Sorrow may last for the night, but JOY comes in the morning

We've been waiting a LONG time to finally post this announcement on our blog.... we have adopted a baby girl!!! Providence Joy was born on Tuesday, November 1st at 1:56am. She is 6lbs. 3oz. and 19" long. She is Filipino, and she has lots of beautiful black hair and gorgeous chocolate brown eyes.

We got a call from our adoption agency on the 1st and we were told there was a baby girl just born in Anaheim (abt. a 7hr. drive south for us) who needed parents! We were also told she was perfectly healthy, passed all her tests with flying colors, and most importantly she did not test tox-positive for drugs or alcohol. The birthmom, Jacquelyn, did not want to parent the baby- she didn't know she was pregnant until she was 28 weeks along, and when she found out she asked for an abortion. Thankfully, she was too far along for them to terminate the pregnancy. Jacquelyn kept the pregnancy from everyone except her two best friends, Sarah & Marvel. When she went into labor she told her family she was going out of town so they wouldn't know where to find her or what was happening.

Zach and I proceeded cautiously, and decided to drive down to Anaheim the following morning. We were told both baby and mom would be discharged that day. The entire drive down we were getting more and more anxious. Every hour we didn't get a phone call with bad news, was a step in the right direction. We arrived at the hospital before noon and we met up with the hospital social worker. We were told Jacquelyn had already met with a social worker from the adoption agency the night before, and everything still looked good. She would be signing off her rights that afternoon, before she was discharged from the hospital.

A few hours later we were told Jacquelyn had signed the papers and they would be sent to Dept. of Social Services first thing in the morning- once that was done we were basically in the clear. (The birth father is unknown, so his rights will be automatically terminated by the court.) The weight on our shoulder began to lift...

There were lots of delays throughout the day, so we weren't able to meet the baby until early that evening. We tried to kill time as best we could, but it was difficult. While in the hospital waiting room, Sarah & Marvel (Jacquelyn's friends) found us. They were incredibly sweet and very emotional. They told us Jacquelyn didn't want to meet us herself, but they just had to talk to us. Through tears they shared with us how excited they were for us and they told us Jacquelyn knew we were the right parents the minute she saw our picture on our profile book. She understood this baby would never get the same opportunities if she kept her. Sarah and Marvel also said they'd been loving on the baby during her time in the hospital nursery and they'd also talked to her a lot while she was still in Jacquelyn's tummy. They took lots of pictures and even wrote the baby letters (which they'll give to our adoption agency for us to keep). They told us Jacquelyn comes from a very broken and dysfunctional family that would not be supportive of her pregnancy. She also is working and going to school, and simply unable to provide for a child. Sarah and Marvel were the only two people who knew about the pregnancy and they'd stood by her through the entire process. We expressed our gratitude to them for all they'd done and told them how great it was to know Jacquelyn would have a strong support during the days after. We knew there were no adequate words, but we asked them to tell Jacquelyn how profoundly grateful we were for what she was doing. They'd

read our profile book and they were so excited that we were Christians (they were too!) and they asked if they could pray with us. That is a moment I will never forget- Zach, myself, Sarah and Marvel joined hands in the hospital waiting room and prayed together for Jacquelyn and for the life of this child. It was a gift from God. The peace and assurance we felt after that encounter was priceless.

Soon after the social worker escorted us into the nursery to meet our baby girl. It was overwhelming. We were taken aback by how beautiful and perfect she was. The nurse said she's perfectly healthy, no concerns or complications. We left the hospital soon after and brought Providence back to our hotel. The rest of the night was spent making phone calls, Skype-ing with our parents, and staring at our amazing gift.

We drove back from Anaheim the next day, Anne's 29th birthday. It was a long journey, but Providence slept the entire time! We were exhausted when we arrived home and still a bit shell-shocked that everything worked out this time! We actually have a baby after nearly 2 years of trying to adopt and another year of trying on our own. Our prayers had finally been answered. It blows our mind how quickly our lives changed in just 24 hours. We are soaking up every moment with her, with each other, and with the steady stream of visiting family and friends.

