Friday, February 4, 2011

How the Journey Began...

I guess I should start off by saying that Jonathan and I haven't always been on the same page when it comes to adoption, or even having more kids at all.   As a matter of fact, before we had any kids, I never really even pictured myself with more than 2 kids!  I grew up with one sister, and Jonathan came from a family of 4, so 2 just seemed like a simple and well balanced number.   After we had Gage, I didn't feel like our family was totally complete yet.  It's not like our family life with 3 boys was calm and serene, and we needed more craziness, but I still had that longing for something more. I just wasn't sure at that point what it was.  People would ask if we were going to try for another one(I think jokingly most of the time), but I couldn't honestly say no.  Yes, I got many crazy looks and comments, but deep down I knew there was something more planned for our lives.

A couple of years ago, I was looking for antique, salvaged brick floors to put in my kitchen, but they were impossible to come by in Dallas, so I googled it to see what came up.  The first site that popped up was http://baseballstobows.blogspot.com/.  Its a blog of a family who lives in Baton Rouge(where I'm from) who has 3 sons, and was in the process of adopting a little girl from China.  They were building a house and had the EXACT floors that I was looking for desperately here and could not find! I emailed her to find out where she got them and that was that....or so I thought.  I soon became hooked on her blog!  I checked it everyday just to see what was going on in their lives and how their adoption process was coming along.  It's crazy how you can never have met somebody in person, but feel like you've always known them...that's how I felt with Jennifer and her family.  When they were in China, I checked multiple times a day for updates and to see  their first meeting with their precious daughter, Wesleigh. She is such a cute and sweet little girl and it just melts my heart to see how much the whole family loves her....esp. the boys!  Oh my!.... I think that's what really gets me, because I can see my boys being the same way!   
Tell me she's not the cutest thing EVER!



Well, fast forward 2 years and I start to think about the possibility of us adopting more and more.  I knew it was a far fetch with Jonathan, considering he had already made it clear that we were DONE!  I brought it up to him a few times, and he laughed saying "really?....you don't think we're busy enough with 3 kids?"   Now, I can be really good at nagging to get something that I want, but I realized that this wasn't a nagging situation.  He either needed to be totally on board, or we just couldn't do it.  I tried to quit thinking about it, telling myself it just wasn't going to happen, but I couldn't!   I prayed that if it's something He really wanted us to do, then to put it on Jonathan's heart too or let me quit thinking about it.  Surely enough, we started noticing more families around us that were adopting.  Crazy as it sounds, Jonathan came home from work one day and told me that he was actually starting to be more open to the idea of adopting!  Needless to say, I was beyond shocked and  so excited! I knew at this point we were on our way. Just a few weeks later we went to church and it just so happened to be "Orphan Sunday"!   Slowly but surely, He was paving the way for what He feels so strongly about.  Of course I am bawling the whole way through the service, and Jonathan just keeps giving me weird looks like "Really?"  Coincidence?...I don't think so.  We walk out of church and Jonathan's exact words..."I'm sold...let's do it."!   

So, this is the story of the beginning of our journey.  I know, without a doubt, that this was all part of God's  plan for our lives from the beginning.  I know he wants us all to step out of our comfort zone and to be His hands and feet here on earth and to take care of  His children.  I never realized how much He talks about it in the Bible until we started this whole process. These are just a few:

" Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and   widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" James 1:27


"...Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow"  Isaiah 1:17


" A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling" Psalm 68:5

 I know this won't be an easy road, and that we will  go through some hard times,even after she's home with us,  but I also know that it will be an even greater reward, and it will change our lives more than anything we have or will ever do!

I promise, not all of my blogs will be this long! ;) 

I will leave you with what Ice Day Part Three looked like...now onto Part 4!!


18 comments:

jennifer said...

Jennifer,
I am just in awe of God's divine plan, and how it plays out in our lives! To think that a question about floors would lead to another precious child finding a forever family!! I am humbled to be a part of your family's story. I can't wait to see the child that God has known before the beginning of time would be your daughter. I also can't wait to meet your sweet family in person one day!!

Love,
Jennifer

DiJo said...

Hi Jen!
I have heard all about you from LA Jen!!! Welcome to blog land, and to China adoption. I worked with GW for Sienna Grace, and I love their team.
You are going to be so blessed by the little girl God has already chosen to be your!! Blessings along the way!
~Diana

Anonymous said...

found your blog from Jennifer's blog. She and I grew up together. I was looking at your blog when I thought to myself, surely this can't be jennifer "rainbow" ryan??? then I saw you had a follower named martha that looked remarkably like martha ryan.....Is this the same one? I graduated with your sister Julie! I'm looking forward to following your blog and seeing this miracle unfold. I've got 3 boys also. Praying all goes smoothly and that God guides you and your hubby as you prepare for this sweet angel.

Jennifer said...

Kristy Bonaventure?! What a small world! I knew it had to be one of Julie's friends since you were the only ones who called me Rainbow!;)
Hope all is well with you and your family. thanks for the sweet wishes.
Diana, I've been reading your blog as well, and you both are such an inspiration to more people than you even know.
Jennifer, Thanks so much for answering all of my silly questions. I'm sure you'll be getting plenty more..:) I look forwrad to meeting y'all one day too.

