Thursday, March 8, 2012

Our Story

When we were dating we always talked about adopting a little girl from China. I think I always thought I would have a bunch of boys then we would adopt a little girl. We got married and decided not too long after that we wanted to have children. So 2 years passed then I got really sick and all I could think about was getting well. So we moved to Georgia and I found out I had Rheumatoid Arthritis. It was a hard time for me, I was 12 hours from home, didn't know a soul and couldn't get out of the house because I was so sick. I'll never forget the day I was about to pull into my driveway and was thinking about having kids and I saw a sign that said something about adopting. All of the sudden God started to work hard on me about adopting. I began to have this strong desire to adopt. Although my desire to adopt was strong, I still had a strong desire to have my own child. What women doesn't? I remember as a little girl wanting to be a mom, and even growing up all I really ever wanted to do was mother children. When you get married you dream about what your children will look like, what personality they will have. I remember wanting our child to have Jeff's smarts and my tan. I hoped that I would mother boys just like my mom and grandmother did.

So back to the story, I started researching adoptions and praying, we knew for sure God was calling us to adopt. I was being treated for my RA with some very harsh medicines. My doc told me if we ever wanted kids we needed to do it now. So after over 2 years of not being able to have children I went to the doctor and had lots of tests done only to find out that the only way we could have children was through invitro.

I remember the day I got the call, I was at my grandmother's house who just passed away in December. I told her that we would not be able to have children and just like it was nothing she said well honey there are tons of babies out there for you to adopt. And that was that. We knew without a doubt this was why God had already put such a strong desire in our hearts to adopt.

So we started the adoption process quickly and haven't looked back since. I would be lying if I said that I have been fine and we are just so excited to be able to adopt children from Africa. I went through a grieving stage and there are still times when I ask, "why me?" If you are a women you feel a responsibility to give your husband children and when you are unable to do that it is very hard. So I have had these feelings of guilt, sadness, anger and jealousy for all the people who have babies everyday.

The day I saw the sign for adoption, I had been feeling sorry for myself and it was like it just hit me that I wanted a child to fill my desires to be a mother and so that I could experience all the joys of having offspring, and so that I could experience this miracle of giving life. It was all about me, not about a child or about bringing glory to God or doing his will. So, I remind myself, "Its not about you Alicia!"

The days of sadness are less now, and days of anticipation have taken their place. Anticipation of what my sweet babies will look like, what will they have been through when we get them? What will there little personalities be like? Anticipation for the day I get to run to them and take them into my arms and tell them mommy is here. Anticipation to get on that plane and bring them home to be loved on by us and by so many of our family and friends. Anticipation to watch Jeff father our children and teach them the truths of the Bible. Anticipation to see our parents love these children from Africa like they were there own.

What a picture of Christs love for me and what a blessing that he has allowed me to be apart of such a miracle.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Quick Update

We got our immigration approval! This is a big deal, it means we can bring up to 3 kids into the United States with us. We have the Dossier to finish then we are waiting for a referral.

The immigration approval literally took one business day from when we got our fingerprints, to getting the letter in the mail. NOTHING about the adoption process is fast, so this was a good change of pace. Keep praying that our referral will come quickly. Wanting siblings means you never how long it can take for some to come along.