We will never be able to say 'thank you' enough to those of you (some of who we don't even know!) who have prayed us through this long and difficult journey. Without your love, support, and prayers we would never have made it this far. Providence will be told every day about the people who prayed for her long before she even existed. She is, without a doubt, the most loved child in the world. ;-)

Now we are just adjusting to parenthood! Middle of the night feedings, diaper changes, and mastering the swaddle. :-) Providence is a great eater and a wonderful sleeper. She's made our transition so smooth. We pray this will continue to be her temprament, but we know better than to assume as much. :-) She had her first doctor's appointment on Friday and everything looks great! We'll be taking her back in a couple weeks.

*To see pictures we've taken so far, visit our Facebook pages.

*If you would like to visit us, or bring a meal, please let us know and we'll make it happen!

*We are registered at Babies R Us and Landof Nod.com

Quick update

I'll make this brief as Zach and I are in a rush to get our things together and get a good night's sleep before tomorrow's journey. Here's the scoop...

We got a phone call today from our agency- a 25 yr. old mom in Anaheim (Southern CA) gave birth to a 6lb baby girl this morning, Nov 1st. Baby is completely healthy, and mom has remained detached from the beginning (baby is not rooming with mom or being fed by her). The father is unknown and therefore out of the picture. Mom is Filipino and dad was at least half Filipino. Mom's family does not know anything about the pregnancy, but she lives with her mother and siblings. She didn't even know she was pregnant until she was 28 weeks along, and she tried to get an abortion when she found out. Thankfully, she was too far along to terminate the pregnancy.

She met with a social worker tonight, and she will be able to sign off her rights as soon as she gets discharged from the hospital (hopefully tomorrow morning). Baby will also be discharged tomorrow morning, so we are driving to Anaheim at the crack of dawn to be there when that happens. If all goes as we hope, we will be taking the baby home with us after mom's rights are completely terminated sometime tomorrow. We will be staying overnight there, and driving back home with the baby on Thursday (Anne's 29th birthday!!).

We are, as usual, cautiously optimistic. We will not take a real breath until the papers are signed. Anything can happen until then. Please pray we get a solid night's sleep tonight and for safe travels on the road tomorrow. Pray for peace in our hearts and that we will remain continually surrendered to the Lord's will, whatever that may be. We will post again tomorrow afternoon from the hotel, prayerfully, with our new baby girl in our arms.

Love and gratitude to you all.

A & Z <3

And one more makes six...

It's been over a month now since we went to Michigan in our fifth attempt to adopt. We've had time to process and begin healing yet again. We are angered by the choice Adrianna made; we believe it was selfish, and it was certainly not made in the best interest of the child. However, we are grateful we serve a God who allows us to exercise our free will, even when we use that freedom to make the wrong choice.

Within days after returning, we'd been matched with another birthmom, this time in New York. We were too emotionally drained to even think about investing ourselves in another match yet, so we took our time getting back to our agency. We learned that this new mom, Marnie, was in her late thirties and homeless. She was pregnant with her fourth child but she didn't have custody of her other three. (CPS took two and she adopted out the third.) The birth father had already signed off his rights, and Marnie was willing to sign off her rights before she was discharged from the hospital. She wanted a completely closed adoption- no contact with us before, during or after. This situation sounded pretty ideal to us. No risk involved. Our agency wouldn't even call us until the baby was born and the papers were signed, so we wouldn't book a flight to New York until we knew we'd be coming home with a baby. At first, Marnie didn't request much financial assistance, but because we knew she was homeless we sent her some giftcards to help her get by. When we received a copy of the paperwork she'd filled out for our agency, we saw some red flags. Mainly that she was smoking six cigarettes daily throughout her pregnancy, and that she had no prenatal care for the last six months. We also saw she had a serious history with alcohol abuse, so we weren't entirely convinced she wasn't drinking during her pregnancy as well. Her due date was not until mid-January so we knew we had some time to think through this potential health risks to the baby.