Adele said...

So very happy for you! Reading your post made me cry. I just love how God orchestrates things like this and it will be a joy to pray with you on this journey to your daughter. Several children have found their forever families by our own adoption of our daughter from China and I give God all of the glory for this. Who knows, when you get your sweet daughter, no telling who will be led to adopt just by you being faithful to His calling. Praying for you as you begin the most amazing journey you will ever experience.

Tricia said...

That is wonderful! We have been home for almost a year with our daughter, Lydda. We live near Jennifer and my sister lives in Dallas. I'm going up there for the Mardi Gras holidays. Enjoy your journey. The end is so much better than the journey.

3 Peanuts said...

Hi! I am one of Jen's friends too. What a beautiful story. It truly is amazing how God shows us the way (and often He shows us before our hubbies). I will pray that all goes well for you:) We have also adopted from China and I know the blessings that will pour in on your family:)

Mission To Macie said...

Hi Jennifer,

First, Congrats on the journey of adoption!!! As the mom of 3 boys and now to a daughter of China....let me just say your life will never be the same!!! It is a fantastic journey! Our adoption became reality because of my friend Margie's adoption!!
And second, welcome to the land of blog. I look forward to following along. I always feel a special connection to Moms that have 3 boys then adopt their girl and there are LOTS of us!

I am a friend of Jennifer D.(that's how I found ya) I live in south MS about an hour and a half from Jennifer. We are about to have our big CNY celebration tomorrow! Check our blogs for tons of pictures next week!

Wishing you the best,
Jill :)
www.missiontomacie.blogspot.com

Andy said...

Hi Jennifer! Congrats on starting this amazing journey! We have three boys too and found our precious daughter in China. We also worked with GWCA. It was/is a wonderful adventure!

Teresa said...

Hi Jennifer! Congratulations to you and your family! My hubby was the exact same way for a period of time and then one day he called me out of the blue and said "are you still interested in adopting a little girl from China? I really feel like God is calling us to do this". After I began breathing again I said "yes"! Last year on March 1. Gabriella Grace Hao was placed in our arms and our life has been the same since...in a good way! Her three older brothers have fallen totally in love with her and to say that she has totally melted her daddy's heart is an understatement! We will be praying for your family as you begin the journey of a life time!!!

Jennifer said...

Thanks so much for all of the kind and encouraging words! I'm so happy to be able to connect with other bloggers who have been down this road:)

Debbie said...

Welcome to Blogging!! I loved reading your story and I know you will get loads of advice and support from the blogging/adoption world. I too have just started my blog recently and I have made so many new friends. Although we adopted here in Scotland domestically, I couldnt find any UK adoption blogs and started to look a bit further afield and stumbled into "this" new world of foreign adoptions...it is absolutely fascinating! Becoming a mum through adoption is a little bit of heaven right here on earth! Will definetly be following your story.
Ps love the pics of your 3 sons....just cute, cute, cute!! D

Unknown said...

Welcome to the blog world. Found your link from "wesleigh's sight. I love following her blog. Our adoption journey sounds similar to yours. I was praying to adopt and praying my husband would want to if it was God's plan for our lives. God answered and we leave for China on Feb 24 after only a year of being paper pregnant. You can read about it here
http://berrybliz.blogspot.com/2011/01/adoption-timeline-so-far.html
and here http://berrybliz.blogspot.com/2010/03/road-to-adoption.html
I look forward to following your adoption journey.

Ani said...

Hi! I found your blog through Ms Wesleigh's and wanted to say Congratulations!!!!! I look forward to following your journey to your new son/daughter!
Happy Monday.

Tina Michelle said...

Sent over from Ms Wesleigh's blog and thought I would say hi and good luck on your new adventure. I look forward to following along!

Leslie said...

How awesome is God's divine plan? I always love hearing such stories.

As the mom of 3 boys myself, I am in the same place you were a few years ago: we think we're done, but following Jennifer and Diana's blogs (and now yours) has put adoption on my heart. I don't know that our circumstances will ever allow it to happen, but I love reading your journeys and will keep your family in my prayers as you travel this path!

Melissa said...

Jennifer! Oh how it makes my heart smile to read about another family's journey to father the fatherless!! Such a God thing that He led you to Jennifer's blog about floors and now look where you are!! So happy for you and so glad that this road of adoption made our paths cross! Thinking of you and praying for your journey always!! (Melissa from Lifetime :)

Mei Mei s and Mayhem said...

Hello found you from Jennifer's blog! Congrats and blessings to your family for starting this amazing journey! I have 4 bio boys and adopted our first daughter from china 2008 and you cant believe what a little girl in house does to a bunch of boys and men!! It was the best thing for our family and God does not make mistakes! It took many years before my hubby was on the same page. Now we have been home for 3 months with daughter #2! We did an older child adoption the second time around and she is now 10. Welcome to the blog world, cant wait to follow along!