In Honor of Adoption Month: How We Got Here {The Willistons}
Jennifer James
Kyle and I met Misty & Chuck Williston at our previous long time home church, Sagemont. I remember hearing their story while it was on going and just hurting for them so deeply, but I love how God just wasn't finished yet! Take heart anyone who has been here - this is one great God tale!
In the words of Misty, here is the Williston's "How We Got Here" story:
"Well, goodness. 6 long, painful years. Numerous failed IUI's. 2 rounds of failed IVF's. 30K drained from our savings. Emotional turmoil like I'd never felt before.
INFERTILITY STRUGGLES.
Yep, that's how we got here.
photo by: Chelsea Davis Photography
There's not a day that goes by that I don't look at our little boy and thank God for our issues with infertility. Without it, there would be no Levi for our family. I'm convinced. God is SO big and SO good, and yet SO mysterious sometimes. He weaves a plan like no one else can. And that's what he did for us.
In 2005, Chuck and I married and we became an "instant family". His two kids became my kids. And we knew we wanted more. We just didn't know what a bumpy, but miraculous road it would be to get there. After 6 years of trying EVERYTHING the fertility specialists knew to do with us, we were told that we would most likely never conceive. We grieved the loss with the heaviest of hearts. But moved on with HOPE.
God used adoption to be that HOPE in our hearts. And I'm so glad He did. We were chosen rather quickly. In fact, three times in a matter of 6 months. Three precious babies from three different racial heritages. Oh, the love. And each time, they were OURS in our hearts. But gut-wrenching circumstances changed that, and none of them turned out to be the one God had for us. It was heart breaking, to say the least. We almost gave up. But thankfully, we didn't. It was then that "the call" came. Hesitant and unsure, but with hearts still full of HOPE, we moved forward. Adoption. There's no word that can accurately describe it. Our miracle came in the form of it. That's all we really know. God used it in a HUGE way in November of 2011 when we brought our precious, 2 week-old son home.
Just a year later in November 2012, He sent us a baby sister for our miracle. Doctors. They don't know everything. But my GOD does.
photo by: Tasha Pool Photography
Gosh, I'm thankful for the struggles that lead us to go further for God's plan for our lives. Take heart, they really DO lead somewhere good. I promise. But better than that...HE PROMISES.
photo by: Chelsea Davis Photography
So grateful for so many great people willing to share their stories with us! Thank you Willistons!
Misty & Chuck have all the details of their adoption journey recorded on a blog that you should definitely check out: chuckandmisty.blogspot.com