We arrived in Pittsburgh and were greeted by Andrew, Colton, and Chad, as well as, Grandma, Aunt Polly, and Aunt Candice. It felt so wonderful to be home. However, Anna was really scared and cried almost the whole way home. As she was crying, Colton had a seizure and was screaming. I had wondered how am I ever going to do this? Reality set in real quick. I was so happy to see my family, but I was so ……..much aware of our situation at hand.
I honestly thought that since we all only got a few hours of sleep in 35 hours that Anna would be right on track and go to sleep. WRONG! Try 8:00 a.m. This went on for the next several nights, crying for 6-7 hours. I wondered if it would ever end. When everyone says it takes 2 weeks, it really does. Anna is now sleeping through the night and so are we. Praise the Lord!
The adjustment has been tough, but the boys love her to pieces. When I look at her, I see the little girl that I have been praying for since I was 5 years old. God told me that some day, I would adopt a little orphan girl from a far away land. The miracles leading up to Anna’s adoption are too numerous to be by coincidence.
This is just a portion of our story. I hope I can do it justice. Jeff and I were married 15 years ago and we have 3 beautiful boys. When our second son, Colton was 8 months old he contracted Spinal Menengitis. He suffered oxygen deprivation to his brain. He is 10, and cannot walk or talk, he has seizures daily and is tube fed. I cannot explain the grief associated with the loss of your child. It hurts our hearts every minute of every day and has changed all of our lives forever. As I watched our son lose his childhood, never to play ball with his brothers, run in the park, or know the love of a girl, it brought me back to my childhood prayer to adopt an orphan. I wanted to give a child who would never have a chance without us to have a wonderful family and the good life. Colton, you were our first miracle in God bringing Anna to us. Honey, God will repay you with a wonderful future in heaven for the sacrifice of your life. Secondly, I had been talking about a girl for the last 8 years and my husband kept saying NO, our plate is full. I waited, prayed, begged, gave up (but not really), cried, pleaded with the Lord, dropped hints, etc. I told Jeff I feel like God doesn’t answer my prayers anymore. That was the turn around point. My husband told me that God does still answer prayers and that his answer was YES! Everything in God’s timing, not mine.
Next, Jeff was concerned about finances. We live on 1 income. I told him that God told me our adoption would be paid for. He asked me what my plan was and I told him I didn’t have one, it was up to God. I gave a gift of $125.00 to some friends for their adoption. It was all I had. As I was leaving their home, I prayed that God would multiply it 100 times. So, I started putting money away, every penny I could get my hands on was stuffed under my dresser. Each time I trusted that God was multiplying it! I sold my basket collection and anything that wasn’t tied down, we ate cheap food for a year, I had a yard sale and did odd jobs. When it came time to pull the money out and count it, Jeff and I could not believe to our amazement as we kept counting and counting that there was $12,500! We were in shock- tears, high fives and thanking God. There was no way that this would ever work out on paper. We also had wonderful friends and a relative who blessed us with gifts of money. There is no way without the Hand of God on us and on Anna’s life that we could do something like this and not have a bill in the end. Thank you God for showing us many signs of Your care for us. May we never lose sight of that or take You for granted! I have a favorite song by Jeremy Camp called, “Walk By Faith.” It goes like this…. Well, I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see, well because this broken road prepares your will for me.
I would like to end my entries in The Story of You by saying thank you to my wonderful husband Jeff for saying YES! Thank you for loving me so much and for listening to the Lord. God chose the perfect little girl for us. It was His timing. Mark my words. Our little girl, will be your delight! Also, Anna Baby, you are loved more than words can ever express by daddy, your brothers, and myself. You are such a joy! Before, God formed you in the womb, He knew you. Only His plan is perfect. Thank you for the opportunity to be your Mommy! A huge thanks to all of our precious friends and family, especially my mom, who have encouraged and supported us through this journey of a lifetime. And lastly, thank you Tina!
May you find joy, strength, and encouragement in our life story.
Much Love, Christina, for Jeff, Anna, and our Boys
P.S. Of course there’s a p.s. Anna wants a sister!!!!!!!!!!!Pray!!!!!!!!!!! I BELIEVE in MIRACLES!
