Adoption – God’s Got It

Last Updated on March 13, 2024

About 8 years ago, the adoption discussion began in our home.  We collected information, went to information meetings and gathered information from people about their adoption experiences – information overload.   We discussed and discussed and … ugh… discussed.  I distinctly remember riding in the car and my husband saying, “Why don’t you just fill out the application.  Gitterdone”  Gitterdone?!  As much as I felt we were called to adopt another child, there was no way I was going to pursue adoption unless my husband felt 110% called to it.  I decided to wait on the Lord. No easy task for me to be sure.  Within a year, my husband brought home a flyer about a Department of Social Services program called Fostering to Adopt.  Sounded intriguing and a bit terrifying.  I couldn’t attend the information meeting because of a prior commitment; my husband had to attend alone.  After 6 hours of listening, he returned home excited and ready to pursue adoption.  God at work.

Several months later we found ourselves seated at a table with 5 other couples listening while social workers shared about foster care.  I like to describe it as having our rose colored glasses taken off, stomped on several times and then handed back to us.  Every meeting I left feeling completely unprepared for what might lie ahead.  I felt scared and a bit unwilling to subject our family to the possibilities.  I left saying, “I don’t think I can do this.”  My husband would then encourage me that indeed we could.  He couldn’t have done that had he not felt called to it – if I had pushed it on him.  God had it covered.

The day after we completed our home study, we received the call.  “We think we have a little girl that will fit perfectly into your family.”  After praying for about 24 hours straight, we welcomed our Elizabeth into our arms the next afternoon.   Oh that I had more space to share the millions of ways we saw God at work – His faithfulness, His sense of humor, His loving-kindness.

I will tell you that I had NOTHING for her.  She was a little baby and I was fresh outta baby things.  Within 2 hours of my sending out a prayer request to friends, I had everything I needed… everything!  Including 2 friends to spend the first night with me! God blessed beyond measure.

Less than a year later, we received another call to foster to adopt her little sister.  We again prayed and prayed and prayed some more.  We knew without a doubt this little girl, our Allison, was meant to be part of our family.  We got the call as we were pulling up to a reception for my husband’s job.  We shared quickly with friends in the parking lot that we had to leave to get our wonderful 5th child!  Our quiver was full.

I think back on that time in the car with my husband – I remember where we were on the road and what we were listening to.  It’s so clearly etched in my mind; because it was the moment I decided to let God be in control.  I’m so very thankful I did.

{Editor’s Note: This post first ran in 2011 during our feature on National Adoption Awareness Month!}