Yesterday, we received a call from our agency. They told us that Marnie met with a state worker in New York who was trying to help her get out of the homeless shelter and into a better place. The state worker helped her put a plan on paper and they came up with a dollar amount needed to put it into action. In other words, Marnie was requesting $3500 from us to help her until the baby was born.

Needless to say, we were not comfortable with this amount. Even if we had that kind of extra cash, we would not give it to her while she still has three months to change her mind about placing the baby for adoption. Unfortunately, our inability to provide Marnie with that kind of financial assistance, was a deal breaker. We had to walk away.

When I hung up the phone, I collapsed into tears. Not because we had any kind of connection to Marnie or her baby, but because I was just so unbearably frustrated. We just can't make heads or tails of what God is doing through this exhausting process. Do we give up and accept that adoption just isn't for us, or are we falling victim to the devil's discouragement? Please pray for discernment as we seek God's will for us in pursuing adoption.

The beginning of the end

We flew to Detroit, Michigan on Friday afternoon. Before departing we had a lot of paperwork to sign, get notarized, and fax. Between that, packing, and arranging things for our dog-sitter, we were pretty frantic. All the while we were just anticipating the phone call to tell us the birthmom had already changed her mind. We purchased travel insurance on our plane tickets, rental car and hotel reservations.... we weren't taking any chances. We were sort of hoping that if it was all going to fall apart, that it would happen before we got ourselves all the way out to Michigan.... that wasn't what happened. We'd spend nearly $1,000 in travel expenses before learning it was all for nothing.

We arrived near midnight in Detroit, so we talked to Adrianna (the birthmom) and asked her if she'd prefer we wait to come to the hospital in the morning. We were a bit relieved when she said 'yes.' We were exhausted and hungry, and we knew we'd feel more calm and confident if we had a good night's sleep before we faced her and the baby. We were just grateful she was still talking with us- it was a good sign. Every minute she didn't change her mind was a step forward. We didn't sleep very well that night.

The next morning we arrived at the hospital around 9am. We knew Adrianna would be meeting with the social worker from a Michigan adoption agency at 10am. (B/c it was to be an out-of-state adoption, we had to work with both a CA and a MI adoption agency, plus our own adoption lawyer, and a hospital social worker... there were a lot of people involved and a lot of checks to write- fortunately most all the money was refundable.) We tried to eat something from the hospital cafeteria but we were too anxious to eat. We went up to her room about 30 minutes before the social worker arrived. On the way up the elevator we were both so nauseas and tearful. We'd never gotten that far before...

Before entering Adrianna's room we met the hospital social worker, Sandy. She instantly made us feel comfortable and we knew she was advocating for us. We formed a fast friendship. She'd had some good talks with Adrianna already and she assured us that everything would be okay. When we met Adrianna and her mom, neither were very talkative or even seemed to be interested in who we were. It was incredibly awkward. She did, however, ask us if we'd like to see the baby (down the hall, in the nursery). We said we would, but after we left her room we decided to hold off on meeting him until she'd met with the MI agency's social worker. We ran into Sandy on our way back down the hall and she invited us into the nursery to meet the baby... we told her this was our fifth time trying to adopt and that all the moms had changed their minds on us... we were trying to be very cautious and we didn't want to see him until we felt more confident that things would pull through. When she heard this, she teared up (causing us to tear up too). She just couldn't believe we'd been through so much already.

Back down in the lobby we met with Jill (the MI agency social worker) and signed a pile of paperwork. We were blessed by her as well, in that she set us at ease immediately. She was honest and upfront, and she was very sensitive to the fact that we'd been through this before. She met with Adrianna for a couple hours, asking her some tough questions and walking her through different scenarios. When Jill met up with us afterward she said she felt pretty confident that Adrianna was set in her decision to place the baby for adoption. Though she was young (19), she understood that she simply couldn't provide for a baby without a job, education, or financial support from family. Emotionally she was struggling, but she knew adoption was the right thing to do. Jill encouraged us to spend more time with her, and though it was hard, she wanted us to meet the baby and start bonding with him. Adrianna needed to see us with him in order to feel comfortable giving him to us. I began to cry just at the suggestion. "Do you know what you're asking?" I said. I wanted to keep my wall up until I knew he was really mine to keep. I couldn't bear the thought of holding him and bonding with him only to walk away.

