All Because of a Case Of Strep Throat

Late in 2009, I had decided that 2010 was going to be THE YEAR- the year to change things, to get things done; the year to really make a difference.  I was hopeful for the chance to not only make a big change and a difference in my life, but to make a difference in the lives of others as well.
To that end, Randy and I started working on things as a family, and personally.  Together, we took the 12 week "Financial Peace University" course by Dave Ramsey.  It had a huge impact.  Personally, we both committed to better health and fitness for ourselves, and pursued avenues for that.

Still, I hoped beyond hope that our family would grow.  My prayer, my petition, my plea,  was that God help us to grow our family THIS YEAR.   I had a little talk with God, (we all know how those go, right?) and told him that if nothing was in "the works" by New Years Eve 2010, I was giving up my hope for children, was going to enroll in school for my masters, and start saving so Randy and I could begin some serious traveling.  I needed closure.  I needed not to torment my mind and emotions with, "maybe this month", or "that call is right around the corner".  I had to have a resolution, one way or another.

One evening, we were out to dinner with friends- our standing "double date" with our very close buds.  My cell phone buzzed, and I took the call.  Normally I would not have answered while out to dinner, but we were still in the car, so I did.  Randy, my friend Kim and I were in the car on the way to meet up with Kim's husband.  On the other end was my friend Pamela.  Pamela has  a heart for growing families by adoption, and instantly I knew what this call was about.  I don't know how, I just knew.
Pamela asked me if we had been re-considering adoption.  We had.  She then asked how I felt about older children and sibling groups.  My answer was that if we had been able to "create our own", we would have school aged children, and hopefully a "sibling group" of our own.  She proceeded to tell me the details of the situation.  It sounded interesting, but I would talk to Randy when we got home.  Of course, I was on pins and needles to have that talk all night!  After Randy and I talked, we called Pamela back and told her we were definitely interested.

Thus began the flurry of activity.  We got in touch with Pamela's friend Carri, who is the director of Special Link.  It's an adoption agency/clearinghouse that deals primarily with special needs and biracial adoptions.  We learned about the children- Will, age 8 and Katherine- age 6.   They were of Peruvian descent, but lived in the upstate, as we South Carolinian's call it, with a loving family and 7 other adopted brothers and sisters.  The family that had taken them in was older, and wished for more for these children than they could give.  The children were loved, cared for and protected, but their family just wanted them to have a younger couple who loved the Lord and could keep up with the demands of school aged children.  Things were sounding promising, and it looked like we might fit the bill.

Our First Beach Trip

The homestudy was scheduled and we went into motion.  Our wonderful and gracious pastor helped us find funding.  He knows our hearts, and our desire for a family.  It's such a blessing to have a pastor who knows you by name, and knows the needs of your family, without you having to say much.  Our pastor is that kind of Shepherd.  He is a man of God and seeks God's will daily. 

Then, craziness happened.  The week of the homestudy, Randy's identity was stolen, and someone had a little fun in a Wal Mart in another part of the state.  That was resolved, and we were able to have our homestudy done.  The next week, the family was here at the beach on vacation.  We were able to meet a good majority of the family, and finally meet Will and Katherine.  We had seen one picture, and were instantly in love.

Katherine steering the Shrimp Trawler

We met the family at a Greek restaurant after church on Sunday, August 1.  That week, we were able to spend time with the kids and do some "bonding".  We had so much fun going to the beach, the fun park, the movies, to our house for a sleepover, and to the Childrens Museum of the Lowcountry.  By the end of the week, that love was quite mutual, and the family with whom the children lived felt 100 % sure that we were the ones to raise these precious ones.

You may be wondering by now what a case of step throat has to do with our journey.  The night my friend Pamela made that initial call, she was supposed to be on a plane to Pennsylvania for a wedding, but her 3 year old son had come down with strep throat.  She was so upset that she couldn't go.  Later, her husband pointed out to her that if Matthew had not been sick, and she had been en route to the wedding, she never would have been chatting with Carri, and would have not known about this situation.  WOW.  I guess I need to send that couple a wedding present!

Currently, we are in a race to get everything signed.  If all goes well, we'll pick them up to come to their forever home on Friday.  To God be the Glory for the things he has done, and is going to do.