One year ago . . .

It was December 14, 2009 when we got the call that would change our lives forever. I will never forget the moment. . . Addie and I were playing Wii in the bonus room. I had just put color on my hair, because I decided I wanted my hair to be a little darker. The phone rang and the caller ID said “Mercy Ministries.” I believed they were calling to ask for a year-end donation and almost didn’t answer the phone. I’m so glad I did. It was Joy Graham, and she asked me how our international adoption plan was going. After waiting more than a year to be chosen by a birth mom, we decided to try an international plan. I explained to Joy we were waiting on one final paper and then we would be locked in to Bulgarian adoption. She proceeded to tell me, a birth mom had chosen us! I was in complete shock. She explained about the baby having a kidney issue, and about the birth mom’s story. After a 20 minute conversation, she dropped the bigger news, it was TWINS! I had to sit down for that one. We then made a plan to talk with the birth mom later that week in a conference call.

There I was, color dripping from my hair with Addie’s big brown eyes staring up at me and asking, “Mommy, what was that?” I explained to her about the call, and a birth mom choosing us. Her response was, “You mean she chose ME to be the big sister.” It was precious. The first phone call was to Justin, who was on call at the hospital. He was in surgery and could not answer, so I called one of my best friends from college who had adopted twice from Mercy Ministries. We talked for a little while, and then Justin called. He was nervous, but excited. It was then; I realized my hair had turned black from leaving the color on for too long.

The next few weeks are a blur. We met the birth mom for lunch, had phone calls, and spent some time with her. We loved her instantly. God connected so many of our stories, and we knew His hand was all over our times. After Olivia and Emily were born, she struggled again with her decision to place. The pain and agony of seeing your two beautiful babies raised, loved, and adored by someone else was just too much. We prayed diligently for her and asked God for His will to be done in all of our lives. After a week, she made her decision. She walked into the office at Mercy and said, “I know that I know that I know the girls are supposed to be theirs.” Our birth mom is an amazing woman, who has given us something more wonderful than I could ever imagine giving anyone. It is just indescribable how much love, appreciation, gratefulness, and respect we have for her. She is our hero.

After 4 ½ LONG years of failed IVFs, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, corrective surgery, and loss, THIS was our answer. The answer God had all along. If we had only known that all the tears and pain and loss was not for nothing. He was just waiting to give us HIS answer. The road of waiting is so painful. It was the hardest time in our lives. We spent so much time wondering if Addie would ever have a sibling, if God would ever answer our prayers. When we held our precious girls for the first time, all the PAIN was washed away in one moment. God is good. For any of you walking through dark and painful valleys, please remember, it is not the end of the story. It is just the road leading to His perfect plan.