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Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Why adoption & My new tunes!

A big thank you to Rony for turning me on to the esnip music. She's been putting some clever tunes to go along w/her blogs. To the left you will see a play list, of a few of my current favorite songs. Turn up your volume, and check them out.

I have to tell you about the last one on the list, 'He knows my name'. This song is Sophia's song. The whole time we were waiting for our referral, I would hear it and cry. Cry. I have tears in my eyes now, as I listen. 'He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call.' All I could think of was Sophia, somewhere in China, crying and I wasn't there for her. He was hearing her, though. Won't you grab a tissue and have a listen?

If you don't know the story of how we came to adopt, I will tell you. (We do have another website: www.journeytosophia.com if you want to see our 'gotcha pics' or other posts from china, but I will save you from going.)

Why did we adopt from China? Because God called us to. Let me explain further.

On July 16, 2004, DH was driving in his truck, listening to a Focus on the Family Christian radio program. It was Pat Wadenphuhl, speaking of how God had led them to adopt from China. She told her story. I wouldn't know until mid-December just how touched Ted was by this program. (Ted said he knew right then, that we would be adopting a baby from China; it was a feeling he just couldn't describe.) He wouldn't share this with me until months after we'd begun the process.

DH had a customer to meet at 10:30, so he pulled over to the side of the road, so he could hear the rest of the program before proceeding to the job site. DH arrived at the job site at 10:30ish. The man he was to meet was there, but he needed to run and pick up his daughter at camp. Minutes later when he returned, he had indeed picked up his daughter, his CHINESE daughter, that had been adopted from China years before!

DH and I met the same day for lunch. He was sharing what he had heard on the radio program, as I sat in tears. (Yes, I'm very emotional.) He shared with me information about the one child policy, and the conditions in which these children were living. He told me how he arrived at the job site, to meet the customer with a daughter that he'd adopted from China. How odd - a neat coincidence I thought. It hadn't hit me yet.

I began to tell DH of something 'odd' that had happened to me this very same morning. I had received an email from an old friend that I hadn't heard from in almost 20 years. Her name is Hope, and she came to my school in the 2nd grade. She had looked me up on classmates.com, and sent me an email. Nothing special, just how are you, what are you doing, have any kids, things like that. I'd signed up for classmates.com a couple years ago now, and had never been contacted by anyone else.

This is where it gets interesting. Hope was born in Asia, in Korea. She was adopted, and moved to my home town in the 2nd grade. Hope emailed me the same morning, after 20 years of no contact. As I told DH of this 'funny' thing, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was becoming very clear that these weren't 'coincidences.'

I looked at DH and said, "Um... do you suppose we're supposed to... adopt a baby from China?" We both looked at each other and we just knew. DH said something to the effect of "it sure looks that way."

Wow. We were both taken aback, but couldn't deny what we were being called to do. We never doubted and said no, but we were in shock for awhile! :) I joked with Ted and said, "Do you suppose God knows how dense we are, and he had to give us 3 'clues' in one morning?" No, really! We had two bio children, DH had a vasectomy, we were content. Adoption was never a dream, never a thought. We didn't really know anyone that had adopted, and we certainly were not experts on China's one child policy, or all the baby girls in orphanages over there. We were living our lives, and doing our thing. But God had another plan for us.

What a huge leap of faith. Financially, we were a one income family of 4, and we didn't have the $25,000+ that it takes for an international adoption. Probably the biggest leap of faith, was the financial piece. After cleaning out what we had in savings, we proceeded to take out a home equity loan, just as Patt W. had done when God had called her to adopt. We knew it was all orchestrated by God, and He would provide the means. We did a bit of fund raising. So many people donated items for our benefit garage/lawn sale that happened Memorial Weekend. My mother even made a beautiful miniature doll house to raffle at the sale. Family and friends were so supportive. Praise God, we were able to raise over $4,000 at that two-day sale!

We had never thought of adoption; we thought our family was complete. This wasn't our idea, like most of the decisions in our past had been. This was bigger than us. This was clearly orchestrated by God. Wow, why us, we wonder? We're thankful that He has chosen us.

Our completed dossier was logged in December 28th 2004, and 7 months later we were referred Sophia (see pic above). We all traveled to China as a family, and we love her more than words can express. So you see, it was a 'God thing'.

That's our story. We still don't know why us, but we are amazed and thankful every day for this incredible journey. This was going to be a post, with no pictures, just to point out my snazzy new music player over there on the left hand side, and look what it turned out as!

Enjoy the tunes, while I get a tissue myself! And when you get a minute, how about sharing your story?

27 comments:

Lauren said...

That is such a neat post!!!

Pixel Fairy Princess said...

What a beautiful story! I love to read "Why China?" stories. While there is a similar theme that runs through them all ~ there is also a very unique element that makes each one special and it own. I was touched by your log in date. One year latter I, on that date I would be sitting in a hotel room in Orlando crying, thinking that our dossier would not get logged in by the end of 2005. On New Years Eve we got a call that we had a LID of Dec 29, 2005. What a way to start the new year! I had no idea that we'd be staring at her face in about 8 weeks! What an amazing God! I love your esnips!

