Stories & Reflection

When God Writes the Story
Tuesday, December 1, 2015 by Marti

Categories: adoption

KEP_Christmas 87
Just the right daughter at just the right time. Christmas, 1987.

Many years ago and in a far-off land, a young couple celebrated their marriage. God had given them both the idea to adopt a child, and they looked forward to the day when that would happen. “We’ll have children first, and then adopt,” they told each other. So, after about a year of marriage, they asked God to grant them a child.

They waited. And prayed. And waited. And visited doctors. And prayed. And waited some more. Because God had a story to write.

And then, through an amazing series of events, He brought them just the right daughter at just the right time. She was born in a hospital a few miles from their home, and they were able to hold her when she was only hours old. They brought her home from the hospital the next day. A few months later, they finalized her adoption.

KEP_KAP_1989
Two special sisters, ten months and two days apart.

Ten months later, after more prayers and waiting, God, like all good writers, added a twist to the story. He gave the couple another little girl, but not through adoption. The two sisters grew up as best friends. And they both rejoiced when first one, then two, then three more siblings were born into the family.

The oldest daughter always knew she was adopted. She always knew she was special, too, and that God had chosen her for the family who loved her so much. They celebrated “Adoption Day” every year, when she received special presents, including her favorite, the one she called “’doption Mickey Mouse.”

As that daughter grew, she developed a love for anyone who felt left out or abandoned. As a twelve-year-old, she raised more than $1200 for a local crisis pregnancy center, wanting to help others give the gift she and her parents had received. Even during her time in college, she considered adopting a teen but decided to wait.

Not so many years ago, that grown-up daughter celebrated her own marriage. Like her parents, she and her husband also dreamed of adopting one day, although they didn’t know how or when.

After almost six years of marriage, they began the process to become foster parents. “We’ll get a sibling group,” they told their parents. “And we’ll only get children who are available to adopt.”

They waited. And prayed. And went through training. And waited. And prayed some more.

Several months later, God, like all good writers, added a twist to their story, too. One special girl was already a part of their lives. A student at the school where the grown-up little girl taught, she wasn't available for adoption. She wasn't part of a sibling group. But she did have a need—several of them, in fact.

As the young couple waited and prayed, they decided this child needed a home. She needed a family. She needed them. And they needed her.

So the couple waited. And prayed. And went through more training. And waited some more.

The young girl had no idea all this was happening. At one point, having heard of their desire to become foster parents, she even asked them, “Would you ever consider a teen girl?”

They couldn’t tell her about all that was going on behind the scenes to bring her into their family. They couldn’t tell her how much they wanted to make her dreams and hopes come true. They couldn’t tell her about the story God was writing.

But they could wait. And pray. And wait some more.

On the day before Thanksgiving, the young couple received a special package, one that came with lots of love to give and receive, with lots of needs and hopes and dreams and longings. And, like her new foster mother, she came as just the right daughter at just the right time.

Welcome to our family, new granddaughter. You are loved. You are chosen. And regardless of what the system says, you are ours.

We will work together to help your parents give you the best life we can. And we promise to do what real families do: Be with you always. No matter what.

Because when God writes the story, it may look different than others—but it’s always right.


Previous Posts

4 Things I've Learned Since High School
Marti

9/16/2016

7 Surprising Bonuses of the Colorado Christian Writers Conference
Marti

4/8/2016

Where's Marti? Spring-Summer 2016
Marti

4/1/2016

Words with Friends: Dan Walsh
Marti

12/4/2015

Tips from the Pros: Dena Dyer
Marti

10/29/2015

Out of the Dust featured on Heart Talk with Linda Rooks
Marti

10/15/2015

Tips from the Pros: Sharon K. Souza
Marti

5/21/2015

Tips from the Pros: Grace Fox
Marti

4/23/2015

On Writers and Rhino Skin
Marti

4/21/2015

Sam-I-Am and the Colorado Christian Writers Conference
Marti

4/16/2015

Where's Marti? Spring/Summer, 2015
Marti

4/14/2015

No More Chicken
Marti

4/7/2015

Tips from the Pros: Janet Perez Eckles
Marti

3/12/2015

Why Meet with the Conference Chaplain?
Marti

2/24/2015

Tips from the Pros: Carla Rossi
Marti

2/19/2015

WRITE: Here I Am, Send Me? Courage in Costa Rica (Never the Same Missions, Part 4)
Marti

1/27/2015

Write: Here I Am, Send Me? Courage in Costa Rica (Never the Same Missions, Part 3)
Marti

1/20/2015

WRITE: Here I Am, Send Me? Courage in Costa Rica (Never the Same Missions, Part 2)
Marti

