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Todd, Lori, Lexie and Kate
In September of 2005, a wonderful Christian co-worker was in my office and we were talking when all of a sudden, out of the blue, she said, "You know you are going to adopt a baby don't you?" I kind of laughed, and said, "I don't think so," She laughed and said, "Yeah, well you are, and you will be a wonderful mommy." Todd and I had tried to have children from 1998 until his stroke in 2002. I had a miscarriage, we did the infertility treatments, but I really was OK with it not happening for me, plus I have a BEAUTIFUL step-daughter, Lexie, whom I adore, so I am already a parent, and feel very blessed. So, I was very closed about the idea of having a baby, or looking into adoption. I'm the career gal, and that's the way it is.
In early 2006 I realized that it was going to be my 43rd birthday this year and my mom had really been heavy in my heart. She passed away when I was 16, and she does appear to me in my dreams, and I feel her love all around me. You see, I am adopted, and my mom, Kay, was 43 when she adopted me, and I started thinking about what she must have felt like, being 43, just starting out, and back then, 43 was OLD to have a baby. And I certainly didn't feel that old! I had been getting so many messages over the first few months of the year, people adopting babies, dogs, the signs "adopt a highway." It was actually starting to be a little bizarre and I asked God out right? Am I supposed to be paying attention to this? I could literally feel my heart heat up, and a peaceful feeling come across me, that's usually when I know that God is involved, when I get that feeling of peace. On May 5, I was talking to my roommate from college on the phone on my way to work and she told me about someone from college that just adopted, and at that moment, I said, OK, I surrender! I walked into my office and the first person I saw was the woman I mentioned before. It was odd to see her, because she usually did not work in the office on that particular day. I said to her, “I’m going to adopt a baby!” And she said, “I know!” And we both started crying. She knew God had used her to get me to start thinking about it. I then called Todd and told him we are going to adopt. Todd has wanted this for many years, but I had all kinds of excuses with the pressures of the career and Todd's stroke, he wouldn't be able to do it. It became quite clear we are supposed to find our own little Baby Kay. God really spoke to my heart, and although I wasn't 100% sure, I had 100% faith that God was going to make this process quite easy. You can ask my small group and my friends, even back in the summer I was saying, "I think God is going to give us our girl, and I think it will be soon. It took me so long to realize I am supposed to be a mom, He is not going to have us wait too long." I just needed the time to get the paperwork and process completed. God made that easy too. The company I was working for was starting to not do well financially, and I was not being challenged at all. God helped me draft a proposal to the President that I would eliminate my position, save many of the jobs of my team, give me some severance so I could take the time to focus on getting ready for the baby. They accepted it! I even got my computer and some great office furniture in the deal! We found Adoption Network Law Center with our very first internet search. We were very comfortable with them, and by August 2, we had our paperwork in and a website up and we were ready for the choosing! By August 1, I had a new job, and God made finding that one VERY easy, I didn’t even have to look. An old boss of mine called me and asked if I was looking…..Our home study was complete at the end of September. We were ready to go!
We went down to visit Todd's brother on December 29th in Virginia. For many years we'd go to their home on Christmas Day, but for some reason -and no coincidences here, we decided to wait until 12/29. We were on our way to dinner when I got a phone call from Adoption Network Law Center telling us that they have a baby girl for us and that she is in Virginia. I said, “Oh that’s funny, we’re in Virginia visiting family.” Our advisor asked “Where in VA?” We told her Woodbridge...then the ANLC advisor says, “You are not going to believe this, the baby is in Woodbridge, VA”....we were 1/2 mile from the hospital!!!!! The same hospital both my nephews were born in, and we had been there several times in the past. We drove right over to see if we could pick her out from the window. And a little itty bitty girl was all the way at the end.
The birthmom named her Noella, and said the only thing she wants for her baby is a family that loves the Lord and will go to church together and pray together. And this is our little gift from God. We have named her Kathryn Noella. Kathryn is after my mom. We picked her up from the hospital on New Year's Eve. She brought in the New Year bright-eyed and alert! She thrives. She is the sweetest little girl in the world. God MORE than answered our prayers! She is a really good baby and CUTE! Despite her little size, she is a strong one. God orchestrated this whole thing. Even the social worker that placed her with our agency was the one we used for our home study, they already had all our paperwork, so it was a piece of cake. This same social worker will complete our post-placement visits and is very familiar with our family. In fact he said the best endorsements of adoption in the world are Moses and Jesus. You can’t beat that!
Blessings to you all,
Todd, Lori, Lexie and Kate
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