MississippiZen said...

What a great story and SO similar to our "Why China?" story! You have inspired me to share our story very soon on my blog. I love the esnips too :) Rony and I go back to the "waiting" days together. Unfortunately, we did not get to travel together but at least I can keep up with the girls through her blog :)

Margie

Abby's Mom said...

I just went and checked out your china trip. How beautiful! I love "He knows my name as well" :)

redmaryjanes said...

Our story is very similar. I never intended to have more children when Tim and I married. But Elijah came along, 10 years younger than his youngest older sibling. There was a mother of a boy on Zach's hockey team who had just adopted a little girl from Korea. We were just mesmerized by her. That's we started to feel the need for another child. Then everywhere we went, we saw little Asian girls. And every obstacle we had was removed. Every door opened. Our application was approved, our 171 came back in 2 weeks. Our family was filled with joy and excitement. There is no doubt that God is in control and that there will be a Sophia Jane in our family. Now I see how perfect the timing was. We made in ahead of the May 7 cut-off or we would be delayed because of the 5 year marriage rule. It's just amazing when you look back on your life and see God had it all worked out all along.

Mommy Spice said...

Yep! I know just what ya mean. We were called as well. We had another family in our travel group who asked us why China? We told them our answer and they just laughed and said, "Us too!!" I'm so glad we were listening!!

Ally, big sister to Lillyana said...

oh wow! That was so amazing! Thank you for sharing!

Gracie said...

How sweet! I loved those songs, some of those I am going to put on my ipod!

Holly said...

What a wonderful post! I really enjoyed reading that.

Steffie B. said...

A beautiful story.....what a precious thing to tell her someday!

Lisa said...

Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it.

Lauren and Ed said...

That is an incredible story. You are right...there were too many coincidences...you were meant to have Sophia in your lives. Thanks for sharing.

mommy24treasures said...

I love going down memory lane. Remembering these moments can be so refreshing.

Jeff and Valerie said...

Love your story. I went to my H.S. reunion last month and was talking to an old friend from 4th grade. She said we used to talk about our weddings and kids when we were little. She said I always said I was going to adopt one day. I don't remember saying that, but I guess I just always knew ...

Anonymous said...

oh my goodness what a wonderful post. Sophia cam along when the wait was still short (I know 7 months was not short for you guys). We waited months for our Chloe (came home April 2006) but she was worth the wait!! I loved reading your story. I'm going to sit down one day and write out our story too but I'm still trying to absorb it all--even after almost a year and a half!!

Take care and thanks for the visit today.

Bridget

insanemommy said...

Christine, as I sat here reading this the hairs on my arm are standing straight up. This is one of the most beautiful post about Chinese adoptions that I have ever read. Not only are you lucky (yes, we all are aren't we) but your daughter is lucky to have a family who believes so passionately and to know that g-d placed her with you. I rarely ever miss coming here to your site, however yesterday I was having "technical" problems. You truly amaze me. Hugs. Rony

Anonymous said...

Well, you have inspired me too! I guess I will have to take some time and sit down and tell our story.

Thank you!
April & Aiden

PS - How do your children keep getting cuter?? How is it possible??

Debbie said...

I don't know how I got your blog, but I love it. Your daughter is gorgeous!!

Where did you get your blog banners?

Debbie

Sophie's Mom said...

I couldn't email you, Debbie, or view your profile. Do you mean my header? I made it using Adobe Photoshop. Thanks for stopping by!

Elizabeth said...

Well, I too came to adoption via weird 'coincidences' so I do think that it was your destiny.

kerri said...

Wow, the messages couldn't have been any more clear. It was meant to be,you were destined to be a family.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story.

insanemommy said...

Where are you friend???? I've missed you.

Mama Darling said...

God works in amazing ways! When he lays something on your heart, you just have to do it or that inner peace just doesn't come. Along with that peace has come years of joy with our adoption. Thanks for your comment on my blog. I tried to get "He Knows My Name" to play with my last posting and wasn't successful. Thanks for the esnips info. I'll try it.

crazylady said...

synchronicity at it's finest.
I would have thumped you over the head myself as a fourth and final clue. Can't imagine reading your blog without Sophia! Okay, pit stop at dh. But Sophia!

Nikki said...

What a beautiful story! I just loved reading it...God gave jay and I lotsa clues too -- I guess we're dense also. Anyway, I'm so glad He did!

Jewels of My Heart said...

Thank you for sharing your special journey to your precious daughter... The Lord had it planned before the beginning of time.
I love those songs. While we were waiting to bring Hannah home the Lord ministered to me through the song Praise You in the Storm... I am so thankful that He does know our names and I am oh, so thankful that our daughters are safely home in our arms.
God Bless You

Anonymous said...

You are such a kind hearted couple. Your story is so moving that I was in tears. May God bless your loving family.