The Background Story

Time to start a blog to keep up with the goings on of our growing family!

Background:

Chris and I have been married for almost 17years!!  I know....young bride!  :-)  We knew upon getting marrind that having biological children was going to be next to impossible, but for several years (like 3ish)...we gave it a shot.  We did the whole run with infertility specialists, tests, drugs, more tests....BLA BLA BLA.  It was a challenging, emotionally painful few years and ultimiately, we decided to call it quits!  We decided to put ourselves into our careers, our marriage, our church, and our social life.

Over the years, discussion of adoption surfaced...and re-surfaced.....and RE-SURFACED!  It was like a nagging case of acid reflux....that just kept showing back up at the most unlikely of times!  On two different occasions in Michigan, we began to pursue the possibility of adoption...with each time being halted for various reasons.  Most recently....in the Spring of 2011, after our paperwork was all complete, letters of recommendation all in, medical forms all filled out....Chris was called regarding a job in Texas!  After much prayerful consideration...we decided that God was calling us back to Texas.  So...into the trash can with all that paper work and prep.  The door had been shut again....maybe for good! 

At first...I knew God was calling Chris...to a new career, one where he could use his talents in ministry, but I was not at ALL sure if or WHY he was calling me.

So....off we went!  August of 2011, we re-located to Midland, Texas for Chris to become the Music Director at St Luke's United Methodist Church.  Our new church family welcomed us in with open arms and the Chris' decision to take this job has proved to be a wonderful following of God's great plan for his life!

Still....why am I here?  As months went by, and me...still without full time work...I was beginning to question and ask God what MY purpose was here in Midland.  Are you wanting me to pursue a career change?  Are you directing me into mission work (one of my passions)?  Am I here to be a supportive wife of a husband in ministry?  HEY GOD....let me in on the plan!!  Okay????

Last winter....I got that "adoption acid reflux" again!  It hit me....right during church, as I was serviving communion on Christmas Eve at the "Family Service".  All thouse beautiful families...bring their little tykes forward....trying to explain to them about communion, all the while preventing them from spilling grape juice on their new, Christmas outfits.  I watched...with great sadness!  I wanted that life...I wanted to intercept my child's grubby hands from entering the communion cup....I wanted to smile with embaressment as I exited the side door with a crying baby...I wanted to share the story of the birth of Christ....God's greatest gift with my own precious family!!  And...cue the water works!  I handed out the bread....as the tears flowed down my face.

After the holidays were over...I decided to have that "crutial conversation" with Chris....AGAIN.  "Babe...I REALLY want to adopt.  I'm supposed to be a mother....I just know it.  And...you are supposed to be a father...and amazing one at that!"  We talked...cried....talked...and decided once again, we would begin to investigate our options.

The very next day...my cousin Amy and I had a talk on the phone.  She said she had it on her heart to talk to me about foster parenting (she and her hubs have two beautiful foster kids they are soon to adopt).  "Oh no....not us Amy!  I don't think God is pulling us in that direction.  You and Greg are amazing people...and I'm so thankful there are people out there like you....but we are NOT those people!"

Well...I was wrong!  And so began our journey....growing our family from 2 to 4!