Wednesday, October 13, 2010

If You Want to Hear God Laugh… Tell Him Your Plans (Part I)

Sorry it has been so long since we have updated the blog. We’ve been extremely busy lately… with our new baby Jayden!!!! I can’t believe I’m typing this, and I sure can’t believe it’s been two weeks since he was born and I kept it quiet for this long. In Georgia the birth parents have ten days to change their mind about the adoption, so we tried to keep it as quiet as possible… until now… the ten days are up!!! Thank you God for our precious son!
Now that I got that out, I want to share our story in detail, but it is probably going to take a few posts, so here I go…

… two Wednesday mornings ago I was working in a board room at a bank in Atlanta, Georgia when I got a phone call from my friend Julie. I used to work for Julie at a wallpaper store when I was in high school. When I was 17 and she was in her mid twenty’s she was someone I really looked up to and respected. She taught me a lot about self respect and self confidence, she helped me mentally prepare for college, and she even used to send me packages in the mail my freshman year of college with all sorts of little goodies. We’ve kept in touch over the last few years with a few phone calls, lunches, and events. Julie and Joel’s first, biological daughter was born with cystic fibrosis (you can read Elena's blog here or Julie's blog here to learn more about their story), but as a result has adopted two children since. When Julie saw my blog and found out Jason and I were trying to adopt we began emailing and talking again; and again she acted as a mentor in giving me advice about her experience with adoption. Anyways, at 8:30 on Wednesday morning she called me and told me about a little boy who had been born the night before; she said the birth mom wanted to give him up for adoption and Julie was asking me if we would be interested. Just three days before Julie had found out she is pregnant which is why they couldn’t adopt him (God’s timing is so amazing… just three days before she would have adopted him). She said the birth mom just specified she wanted a young, educated, outdoorsy couple to adopt her baby. I immediately started shaking like a leaf and my heart was about to come out of my chest. All I could say was, “Can I call Jason and talk to him?” When I called Jason I was so nervous and excited all I told him was that there was a baby born and Julie wanted to know if we were interested in adopting it (he later messaged me asking if it was a boy or a girl… oops forgot to tell him it was a boy!) He wanted to call our pastor and then he said he would call me back. Our pastor didn’t answer, so Jason called me back and all I heard through his very “manly” tears was, “My gut’s just telling me we should do it.” I called Julie back and told her we were interested in adopting and she very excitedly gave me the number to the hospital. I talked to a nurse who just got my name, phone number, and a few facts about us and said she would call me back. In what seemed like a century, but was really only a few hours I got a call. I answered the phone thinking it was the nurse, but it was the birth mom’s dad. He just wanted to talk to me a little bit to find out some information about me and Jason and he told us a little about his daughter; they had adopted her as an infant from Columbia, which was why she was so comfortable with giving her baby up for adoption. After talking to him for a few minutes he said he had a few more families to talk to and that he would let me know something by early afternoon. So, I tried as hard as I could to start working again, but my mind was definitely not where it needed to be as far as work was concerned, but I knew I needed to keep working to help time go by faster (although it didn’t really help). I called Jason to fill him in about my conversation with the birth grandfather, and Jason had already left work, came home, packed, and was ready to head to the hospital if he needed to :) It was less than an hour later, the birth grandfather called us back and told us that his daughter wanted us to adopt the baby!!! I was completely in shock. The whole time I was waiting I was telling myself over and over again, “don’t get your hopes up, don’t get your hopes up.” And then, all of a sudden, I could let my emotions out… I could be excited… ecstatic… I felt like I was dreaming. When I called Jason to tell him he was already outside talking to the neighbor while he waited to jump in the car and head to the attorney’s office. His mom had contacted an attorney in the same city where the hospital is located. She is a real estate attorney who does adoptions on the side as a passion. She had a huge real estate closing planned for that afternoon, and a couple of hours before Jason’s mom had contacted her about our situation, she had been pulled from the closing. She said we made her day with our story because she had been so upset about loosing the closing. God has perfect timing!!! Her whole afternoon had freed up so that she could handle our adoption! And, her office was only a couple of miles from the hospital, so she could go talk to the birth mom and handle all of the paperwork right away.

