For I Know the Plans

Since I haven't posted in awhile, let me start with some big fun news...

We are adopting a baby! 

Bam! We are so excited, and we want you to be excited with us. This is a time for celebration indeed!

Oh where, oh where is our baby to be...

There is a big part of me that wants to start the story there; to not invite people into the first part, mostly in fear that this decision to adopt will be looked on as second best. There is this guilt that by talking about the bad, I'm giving the good the short end of the stick. But that's my mind playing tricks on me because doesn't knowing the full story make the happy ending that much sweeter? It's why people watch the whole movie, or read the whole book.  When you know what someone has gone through, triumph is that much more exceptional.

So, here is a little bit of our story and struggle that led us on the path of adoption. Even before we got married, Andy and I talked about adoption. With my health stuff we didn't know if it would be possible for me to carry a baby. As we started preparing our hearts to be parents, I started investigating what it would take: seeking professional opinions from my Cystic Fibrosis doctors and following other CF mom's stories through blogs and groups. My heart became so full as my doctors were on board, and so many of the stories I read were so positive. People whose lung function was actually much worse than mine had normal pregnancies. All these fears I had were being put to rest one by one. With that being said, Andy and I began praying and trying to make a baby.

After about six months with no baby in my belly, I went in for a couple tests to make sure everything was working properly. The doctor called about a week later and said he had some bad news.  My FSH level (follicle-stimulating hormone) was extremely high, which indicated I had a condition called Premature Ovarian Failure. He explained that for someone my age the level should be at about a five while someone who was going through menopause would be at a 12.  My level was a 96!  He told me how sorry he was and that Andy and I should definitely see a fertility specialist. We immediately scheduled an appointment, though we were prepared to hear from him that our chances of having a baby biologically would be very low. As we sat in the doctor's office, he confirmed what we already knew, there was really no way of us conceiving a baby on our own.  Moreover, they didn't know why this had happened to me. He said he'd be happy to talk to us and walk us through fertility treatment options, but he could tell we didn't seem too interested in that idea. It was instantaneous in that moment that God fully opened our hearts to adoption.

                                                                       

So we jumped right in!  Adoption was not our original idea, but that doesn't make it second best by any means. There is this funny little verse: Jeremiah 29:11.  It says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That is the verse that we remember when our road changes direction. Our God is for us, not against us. It has been so amazing to see God working in this story so far. As we pray about our baby and adoption, Christ continues to keep Andy and I aligned in so many important ways. Since we started this journey, we have been beyond amazed at how natural everything has progressed.  Truly it seems this was the plan all along. So please join us in praying for our family as we start this adventure of adoption! We are soooo excited!

Thank you to our families for your support!  We are also incredibly grateful for our sweet friends, Chris, Shelley, and baby Liv for encouraging us with their story as well as connecting us to our amazing adoption consultant, Susan.  We also must thank Jordan for making us look as purdy as a landscape.  Oh, and are you wondering where that sweet map came from?  It was one of those old school classroom maps (before we went digital)!  Thanks to Lorynda from LifeBridge for letting us borrow it!  Please continue visiting the blog as we promise to be better bloggers and keep this site updated. :)

With so much love, joy, thanksgiving and hopefully a new baby soon :)

Andy + Mimi + Frank + 1

"That which I refuse to thank Christ for, I refuse to believe Christ can redeem." 

- Ann Voskamp