this feeling like God had more in store for us. We weren't quite sure what. After a few months, we decided to make a couple of phone calls about the possibility of us adopting an older child. Our social worker told us "no." A little discouraged but assuming that the doors had closed we accepted that and continued our wait.
About 4 months later, we called again, still feeling like we needed to pursue the idea of an older child. Once again, we were told "no." This time though we were told a long explanation of why it would be a bad idea. Confused again, we accepted that and continued to wait. However, as we waited both of us continued to look at the "waiting children list," that our adoption agency has. Why did we both feel drawn to continue to look at that list? The only children on that list are ones that have significant health issues or are sibling groups that don't fit into anyones request. We were NEVER going to find our healthy infant on that list, but we kept looking.
Looking for what?
Then we found them. Heather opened up their picture and asked me what my thoughts were when I saw them? My thoughts... My thoughts are that there are three of them, and I walked out of the house, to go do "chores." Are you crazy! However, it was at that moment, that God was speaking to me and I knew that these were my children. Heather knew it also. They fit our family so well. Two older girls, and a little boy. We started talking about how it would never work out. How there is no way that we could do this. We started to really pray about it. We had our parents praying about it with us as well. We knew that it sounded crazy. We know that we can only do it with the help of our Father. We can't do this on our own.
So we made the call again to our social worker. We were told "no" again. However, this time we knew that it was not a closed door to us, but a speed bump in the road to go over. We didn't accept their answer, so they referred us to another local agency. This meant starting a lot of the paperwork all over again. New medical appointments, new fingerprints, new applications, etc. Being that we are now pros at doing it we started to cross things off of our list quickly. At the same time, we called our adoption agency and let them know of our interest.
What! We were told that there was another family that already had their paperwork approved for three kids and that they were going to get their referral. Though disappointed, but not dismayed we continued to plug away at our paperwork. We decided that maybe we just need to open our request and we will see what God has in store for us.
Three weeks later, we saw on the "waiting children list" that their file was no longer pending but they were available. The family had decided to decline their referral. We got right on the phone, well, that is after waiting for a long three day weekend compounded with the East coast time zone complications. We were once again told that there was another family with all paperwork done and they were going to get the referral. We thought, there is no way that two families would decline the referral. Sure enough, three weeks later, our paperwork 95% complete we were told that we could look at their file!
We have no idea the reasons the other families choose to pass on them other than God has different plans for them and we are so excited that they choose to listen to Him as they prayed about adopting these children.
As we prayerfully considered them for those six weeks, we still continued to believe that they were meant for our family. When we received their file, we let a few others in on our little secret and asked them to be praying for us. We wanted to feel God's peace in the decision and know for sure that this is how God wants to build our family. One of the really confirming things for me was in their names. We can't share them until we pass court, but I am looking forward to it. God spoke to me through their names. I knew that He orchestrated years ago that they would be a part of our family. For now, we can call them, "E" "M" and "Y"
I continue to trust that for those who love God, all things work together for the good. He has good plans for us. He is our Loving Father, the God of Mercy, the Giver of all things good.
How are we going to do this? We would be lying to you if we told you that we weren't a little scared and uncertain. There are so many questions, and unknowns. We do hold fast to the truth that God will hold us up in the times we need it. That He will give us the patience, the endurance, the strength when we need it most. We also trust that since He has provided financially for us this far He will continue to provide exactly what we need, when we need it.
We covet your prayers as we now really get ready for being a family of 8, parents to three new adopted children, parents of a junior higher, etc. We hope to travel around the first of the year for court. We will keep you up to date on that.