In the mean time, I had to go get my car from the hotel (I happened to drive separately to Atlanta from my coworkers because I had planned to stay in Atlanta and meet Jason to eat Ethiopian food for dinner that Friday night). Once I got back to the hotel, packed, checked out, and got my car, I had to go back to the client’s office and wrap up a few things, and then I headed to the hospital to meet my baby boy for the first time!!! Here are a few pictures from that first special meeting!!! 









Now that our ten day wait is over, it is like a huge weight has been lifted; however, this also means that we have to call our Ethiopian agency and let them know what all has taken place, so please pray for us as we call them tomorrow.  We aren't real sure what this means for our Ethiopian adoption, or if we should even continue with that adoption process.  I feel like God put Ethiopia on my heart for some reason, even if it isn't meant for us to adopt from there right now, but PLEASE be praying that we make the right decision and that God's hand is in it 100%.  I would love to continue with our Ethiopian adoption, but I don't even know if the agency will allow it.  The wait is currently long enough that the age difference between Jayden and our Ethiopian baby wouldn't be an issue; however, we are pretty sure that it is not financially possible.  Now that we have baby Jayden, I cannot travel with work anymore, and therefore am only going to be working part time when needed.  As much as my heart hurts to think about not continuing with our Ethiopian adoption, I have a peace knowing that if it wasn't for us pursuing that adoption, I wouldn't have started blogging, and my friend Julie would have never called me about adopting Jayden.  So whatever your plans are for our family God, help me to trust you and know that you have it all planned out from start to finish, please help me to have faith in you and be confident that you will lead us.

23 comments:

  1. Rejoicing with you!!! How blessed you three are. A forever family.

    Blessings,
    Suzanne
    freedomhollowfarmkiddos.blogspot.com
    onelessbrokenheart.blogspot.com

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  2. Amazing to see Gods handiwork as he weaves families together. Congratulations!!!

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  3. I am shedding many tears as I read this...so familiar to my heart! You are eactly right about making our plans, but then God steps in and sets it all right...just as He meant it to be. You are exactly right about it all happening for a reason.
    Keith and I had our plans about adoption, but God changed them to show His might. I also met up with an old friend during our adoption process while Christmas shopping and we talked about us adopting (they were in the process of a China adoption too) then a few months later, SHE is the one who calls me about a baby boy needing a family!!! It was all God's hand. He won't steer you wrong. I am SO, SO excited for you and Jason! You will find yourselves thanking God over and over every time you see your son and he makes you smile.

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  4. I have been trying to stalk you down! We live in Forsyth and I keep hearing about you. I was in the pediatrician's office last week, and a nurse was asking about our adoption. She then told me her hair dresser had told herall about this couple (you!)...and I have heard the same story over and over, but no one knew your name! I would love, love to meet you! We are trying to start an adoption fellowship group in Macon....would ya'll like to be a part?!?! We would love to get to know you! (I went to high school with Jennifer Parker McMiller:) Anyways....glad to finally find your blog! you can email me at jubug231@aol.com if you woudl like!!!!

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  5. Wahooo!!!!!!!! We totally understand. Sometimes things change in a heartbeat! Sooo very excited for you!!!!! We have adopted through foster care, international- ETH, & domestic, and ALL are BLESSINGS!!! How very very very exciting!!!

    Will pray for God's guidance in what to do in the international adoption sense. Praying that no matter what - God will make it clear to your family what His desires are for you. :)

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  6. You don't even know me...I heard of your story via Andrea's blog. Congratulations. God is so amazing with His timing and His gift to you is MOST precious! I am rejoicing with you!!!

