Papa's Story

This post would probably be more accurately labeled as Miracles or something along the lines of all the  many miracles that transpired during the course of Nathan's adoption, but my dad's story is my favorite of them all so, he's getting title honors. LOL

My prayer throughout Nathan's adoption would be that the adoption would be so much "of God", that I couldn't tell Nathan's story without telling how God orchestrated it. Well, my friends, that's exactly what I got!

First and foremost is that fact that the adoption even happened. I can count on my hands how many times I have HEARD God, and while His voice may not have been audible to others, it was VERY clearly audible to me that winter day standing on my porch railing taking down Christmas lights.

Second, is the fact that God told me we were going to adopt a child debt free. Ok, big deal, right? RIGHT! International adoption cost approximately $30,000! I took a part-time job which raised a good bit of the financing, but another substantial portion came from wonderful friends and family.  Everyone gave so generously! I was in constant amazement and awe every time a donation would come in the mail. We raised almost to the penny, exactly what the adopt cost.

Third was the fact that, while my plans were to adopt a healthy girl, younger than Ashleigh, we ended up adopting a special needs boy older than Ashleigh. (Proverbs 16:1 We may make our plans, but God has the last word.)

Next, was our China "connection".  I'll tell you more about this after I tell Papa's story.

When Kurt and I made the announcement that we were going to adopt a child from China I was a little more than surprised to find out my dad was not thrilled with the idea. Ok, he HATED the idea. He didn't understand why we needed to go to some "communist country" to "get a kid" when there were plenty right here in good ole' U S of A. Try as I might, I couldn't get him to like the idea, so finally, I just made it a point NOT to discuss our adoption process in front of Dad.

Finally it wasn't until December 31, the day I saw Nathan's picture, that I knew we were adopting a boy. On January 2, 2007, when our Family Coordinator sent us Nathan's file for review, I invited my parents over to play cards. This was nothing out of the ordinary for us, so I knew they would be unsuspecting. I had Nathan's picture already pulled up on my laptop but had the laptop turned around so no one could see it. I figured when the time was right, I'd surprise them. Well, as we were playing cards, my mom asked me, "have you heard anything from the adoption agency?".

I said, "as a matter of fact, we have!". I turned the computer around and said, "meet your grandson!".  Mom burst out crying (no shocker there) and when I looked at my dad, he was crying too! 

In a semi-shell shocked voice I said, "what are YOU crying for????"

Dad said, "because you don't know what I know". To which I replied, "please, do tell us!"  Dad said earlier that morning he'd been having nightmares, so he got up out of bed at 5am and went in the living room and started reading his Bible and praying. As he was praying the Lord told him, "this adoption is 'of me' and you need to get over it!... and oh, by the way, they're adopting a boy."  Dad said, instantly all of the anger, resentment, bitterness and every other unholy feeling he had about the adoption was gone!

What came next was almost as amazing. Dad wanted to know when we would go get him. I told him it would still be a few months, that we had a few more things that had to be done.  Dad was absolutely adamant that we go get him RIGHT. THEN! He wanted his grandson HOME! I think he was the most impatient of us all!

There are somethings in life that are out of the human realm of control. And changing my dad's attitude about our adoption was one of those things. There was nothing humanly possible we could do to make him approve of the adoption, it was only through God's grace and love that dad came around.

So, back to my "connection". After giving mom and dad the 4-1-1 on Nathan, Mom got on the Internet and started researching Nathan's orphanage. As God (as opposed to luck) would have it, she found a link for some missionaries that were serving in Nathan's orphanage! Mom emailed them a got a reply! The family had been there for 10 years. They were there the day Nathan was found and were able to tell us his whole story... things that otherwise would have forever been a mystery to us. We were able to send Nathan pictures and gifts and get updates while we waited to travel.

There are so many other miracles that happened along the way. I'm sure I'll edit this post multiple times as I remember them.