...is now a big 5 year old (just ask him). John was adopted at 2 days old from our favorite adoption agency in the world, Christian Homes and Family Services of Abilene, TX. I have PCOS and had always been told that I would not be able to get pregnant (and ten years of marriage had proven the doctors to this point...) 

So after adopting Zachary, we continued to foster babies and children for the state of LA. We were able to share our home with 11 month old Gabrielle, 4 month old Jacob, 7 year old Eric, 1 year old Joshua, 5 year old Cassidy, 3 year old Kayle, 7 month old Kevin, 2 year old Alexia, and 4 month old London. We loved it, and we really felt like we were helping to fill a need for the babies while their parents worked on problems in their lives, but we were ready to get a baby that we could keep forever!

One night while crying out to the Lord for a baby, He led me to the website for Christian Homes  (www.christianhomes.com ) and I clicked on their link for more information. The very next day I received an email asking if we would like to attend their upcoming orientation weekend, and the rest, as they say, is history. We rearranged work schedules, got plane tickets, and Grandma agreed to come watch the kids, and we were off to learn all about adoption!

It took eighteen months of paperwork, picture making, Home Studies, more paperwork, and lots and lots of prayer, but one day at school I got THE CALL! Our worker was calling to tell us that a birthmom had chosen us to adopt her baby! I asked when she was due (because customarily the call would come around the 7th month of pregnancy, giving us a due date to look forward to) and the answer was, "She is being induced tomorrow...can you guys make it?" CAN WE MAKE IT?!? We hit the ground running--took emergency leave from school, checked Zachary out of school early, went home to pack, got a last minute Home Study update at 7:30p.m. (Thank you, again, Mary!), and left for Abilene (yes, it is a 13 hour drive from Boutte, LA) at 8:00p.m.!

We got to Abilene the morning of the induction and checked into our hotel (we love the Abilene Courtyward Marriott)! John was born at 4:10p.m. and I was holding him by 4:35p.m. We were able to take him with us to our hotel after 2 days, and then we had to wait for paperwork to clear before we could go home (Interstate Compact rules mean we can't cross the state line until given the ok). After about 3 weeks, including time spent waiting on van repairs after I wrecked it...long story..., we were able to go home!

Big boy John is now 5 and will be starting Kindergarten this year. He is excited that Mommy will be his teacher! He is a sweet boy who loves his big brother and his little brothers and sister. He loves lizards and frogs and bugs (but not "croaches" because they are "sisgusting, Mama") and playing in the rain. He can most often be found on TOP of the playhouse on the back porch, because "Spiderman sits on buildings like 'dis, Mama." He holds doors open for "da yadies" and he is a world class snuggler. And he owns this Mama's heart.