    Jeannine Miner

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  7. Found your blog via Andrea! Congratulations! God's plans are always bigger and better than we could ever imagine. We too were headed down the path of international adoption (to China) when God delivered the opportunity to adopt infant twins domestically. Double the blessings! We withdrew from the China adoption process but I will caution you that my heart's desire for that China baby has NEVER gone away.
    Love & Blessings,
    Kim

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  8. Not sure how I stumbled across your blog but I'm in tears as I read this post! You took me back to my domestic babies journies.

    Congratulations!!! I will be praying for you as you decide on ET. It's a hard decision...one we had to make when our sweet Sarah surprised us. She was a surprise domestic adoption, too while we were waiting for our daughter in China (we weren't match in China, yet). God pressed VERY heavily on our heart to continue with our China adoption, too and that He alone would provide financially (and he did 100%). 11 months later we landed home with our daughter from China...the girls are 3 months apart and it has been the most AMAZING, AMAZING blessing....far beyond our dreams!!!

    On a fun note, we just got home 4 weeks ago with our son from China and he's smack dab in the middle of the girls so our 3 youngest are all within 3 months of each other...our triplets ;)

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  9. Found your blog through Andrea's blog---just wanted to say congrats on your amazing son!

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  10. Coming over from Andrea's blog...oh I am SO happy and excited for you! It brought back so many memories for me as just 3 1/2 months ago we got the call saying we were picked by a mom in the hospital and the baby boy was just two days old. I remember taking all those same pictures too! How blessed we are! Congrats! We too started out on a different journey, ours was Uganda, but God changed it and we are happy He did!

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  11. I laughed when I saw the title of your post. Very fitting for both of our stories. May the Lord continue to transform everything within our reach and beyond.

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  12. Oh, Britney!!! WOW!!! First of all, he is so beautiful! Oh my goodness, I am just so excited for ya'll! You have a SON!! How amazing!! Love how God's plans are always so amazing...far beyond what we could ever hope or imagine! Rejoicing with ya'll! :)

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  13. We are so excited for your sweet family! Give Jayden extra kisses from us. I feel like we are his Aunt and Uncle...there has to be some relation:)

    God's timing continues to bless our family...and now yours! Love you three!

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  14. Just found your blog through Andrea's - what an amazing story!!! Congrats! God is so good.

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  15. Congratulations to you both! Jayden's new life is your new life too. He is blessed to find such wonderful parents.

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  16. This brought tears to my eyes! I am so excited for you and your husband!

    I am new to your blog! I look forward to reading about your journey to your baby!!

    Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend with your baby boy!!!

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  17. Congrats! I found your blog from Andreas! What a great story! Enjoy your little one! I will be praying for your phone call, I know how that goes, we are adopting from Ethiopia and had to put it on hold since I got pregnant. We are excited to get our adoption back up and going all in God's timing and I know He has a plan for you too!

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  18. I am so excited for your both! How amazing how quickly God answers prayers!!! Miss you two and can't wait to meet the third!!!

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  19. Oh my goodness...I found your blog on another adoptive family that we know. My husband & I are actually in the process of adopting domestically through Bethany Christian Services in Washington. We currently have a birthmother who is very interested in us just waiting on the final word...praying for your new family!! Your story gives me tons of hope and emotions that I am sure I will be feeling someday soon...all in God's timing...BLESSINGS!!!

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  20. Congratulations! This story is just amazing and wow did it happen so fast! He is beautiful and you guys look like naturals. Little boys are so much fun so I hope you enjoy every minute! All the best!

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  21. Brittany, I'm finally getting around to reading your recent posts about Jayden. (Like you said, being a new mom is tough and VERY time consuming. Until now I've only heard minor details. Reading all the details gave me chills and left me sobbing as I consider how great our God is and how undeserving we are to receive all His wonderful blessings. Thank you for sharing this amazing story!

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