We filled our hours in between hospital visits with phone calls home, keeping our parents and close friends in the loop as best we could. We were exhausted in every way possible, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The stress of not knowing what the next minute or hour would be like was awful. We kept saying, "I just want to know one way or the other. If Adrianna's going to bail out, she just needs to do it already and stop wasting our time. I hate being dragged along like this!"

That evening we returned to the hospital, checked in with Adrianna and then headed to the nursery. Sandy was there to introduce us to him. He was on a breathing monitor so we couldn't pick him up (we realize now the Lord was protecting us in this way), but we could touch him and talk to him. Zach reached out right away and grabbed his little hand, stroked his thick black hair and began talking to him. I stood back and watched, completely terrified. Sandy kept saying, "It's okay, he's yours. Go ahead." But he didn't feel mine. She set us up in a private room with him and she took some pictures. We asked a lot of questions about his health, what to do when we'd have to travel with him, etc. We had been told that Adrianna smoked marijuana regularly during her pregnancy so they were keeping the baby under watch for any side effects. We spent a full hour with him, and when we left we both agreed that while he was a beautiful baby... he just didn't feel like he was ours yet (again, a protective shield from the Lord).

Adrianna was being released from the hospital the next day and we weren't sure if we'd see her again, so we stopped in her room one more time to ask her what kind of contact she'd like after the adoption. She just shrugged and said she hadn't really thought about it. We left to head back to our hotel, and we anxiously counted down the hours until she would be out of the picture so we could freely spend time with the baby and not have to step around her. From the time she would be discharged, she'd have 24 hours before signing away her parental rights to us. We knew we wouldn't be taking a deep breath until that happened.

I don't even know where to begin in writing this post. The last week has been an absolute blur, and our time here in Michigan has been the worst emotional roller coaster ride we've ever endured in our entire adoption process.

I'll start from the end and work my way backwards....

This afternoon our adoption lawyer called us, and through his tears he told us Adrianna had changed her mind. She met with the social worker (Jill) from the Michigan adoption agency and told her that nothing had really changed, she still knew that she couldn't provide for a child, but she simply wanted to be his mom. That was it. She was digging her heels in. She was being stubborn, selfish, and nineteen years old. Her mind was not on the consequences this decision would have on us, and especially not on the baby. Unfortunately, we've seen this happen so many times before. Regardless of all the obvious, practical reasons a mother may have for not being able to support a baby, her heart & emotions take over and nothing but her own selfish desires matter.

What we also found out was that because the baby tested tox-positive when he was born (Adrianna smoked marijuana consistently during her pregnancy), CPS (Child Protective Services) was informed. Apparently they are already very familiar with Adrianna's family as they have removed children from the home before (her sister's kids). It's very likely the baby will not even be discharged to Adrianna at all, but rather to a foster home. This information angers us to no end. She is knowingly placing her son in the foster system rather than with us. Nobody wins, least of all the baby. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

We are walking the tightrope of holding it together, knowing God is still in control & He will use this pain somehow some way, and also completely collapsing under the weight of the pain, frustration, and complete disbelief that we are here for the fifth time in a row.

There is so much more we will share via blog over the next few days, about how we feel about all of this, about our time here in Michigan and about the incredible support we've had from social workers, hospital staff, and most especially our friends & family who have been texting, emailing, calling & Facebooking us through this entire ordeal. Without your prayers we could not stand. In the meantime we are feeling your prayers and are grateful for your support.

Here we go again... for the 5th time

This is getting a little ridiculous now... we've been matched with our FIFTH birthmom since our adoption contract began in May of 2010. We are hopeful (again), but certainly not the least bit excited (yet). Here's the scoop....

