The picture we fell in love with.
This is our story...
Having been blessed with one beautiful son from Korea,
who was at the time a 1 ½ year old, we all desperately wanted another son/brother.
We were at the time on a waiting list to adopt an infant boy through Holt Korea,
via Bethany Christian Services. We really wanted our boys to be as close as possible
in age, so that they could share interests and hopefully be life long best friends.
We had paid Bethany their fees for the home-study,
as well as their agency fees - and knew that we faced at least a year long wait
- in which time we hoped we could save up some of the needed $8,000.00 for the
in-country fee that would be due upon receipt of a referral. Since our previous
adoption had just been finalized six or seven months before, we were really praying
about how we could swing a second adoption so soon without Mommy having to return
to work to pay for it.
"Precious.org" and "Rainbowkids.com" are favorite websites for me (Tracie). I print out photos and pray for families for certain children that tug at my heartstrings. In doing this I ran across the most precious little smiling face I had ever seen. "Joseph" was a beautiful baby boy in Korea, waiting for a family of his own. "Joseph's" entire face smiled. He was born on July 23 2001, which was significant because our first son was born on July 28, 2000. We couldn't have planned the age difference any better. The photo-listing said that this little sweetie had a heart murmur.
When we looked at his little face we fell in love. But we had no idea if and how the whole thing could work out. We called the agency on the photo-listing (Americans for International Aid and Adoption) and "Joseph" was put on hold while we reviewed the medical information and sought God's direction.
The picture we fell in love with.
After looking
at all of the info we fell even more in love with "Joseph". It seemed
that the heart murmur was no longer a concern and the background issue was one
that we were willing to accept. There was only one problem, AIAA's fees were even
more than Bethany's and we would need to have the money immediately. Sadly, we
felt we had no choice but to let AIAA know that we didn't see how we could be
"Joseph's" forever family. So we promptly sent them a letter so as not
to hold this little guy up from finding his family.
Heartbroken,
but determined that God had a plan to build our family, we began to pray. We told
God that we knew finances were not a problem for Him and that if this little one
was meant to be a part of our family . . . He would move this obstacle out of
the way. Though nothing of the sort had ever happened to us, I had heard of instances
when mysterious checks would appear in the mail or God would place it on someone's
heart to bless another financially. We prayed for weeks to no avail and began
to think that maybe God had purposed this little one for another family.
Then one day the call came. Moti, at AIAA
called to say that she was about to update the internet photo-listing on "Joseph"
but wanted to let us know that the agency fees were reduced to assist with the
adoption of this little angel. Between the fee reduction and the financial assistance
from A Child Waits Foundation, it totaled the exact amount that we had been praying
for.
I immediately began to cry, but
was trying to keep it together so that she wouldn't think I was crazy. Of course
we accepted the referral and within five months (just before his 1st birthday)
we were at the Atlanta airport meeting our son for the first time. "Joseph",
now named Christopher after Daddy, was smiling and playing with his big brother
within hours of his arrival - and immediately bonded with and clung to Mommy.
Alex was thrilled with his new brother's long awaited arrival and the two have
been just wonderful for one another. It took a little while for Christopher to
loosen up and feel comfortable with strangers. At first we thought he was just
shy by nature, but now that he knows he is home for good, his true personality
shines through. He loves to prance around and flash that winning smile. He will
walk up to total strangers and enchant them with his adorable face and sweet demeanor.
He is still a "Mommy's boy", and I plan to enjoy it for as long as possible.
Christopher
Christopher (now 2 ½) and Alex (3 ½ ) are two wonderful and perfectly healthy boys. They are each answers to prayer, and I know without a doubt that God formed them in their birthmother's wombs with a purpose that could only be fulfilled having been members of this family.
I am so glad that I have this opportunity
to say Thank you to A Child Waits Foundation
for their help. Words could never be adequate in
expressing our gratitude. What a beautiful thing you are doing for families. We
are forever grateful.-
Sincerely,
The Hyde's
Our family now!!!