Steps of Faith

Our China adoption journey started in March, 2006.

God had already blessed us with a beautiful daughter, which is now 9 years old. For years we had been hopeful for a sibling for our daughter. We knew that gift would eventually come through the miracle of adoption.

We flirted with the idea of international adoption several times but never seemed to have the courage, understanding, and finances to do more than think about it. We believe this is when God stepped in and started to show us His plan for our family.

In August, 2005 we bought a farm and relocated our family to a beautiful little "Mayberry" town in Ohio that is full of wonderfully old tyme, considerate, faithful families and began on our journey. Have you ever had those moments when you just are hit in the head with a brick or little things just start to weave together?
We experienced several.

We would be shopping and pass an adoptive family.

In work, (I am a residential appraiser) my client would open the door and stand there with a beautiful little Asian child.

Drive down the road and hear a radio commercial about international adoption, which at the time was an extreme rarity.

Go on vacation and all the sudden be surrounded by a beautiful family with three little China dolls.

Attend our very first home football game, (which was a must, the whole town basically closes down to go) and have a seat with no one around (you know, not knowing anyone yet and being the NEW people) and then all the sudden a mother with her beautiful Asian daughter sit next to us.

Just constant signs that said "Listen to me! Trust me! Do this!!!"

This went on for about four months before we finally started really getting the idea that we needed to listen.
We have the most wonderful neighbors. And I am not speaking of the kind that are an arms length away, that is how we used to think before we moved to our new home. Where we live there is about a 5 mile radius that is extremely rural filled with farms and countryside and everyone you meet in that area will say "Hey, you are my neighbor. ". And then show up offering food, supplies, recipes, a helping hand....truly like it should be and was in the good ole days. When we bought our farm, we were not looking to move. One day, while I was out working (which entails alot of driving) I drove passed this beautiful old Victorian home with a barn and land and a big pond that had a for sale sign in the front yard, that always draws my attention because real estate appraisal is my business. We owned a brand new home in a nice subdivision in a good school district. Had no plans or desires to move, we were very comfortable and happy. Then, I just so happen to mention my day to my hubby and about the neatest farm I drove by and the view that it had for rolling miles on either side. Next couple of days, my hubby was wanting to go for a drive and where do you think we ended up at? Go figure.....30 miles away from where we lived, no where near our regular routine life, 30 minutes to the nearest Walmart, and right where the same farm I had mentioned was. Over the next couple weeks we were calling realtors, negotiating deals, and moving!! What! Yepper, for no good reason other than that is what we were led to do. Which in turn, led us to our beloved neighbors that not only showed us so much love and hospitality but also led us to Christ. What a gift to receive! We eventually landed in a welcoming, warm church and inherited an amazing new church family.

Guess what? So, we go to the church that we settled on and look across at the strange but welcoming faces and who do you think we see? Startled by another sign! It is the mommy and daughter from the football game, this time with a daddy. After the service they were some of the first ones to greet us and make us feel right at home. I know God delivered them into our lives to be our lifelong friends and soon to be linked by Chinese adoption. A few weeks later, after probing from my husband, I got up the nerve to ask my new friend out to a girls lunch while our daughters were also at school for some grown up conversation in hopes to learn more about her, her faith, and of course.....Chinese adoption. The lunch was great and a true sisterly friendship was blossomed. Our friends invited us over to watch their adoption videos from China and give us some information about their adoption agency. And finally, we jumped!