She came out of nowhere and into our life...

It took 18 months to do all that was required to be approved as an adoptive family. This photo was taken at Thanksgiving 2011. We had only been "waiting" for 7 months. But the emotional roller coaster had started years before with countless miscarriages and failed infertility treatments. I had grown tired and was feeling guilty for spending countless hours on adoption networking when I already had an amazing husband and son. So I prayed and asked the Lord if I could be done. Could I just enjoy and cherish the precious little family I had already been given? The answer was a clear no, you are not done yet. So I made a compromise and asked if I could do absolutely NOTHING related to adoption during winter break and enjoy my little family. I'd say from looking back at the photos I did a fabulous job.

 

After Winter Break it was back to teaching Kindergarten and adoption networking. I made a new profile photo for our adoption agency's website with Michael Buble's lyrnics:

 

"Wherever you are..whenever it is right...you will come out of nowhere and into our life."

 

I had no idea how soon that would be. Our birthmom came out of nowhere and into our life exactly a year ago TODAY. That was just a few weeks after adding the photo.

 

We are so grateful for the incredible blessings that have followed. Our family was not only blessed with a precious baby but with the love of his birthfamily. We are eternally grateful for all of them and how they have become our extended family. The lyrics and song below describe my journey perfectly and how I wouldn't trade the heartaches over the past several years for all the blessings I have now. Heaven has definitely shown me miracles I wouldn't have seen otherwise.  

 

 

 

I had it all mapped out in front of me,
Knew just where I wanted to go;
But life decided to change my plans,
And I found a mountain in the middle of my road.

I knew there was no way over it,
So I searched for a way around;
Brokenhearted I started climbin',
And at the top I found...

Every fear, every doubt,
All the pain I went through;
Was the price that I paid to see this view;
And now that I'm here I would never trade...

The grace that I feel,
And the faith that I find;
Through the bitter-sweet tears,
 And the sleepless nights;

I used to pray he'd take it all away,
But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak.

I never dreamed my heart would make it,
I thought about turning around;
But heaven has shown me miracles,
I never would have seen from the ground.

 

Now I take the rain with the sunshine,
Cause there's one thing that I know;
He picks up the pieces,
Along each broken road.

Every fear, every doubt,
All the pain I went through;
Was the price that I paid to see this view;
And now that I'm here I would never trade...

The grace that I feel,
And the faith that I find;
Through the bitter-sweet tears,
And the sleepless nights.

I used to pray he'd take it all away,
But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak.