Adoption Interview Project 2013

Hi, everyone!  It's me...Abby!

My blogging has been few and far between these days, so I decided to participate in the Adoption Blogger Interview Project, like I did last year, in hopes that it would get me back into the swing of blogging again.

That was a long sentence...

I was excited to see who I would be randomly matched with and guess what?!?!

I got matched with my sweet friend, Suzanne whom I've never met in person, but we both work on an adoption blog for The Sparrow Fund.  {If you have a heart for adoption, The Sparrow Fund blog is a great place to go for encouragement!}

Anyway...

It was fun getting to know Suzanne a little more through this interview.

Enjoy!

You have very openly talked about infertility on your blog.  I would love to here about the moment(s) in your life that God began putting adoption as a way to build your family on your heart.  

After struggling with infertility for many years, God began to reveal to me that He had a different plan for our family. Adam wanted to explore all options for a biological child but suggested I start doing a little adoption research. I am researcher so I went adoption research crazy! I bought books, read blogs, looked at adoption agency websites, etc., but Adam still wasn’t ready. Then, I had a disastrous IUI treatment that was coupled with a horrible autoimmune episode that landed me in the hospital in need of four pints of blood. So for the next year, all thoughts of children were put on hold in order to focus on and uncover my health issues. Almost exactly a year after my hospitalization, we were at dinner on our 9th wedding anniversary, when Adam looked at me and said, "let's adopt a baby!"

Why did you choose to adopt from China? 

Truthfully, my heart has always been in China, even as a young child, but we looked at all options, domestic, foster and all countries open to international countries. I am researcher after all.  Even after all the research, we both knew our heart was in China. China is God’s calling for us.

Waiting is hard.  Is there a piece of scripture that God used to encourage you and help you during your waiting periods for both of your children?

Yes! The waiting is so hard, but God is so faithful!! Here is my favorite go to verse on those days when the wait seems unbearable and the very thought of another moment without your child sends you into tears.

“When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; . . . “ (Is. 43:2-3a)

Do you know anything about either of your children's birth families?

Sadly, with Chinese adoption, we never know any information because in order for a child to be eligible for adoption in China, they have to be abandoned so there is no information provided. Chinese officials put out what they call a finding ad when the baby or child is first found, but these are not successful and thus the child is sent to an orphanage. The one rather unique thing about my son is that his parents left his birth date and name with him which is not typical.

Your son, Anthony (9 years old), joined your family after your daughter, Grace (4 years old).  Were you planning on adopting an older child the second time around?  What would you say to anyone who says that adopting out of birth order is a no-no?

We were not planning to adopt out of birth order. In fact, it was probably the furthest thing from our minds until God stepped in.  I believe that God’s plan is so much greater than ours, and it is His plan I want to follow, not the world's. Therefore, to the nay sayers, I would say, it depends on God and His plan for your family. You must listen to Him and seek Him above all else. Of course, we also talked at length with our social worker, adoption case worker, family and friends specifically about it and all were in agreement with us that in this case, it would work, especially since God is on our side. Would it always be easy and perfect? Of course not. Does God only ask us to take the easy path? He asks us to step out in faith and follow Him, no matter the cost.

How have you seen your children grow as they have adjusted to being part of your family?

With each passing month, we see all our attachments to each other grow, but we have also seen their personality blossom in an environment of love. The more they trust us, the more they open up and relax. It has been so wonderful to see them connect as brother and sister as well. Anthony stepped right into the role of older brother as if he had been one his whole life, and Grace is the perfect little sister. The most rewarding thing, though, is to see their love for Christ grow as their understanding of Him and His sacrifice for them is unveiled before them. It is truly a beautiful thing.

Thank you, Suzanne, for sharing your heart!  I hope we get to meet someday!

Check out the other interview projects here.