In April 2014 Jeremy and I set out on a journey to find our first child. Everyone thought we were crazy and obviously offered plenty of advise and their opinions. Still we knew what God had told us and we chose to not wavier from his plan.
As many as discouraged us so many more encouraged us.
We trusted that God would show us the way to our child, and through prayer and seeking Him we realized our child was in Hong Kong and was a boy.
We chose to name our son Connor ( which means much wanted.)
In October 2014 we saw a beautiful baby on the waiting list and chose to move forward in pursuing him. Another family was moving forward also and after weeks of interview like questions we found out the other family had been chosen. We were crushed and its then we decided we didnt want to pursue another child that another family was pursuing we wanted the one over looked, the one alone and waiting. After all its our prayer that all children would find a family. We were heartbroken and completely crushed but we knew that God makes no mistakes and our child was still out there, waiting for us to come for them.
In December 2014 our agency worker sent us a child study of a adorable little boy whose file had just been received, he wasnt even on the waiting list yet. We looked over his info and let our agency know we would begin to pray. We then received a reply from our worker about another little boy who had been waiting a very long time. I remember vividly this sentence "We are hopefully that childs name will find a family before the new year as he has been waiting so long." We agreed to pray about both boys and when I opened the second child study this little face greeted me.
I have oftened wondered how this little cutie was on the waiting for two years with no one pursuing him. The answer I believe is that He was ours. From the beginning of time He was destined to be our son. No one else pursued him because He was already accounted for.
We let our agency know on January 11th 2015 that we wanted to move forward and pursue Thaddeus.
The next day we were told he was on "hold" for our family as they awaited our paperwork to arrive in Hong Kong.
We had lots of support but with it came lots of negativity as well. "Why would you adopt a child with Down Syndrome?" " Are you sure you can handle that?"
And yet still we clung to our faith and remembered that God makes no mistakes.
As we worked on paperwork and other steps of the adoption process we prayed and waited. One day while looking over Thaddeus's info for about the millionth time I noticed something I hadnt before. His Birth Mother relinquished her rights on February 18th 2013. I knew then he was our child and had such peace in how God confirmed this for us. ( February 18th is my birthday.)
On July 21st 2015 it became official when we received matching approval (MA). Meaning he was ours and we just needed to finished a few more steps and in as little as 5 months could possibly be bringing our little guy home.
In August we received new photos and it was so bittersweet to see that precious face once more since we only had the one photo of him.
We continued working hard on all the adoption steps, and sent Connor a birthday package along with a video and picture book introducing him to his family and home.
Connor was introduced to us through the video and pictures a few days before his 3rd birthday in September and in October we received photos from that day.
This was a big moment for me that made things so real, To see this tiny boy looking at my picture.
Finally in December 2015 we found out our travel dates would be the week of January 8th.
Nothing could compare to the overwhelming excitement we felt leading up to our travel.
We met our beautiful boy on January 11th 2016. One year to the day we let our agency know that we wanted to move forward and pursue this child.
Nothing will ever compare to the moment we first saw him. Finally holding him in my arms was so surreal.
I said all this to say God makes no mistakes. Adopting this child was not just something we decided to do, it was Gods plan. This child is not just the child we picked. He was ours long before we ever knew.
On August 1st 2016 We went to court and our little guy officially became Connor Thaddeus Malone.
I am overwhelmed that God chose us. Two ordinary people to parent such a beautiful, smart, confident, and joyful child. I am thankful everyday that we chose to follow Christ and didnt let anyone elses opinions waver ours. God brings beauty from ashes, He protects and care for the orphans and He makes no mistakes.
As many as discouraged us so many more encouraged us.
We trusted that God would show us the way to our child, and through prayer and seeking Him we realized our child was in Hong Kong and was a boy.
We chose to name our son Connor ( which means much wanted.)
In October 2014 we saw a beautiful baby on the waiting list and chose to move forward in pursuing him. Another family was moving forward also and after weeks of interview like questions we found out the other family had been chosen. We were crushed and its then we decided we didnt want to pursue another child that another family was pursuing we wanted the one over looked, the one alone and waiting. After all its our prayer that all children would find a family. We were heartbroken and completely crushed but we knew that God makes no mistakes and our child was still out there, waiting for us to come for them.
In December 2014 our agency worker sent us a child study of a adorable little boy whose file had just been received, he wasnt even on the waiting list yet. We looked over his info and let our agency know we would begin to pray. We then received a reply from our worker about another little boy who had been waiting a very long time. I remember vividly this sentence "We are hopefully that childs name will find a family before the new year as he has been waiting so long." We agreed to pray about both boys and when I opened the second child study this little face greeted me.
We let our agency know on January 11th 2015 that we wanted to move forward and pursue Thaddeus.
The next day we were told he was on "hold" for our family as they awaited our paperwork to arrive in Hong Kong.
We had lots of support but with it came lots of negativity as well. "Why would you adopt a child with Down Syndrome?" " Are you sure you can handle that?"
And yet still we clung to our faith and remembered that God makes no mistakes.
As we worked on paperwork and other steps of the adoption process we prayed and waited. One day while looking over Thaddeus's info for about the millionth time I noticed something I hadnt before. His Birth Mother relinquished her rights on February 18th 2013. I knew then he was our child and had such peace in how God confirmed this for us. ( February 18th is my birthday.)
On July 21st 2015 it became official when we received matching approval (MA). Meaning he was ours and we just needed to finished a few more steps and in as little as 5 months could possibly be bringing our little guy home.
In August we received new photos and it was so bittersweet to see that precious face once more since we only had the one photo of him.
Connor was introduced to us through the video and pictures a few days before his 3rd birthday in September and in October we received photos from that day.
Finally in December 2015 we found out our travel dates would be the week of January 8th.
Nothing could compare to the overwhelming excitement we felt leading up to our travel.
I said all this to say God makes no mistakes. Adopting this child was not just something we decided to do, it was Gods plan. This child is not just the child we picked. He was ours long before we ever knew.
On August 1st 2016 We went to court and our little guy officially became Connor Thaddeus Malone.
I am overwhelmed that God chose us. Two ordinary people to parent such a beautiful, smart, confident, and joyful child. I am thankful everyday that we chose to follow Christ and didnt let anyone elses opinions waver ours. God brings beauty from ashes, He protects and care for the orphans and He makes no mistakes.
No comments:
Post a Comment