OUR ADOPTION STORY - STEPHANIE #writeyourheartout

My story is one that constantly reminds me that God is in the details.

We were unable to have biological children, so I had been through a few years of emotional hell. I had always wanted to be able to take a baby home from the hospital and name him. I know those seem like little things to those who have given birth, but I so desperately wanted some part of the "ritual" that women with bio children get to do.

We didn't get into fostering with a plan to adopt, we actually looked into private adoption while going through our foster training. I had been a TFC therapist in the past, so I knew the need was great and the Lord was calling. 

Our first placement was a two and three year old sister and brother. Two months later, their one year old brother came into our home. Six months after that, their bio mom had another baby. We went from zero to four kids, ages three and under, in less than a year. When we got that first placement and they told me it was a shocking and heinous case going straight to termination of parental rights, I was hopeful. They were asking if we would adopt, we said yes.

Two years later, I found myself loading up the oldest two into their mom's van. Three weeks later, it was the younger two. Yes, I was heart broken, but I knew this was God's plan for their lives and mine.

While talking with the placement director about how long of a break we would take and our decision to wait until the new year, I said, "But if you guys get desperate, call me." The director just looked at me and said, "You know we always have a need." She then proceeded to tell me about a baby at Children's Hospital that had cystic fibrosis and they were not able to find a home for him. I immediately said "We will." I realized I should probably call my husband first.

24 hours later we picked up a beautiful 5 lb. baby from the NICU and brought him home with us. A few months later, tests showed he didn't cystic fibrosis. A year later, we got to name him and give him our last name, too. I thank the Lord he sent me such a wonderful boy, my little miracle baby.

God does care about the details, no one can tell me He doesn't after this experience.