We received the phone call from our agency on Friday & we spoke with the birthmom Saturday morning. Her name is Adrianna, she is 19 years old, lives in Michigan, and her due date is today (Sept 12th). Both she & the birth father (who was out of the picture before it even began) are full African-American. She is completely healthy and so is baby, up to this point. More important than anything else (at least for us), is that her family & friends all know about her pregnancy & adoption plan, and they are all supportive. While we certainly know this doesn't guarantee anything, we feel much more comfortable knowing no family will come out of the woodwork last minute and change her mind.

When we asked her why she chose adoption for her baby, she explained that her situation is simply not conducive to raising a child. She and her three sisters live with her single, unemployed mom. They are all living off food stamps in a small house. Adrianna is also jobless and has not completed her GED. She has no way of supporting a baby and neither does her family. Upon hearing this we tried our best to encourage her (but really, what can you say?). We told her what we've told all the other birthmoms... that we respect and admire her for the selfless and loving decision she's making... that we'll make sure this child knows they were placed for adoption because they were so very loved and because their mother put their needs before her own. We assured her we were here to support her, no matter what the outcome ends up being.

Other things some of you may want to know- We don't know the gender of the baby, nor are we deciding on any names until we feel certain it will all work out. Adrianna has decided, for now, that she does not want any contact or updates from us after the baby is adopted. However, she would like to see & hold the baby after she delivers. So far she has not asked for any financial assistance from us, but if a need arises we would definitely be willing to come alongside her.

After so many times through this we've tried our hardest to make our focus the birthmom, not the baby. If we walk away from our relationship with her (with or without a baby) knowing we did our best to love, support, and pray for her, then we will have no regrets. It's a ministry, not an opportunity.

Some things you can be praying for Adrianna:

-Peace of mind in the decision she's made, that no matter what emotions may take over, she will stand firm in doing what is best for the child, not for herself.

-Relief from the discomfort she's feeling in these final days of her pregnancy, that she will be able to rest adequately.

-Comfort for her as she experiences anxiety and fear about the labor & delivery process. This is her first pregnancy and she's had little prenatal care/training.

-Total health and smooth sailing for both Adrianna and baby as they endure labor & delivery.

Something you can be praying for us:

-Protection of our hearts as we move forward with Adrianna, that we find a balance between connecting & building a trust with her, and staying guarded & detached.

-If we end up traveling to Michigan for the birth of the baby, that all the logistical things would fall into place and we can get there safely and without incident.

-That we would continue to surrender this entire thing to the Lord every minute of every day, trusting Him completely, no matter the outcome.

In the meantime, as we wait for things to either fall through or move forward (meaning we book a flight to Michigan when she goes into labor), I keep repeating Exodus 14:14 to myself... "The Lord will fight for me; I need only to be still."

Dreams I Dream for You

I (Anne) was spending some quiet time alone with the Lord this morning and I felt compelled to listen to some music by Avalon. (If you're a fan of Christian music you'll remember that Avalon was big back in the 90's.) I hadn't listened to this cd in years, but I still knew all the words. The final song on the cd is called "Dreams I Dream for You." Instead of singing along, I chose to just sit and listen to God's words to me... they brought me to tears. I was reminded to let go of all my dreams for this life, to stop focusing on waters gone by, to take the cup He offers and drink deeply of the dreams He dreams for me...accepting that His dreams may look nothing like my own.

Dreams I Dream for You - Avalon

You taste the tears

You're lost in sorrow

You see your yesterdays

I see tomorrow

You see the darkness

I see the spark

You know your failures

But I know your heart

The dreams I dream for you

Are deeper than the ones you're clinging to

More precious than the finest things you knew

And truer than the treasures you pursue

Let the old dreams die

Like stars that fade from view

Then take the cup I offer

And drink deeply of

The dreams I dream for you

You see your shame

But I see your glory

You've read one page

But I know the story

I hold a vision

That you'll become

As you grow into the truth

As you learn to walk in love

Let the old dreams die

Like starts that fade from view

Then take the cup I offer

And drink deeply of

The dreams I dream for you