Adoption: We Got The Children!

The adoption worker warned us that even though we are going to committee this does not mean that we will get these children. There are times when you will be presented at committee 8 or 9 sometimes 20 times before your chosen. This being our first time going to committee and being approved for adoption 3 weeks prior to this committee her fears were becoming our fears. We were going to try for these kids and if the answer was "no" we look for others.  Sounds easy -- right?  No -- it is not easy.  Your heart falls for them almost immediatly and they become yours.


I will say it is amazing how you can look at a picture and they become apart of you. This is definitely a one sided relationship at first because the children have no idea who you are or where you are from. I stared at their picture often and couldn't imagine them with anyone else. They had to be with me (us). As I was looking at their picture I could tell the girl (12 years old) was hurting inside. I could read that she had no confidence in herself, she was the protector of her brother, she was slightly on the heavy side and my heart yearned for her!!! She needed me and I needed her! When looking at the brother (11 years old) he looked very handsome, so sweet, small, young and innocent. I could tell his sister protected him well. Well I was 100% right about the girl and I couldn't more wrong about the boy. The boy is a charmer and I love him dearly -- we will get into that on a later post.

This was the adoption picture that was posted on the Heart Gallery.

This was the first time I saw them.

We happened to be up in Salem on a field trip on the day that the committee was meeting. The committee happened to meeting in Salem as well. I know that sounds like something I would put together but no -- that happened by chance. I was praying everywhere I went that day and every step that I took. I wanted to be excited for my son who was with me because we were touring the Capitol Building and it was exciting but I was in a whole other world at that moment. I was picturing them looking at our book and what was the decision. My mind wouldn't stop! This was the fastest pregnancy EVER!! Pregnant ready to deliver in 3 weeks! Me pacing the floors and praying was the labor part. I was really trying to put my mind at rest because there was a very good chance that we would not get the kids and we would have to look at different ones. Finally at about 1:00 pm my phone rang. We were in the cafeteria at that time.  I ran out of the room we were in and held my breath. Our adoption worker said "Sheri?" I said "Yes -- This is me." She said "well, it was a unanimous vote -- and you got the children!!" I was speechless!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost started crying. She told me that they loved our book and this is the place they want to children to go. Thinking back to that time I can picture myself with shaky knees and sweaty palms and being in a state of disbelief. We were parents of 6 children!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After gaining my composure I asked her what the next step was. She said there will be a 7 day waiting period. After those 7 days I can go up and meet them. I will need to work it out with the foster care worker. I called my husband right away and told him that we are parents of a 11 and 12 year old and also added in good measure that we have 6 KIDS!! If you know my husband I am sure you can picture a HUGE lump in this throat when I said that! I think we were both scared to death but there was no backing out now. You know when you are doing the right thing when things just come together with no effort. I knew this was GOD's heart and so therefore it was my heart! He would help us put it all together piece by piece!


I walked back into the cafeteria and one of the teachers who was in our little group kept looking at me -- her eyes were asking me "is it a yes or a no?". I whispered to her that we got the kids and she let out a shrill shriek! She grabbed her camera and started taking pictures of me because I was grinning from ear to ear. I was also giggling because of her reaction. The people around us just thought we were weird and crazy. They had no idea what was going on and it took alot for me not to shout it from the tallest building around! I was trying to act mature at that moment.


It was moments later that I started to recall many peoples comments that took place over the many months prior to being approved -- "Your crazy!" "You have four kids already why would you want more?' and horror story after horror story. This was clearly Satan and his handy work. He loves to destroy your thoughts and the good work that the Lord has done. After praying for peace about this I had a good feeling inside about what just happened.  After all -- Joseph adopted Jesus as his own. I knew that I knew this was right and what the Lord wanted for us.



To Be Continued..........................................