In Honor of Adoption Month: How We Got Here {The Coxs}

This family is one of the first families I got to see up close doing the foster & adopt thing. They have been a steady example of how to live outside yourself, forsaking the original image of what their family would look like, and being obedient to what God has called them to do - even when it is hard! Love that theme in this story that God just wasn't done! AMEN.

Here is "How We Got Here" from the perspective of Tracy Cox:

I was an only child growing up in my mom and step dads home. I was so lonely and I was so jealous of my friends that had siblings. I always said that I was going to have a big family so I would never be lonely again. I rarely follow through with my goals I am a bit of a procrastinator (If I’m going to be honest).

In Dec. 2003 I met the man I was supposed to marry, Eddie.  Eddie and I began our blended family in July of 2004 with my two children and his three children all of which lived with us in our happy house. Since I’m being honest, it was tough, sometimes downright horrible, but with a lot of prayer and love we made it work.  In 2007 we only had our two youngest kids at home at the time. Eddie was done with kids and looking forward to having "Eddie and Tracy" time. I, on the other hand,  felt called to help, I was bringing home stray animals and the occasional homeless woman and children; I just wanted them to know they matter and I wanted to help.

One day Eddie’s mother called and said that Eddie’s niece could not take care of her 22 month old son, Jacob, any longer and asked if we would watch Jacob until the family could make permanent plans for him. We agreed and immediately there was a mom/baby bond going on between me and Jacob. In 2008, ten months after Jacob’s sudden arrival, his mom arrived with her three older children and returned to Aransas Pass taking Jacob with them. I was devastated! I just lost it. I couldn’t breathe. I literally felt like I had lost a child. I had severe depression. I mourned, but I never got over losing him.”

During the next three years, we heard very little about Jacob. Then, in 2010, through a series of miraculous circumstances, we got the opportunity to keep Jacob permanently in our home. I believe the conversation between Eddie and I when he called from Aransas Pass to tell me he was bring Jacob home with him went something like this: "Bring him! Bring him now! Bring my baby home!" 

I don’t think I slept that night I was so excited to hold my Jacob and smell his temple just at the hair line (sounds crazy but I knew his smell and I craved it much like most moms do their newborn babies - I sure hope I’m not the only one). Then, in 2011, a year after Jacob’s return, we found out that Jacob’s older sister Mari (14) and his older brothers John (13) and Joshua (12) were all in separate foster care homes in different Texas cities. After much prayer and family discussion, Eddie gave me the go ahead to do what we needed to do, and that was to get Mari in our home. (ya know we were down to a junior and a sophomore in high school, Eddie was done once again but God wasn’t)

By June of 2012, just four months after making that decision, Mari was living with us as our very first foster child. The following month, John and Joshua were included in our family’s Thanksgiving celebration. After more prayer and discussion the two boys also became foster children in our home March 2012. Because these children have had such a hard life and they are teenagers we have been met with many challenges but with each challenge we peel away a layer of their past.

On August 13, 2014 we adopted John and Joshua, a few week later their new birth certificates arrived and Joshua looked at his and simply said “Finally!!!”.  My heart jumped with joy knowing that he knows he is home and he is happy. We are one BIG happy family (most of the time) and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 The Cox family is a great family apart of Sagemont Church. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with Tracy for any reason, she would love to be available to provide any wisdom or encouragement that she has gained along the way! Email me at jennifer@jenniferjamesmusic.com and I will get your her email. 

In Honor of Adoption Month: How We Got Here {The Johnsons}

I had the privilege of meeting The Johnsons last November at an event I was singing at called "Foster The Story". I was immediately so inspired by their story and their heart for orphan care - truly an example of selfless commitment to love the kids placed in their care with reckless abandon. 

Here is The Johnson's "How We Got Here Story" in the words of my new friend, Lisa:

Discussion about adoption started long before I met my husband, Rodney. I had a daughter from my previous marriage, and the covenant I wanted in my next marriage would include adopting her. I put that in my biography on match.com, and Rodney still showed up to the first date! I thank God every day for that! This, I believe, was the planted seed that would prepare our hearts for what was coming later.

Fast forward 6 years, 2 more kids, 4 moves, and a few jobs later. We were in our current home and had recently settled in a church.

Our new church home had several families that were adopting or had already adopted. The spiritual reasons behind their decisions were what intrigued me the most. James 1:27 kept coming up in these discussions and I knew God wanted me to do something, but it wasn’t clear what I was supposed to do. Our children’s pastor scheduled an information meeting about foster care and adoption and Rodney agreed to go to the meeting with me. The statistics were staggering to us. My heart was broken and was sure this was going to be our role in helping the fatherless. Rodney was so fantastic and he listened to me go on and on, but he wasn’t quite ready. The next month I went with a friend to the same meeting. I came home ready to fill out the application, but Rodney told me to stop and pray. He still wasn’t sure. I immediately urged my Bible study sisters to pray with me and within two weeks Rodney handed me his filled out application. He believes he was just being a good husband, but I am sure God was whispering into his heart.

It took us 6 months to do the training and get licensed through TXDFPS. Four days later 2 little boys came to our home. When the caseworker placed one of the boys in Rodney’s arms, he knew this was his calling too.

We have been foster parents for 6 years now and we have had 9 foster children. We still have two in our home that we are fostering and one that we have adopted.

Following this call on our lives has been tough at times, but our family is so much stronger for it!

he Johnsons are great supporters and advocates of an organization called "The Orphan Care Network" out of The Woodlands. If you are interested in learning more about how you or your church body can practically get involved and support orphan care, check out: www.tocn.org

In Honor of Adoption Month: How We Got Here {The Willistons}

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