How our family was formed

My husband and I met in the summer of 2003, he proposed in December of 2005, and we were married in October of 2006. We moved into a new house in May of 2008 and tried to start our family. After trying for a year and no success we decided to seriously look into adoption. Daryl and I both felt called to adoption before we even met each other but we didn't think it would be something we would do right away. We prayed and researched adoption agencies and when we found Bethany Christian Services we knew this is God's plan for our lives.

We put in our first application with BCS in July of 2009 already feeling God's plan beginning to unfold. The next few months were full of paperwork, meetings, and prayers as we pressed through the process. In December of 2009 we began our home study and in January of 2010 we eagerly awaited the finalized home study so we could apply for loans and grants.
Before going any further, I must take a moment to tell you that the swiftness with which our placement occurred is unusual but definitely directed by God. Daryl and I felt God's calling to have an open heart and mind in our adoption process in regards to the birth family. The rest of our story is nothing short of a miracle but it may be difficult to hear for those that are currently waiting to adopt. Our social worker had this to say about the waiting process . . . if it's God's will, it will happen. It doesn't matter how long you wait God has the perfect child and situation planned for your life, you just have to wait for His plan to unfold.

Back to the story. . . On January 20th, 2010 Daryl called BCS to ask them a finance question (keep in mind our home study paperwork isn't finalized yet) and while on the phone our social worker told him that they are on their way to the hospital to talk to a perspective birth mother who gave birth to twins on Monday the 18th. She wanted to know if we were interested so she could show our profile and of course we said YES! Our social worker (from here on refered to as Angela) called us back that evening with no new information and promised to call tomorrow. Thursday, Angela calls us to tell us that the birth mother chose us to adopt her twins! We were on cloud nine! But there's a catch . . .

The catch: The birth father is African American and the birth mother is Native American registered with a tribe in South Dakota. Because Native Americans are a protected people federal laws states that in addition to obtaining permission from the birth family, we must also obtain permission from the tribe. Angela assures us that contact has already been made with the tribe and we should have an answer before the weekend.

I have never hit my knees so hard! I prayed like I have never prayed before. What we thought would be a quick decision turned into a 10 day prayer fest on an emotional roller coaster. All during this time, we didn't know anything about the babies other than they are 8 weeks premature, in the NICU, and doing well. Angela and Cindy (another social worker) were doing everything possible to close this case. Their fear is that the babies would need to be discharged from the hospital before the case was finalized. If that happened the babies would more than likely go to the state or this could drag on and on for months (keep in mind I've not even seen a picture of the babies).

Monday February 1st, I am snowed in. I'm a 5th grade teacher about to go stir crazy if I have to spend another moment in my house, alone, trying to get my mind off of these babies! So I decide to go to the chiropractor. I've got a lot of tension and neck pains so I decide it's best to get out of the house. While in the doctor's office I look down at my phone (that's on silent because I'm in a doctor's office) and see that I've missed several calls from Daryl. I call him back and he says PRAY!! So I pray the best I can while getting my neck cracked and while waiting to check out I notice he has called several more times. I return his call to hear the sweetest words possible "The tribe said Yes!" Through the tears I turn to those in the office and gladly exclaim that I am the mother of twins! A boy and a girl!

Wednesday February 3rd, we head to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte to meet our social workers, to meet the birth mother, and to meet our babies! The birth mother, Rachel, is so sweet and we agree to an open adoption. She goes to spend more time with the babies while we talk to Angela and Cindy. Now it's our time, we head back into the restricted area to see the babies. We immediately go to their beds and I pick up the boy (now named Gabriel Hunter) and Daryl stares at the girl (now named Eden Michelle) a little afraid to pick her up. Rachel comes over to Daryl and Eden, picks her up, and hands Eden to her forever daddy. At that moment we knew that our lives have changed forever. Our family of two quickly became a family of four!