1/16/2015

WRITE: Dear Friends (A Fresh Start)
Marti

1/6/2015

WRITE: Devotionals, Out of the Dust, Free and Clear
Marti

11/3/2014

Write: Devotionals, Out of the Dust, Purpose-Driven Prayer
Marti

10/29/2014

WRITE: Devotionals, Out of the Dust, Lesson Learned
Marti

10/27/2014

WRITE: Devotionals, Out of the Dust, Battles and Blessings
Marti

10/24/2014

Write: Devotionals, Out of the Dust, I Surrender All
Marti

10/15/2014

WRITE: Devotionals, Out of the Dust: Obstacle Course
Marti

10/1/2014

WRITE: Winners, Winners
Marti

6/10/2014

WRITE: Words with Friends, Cynthia Ruchti
Marti

6/6/2014

WRITE: Escape the Lie, The Story Behind the Book, Part II
Marti

5/29/2014

WRITE: Escape the Lie: The Story behind the Book, Part I
Marti

5/27/2014

WRITE: Words with Friends: Michelle Cox
Marti

5/23/2014

Catch Us If You CAN Spring Scavenger Hunt: Drawing Winner
Marti

3/28/2014

WRITE: Tips from the Pros, Miralee Ferrell
Marti

3/27/2014

Catch Us If You CAN: Spring Scavenger Hunt, Stop #14
Marti

3/20/2014

WRITE: Top Ten Reasons NOT to Attend the Colorado Christian Writers Conference
Marti

3/18/2014

WRITE: Reflections on the Florida Christian Writers Conference
Marti

3/4/2014

WRITE: The Introvert's Guide to the Writers Conference
Marti

2/25/2014

WRITE: Tips from the Pros: Anne Greene
Marti

2/20/2014

WRITE: Never the Same Missions, Fundraising (Part II)
Marti

2/13/2014

WRITE: Never the Same Missions: Gentle Giant
Marti

2/4/2014

WRITE: Never the Same Missions, Grace
Marti

1/29/2014

WRITE: Never the Same Missions, Adult Leaders, Part 2
Marti

1/21/2014

WRITE: Words with Friends: Author Carol Barnier
Marti

12/5/2013

WRITE: Arguing with the Editor: Yes or No?
Marti

11/7/2013

WRITE: Tips from the Pros: Crystal Bowman
Marti

10/24/2013

WRITE: Mega-Cooking FAQs, Part II
Marti

10/11/2013

WRITE: Mega-Cooking FAQs, Part I
Marti

10/8/2013

WRITE: Tips from the Pros, Davalynn Spencer
Marti

8/1/2013

WRITE: Coincidence? Not so much.
Marti

7/30/2013

WRITE: Top Ten Perks of the Florida Christian Writers Conference
Marti

3/23/2013

WRITE: Vonda Skelton's Christian Writer's Den Blog
Marti

2/5/2013

WRITE: Florida Christian Writer's Conference--Celebrate the Awe
Marti

1/30/2013

WRITE: Words with Friends: Joyce Magnin, author of CAKE
Marti

1/26/2013

WRITE: The National Bible Bee--More than a Competition
Marti

11/8/2012

WRITE: Colorado Christian Writers Conference and Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference
Marti

3/20/2012

WRITE: YA Friday: Dear Teen Writer
Marti

2/10/2012

WRITE: Florida Christian Writers Conference
Marti

1/26/2012

READ: Review, Freedom's Stand by Jeanette Windle
Marti

12/8/2011

WRITE: Interview, Ava Pennington (One Year Alone with God)
Marti

12/6/2011

WRITE: The Buzz on the Bee (National Bible Bee)
Marti

12/1/2011

WRITE: Florida Christian Writers Conference
Marti

9/28/2011

WRITE: It Began with a Whisper
Marti

9/22/2011

WRITE: Interview, Janet Perez Eckles (Simply Salsa: Dancing Without Fear at God's Fiesta)
Marti

8/11/2011

WRITE: Interview with Joyce Magnin
Marti

3/10/2011

WRITE: Interview with Arlene Pellicane
Marti

2/17/2011

WRITE: Interview with Susan Meissner
Marti

2/8/2011

READ: Review, Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner
Marti

2/2/2011

WRITE: Interview with Linda W. Rooks
Marti

1/27/2011

WRITE: Frequently Made Errors #8: Lack of Focus
Marti

12/16/2010

WRITE: Frequently Made Errors #7: Arguing with the Editor
Marti

11/30/2010

WRITE: Frequently Made Errors #6: "I Don't Have Time"
Marti

11/12/2010

WRITE: Frequently Made Errors #5: Reduce Your Use of Passive Voice
Marti

10/12/2010

WRITE: Interview with Yvonne Ortega
Marti

9/24/2010

WRITE: Frequently Made Errors #4--Failure to Follow Through
Marti

9/14/2010

WRITE: Letter to a New Writer
Marti

8/31/2010

WRITE:Guatemala Lessons--The Greatest is Love
Marti

8/19/2010

WRITE: Guatemala Lessons--Live the Story
Marti

7/21/2010

READ: Review, CHARLOTTE FIGG TAKES OVER PARADISE by Joyce Magnin
Marti

6/25/2010

WRITE: Frequently Made Errors #3--Failure to Follow Directions
Marti

6/23/2010

WRITE: Cec Murphey Appreciation Month
Marti

6/11/2010

WRITE: Frequently Made Errors #2--Too Much Backstory
Marti

5/29/2010

WRITE: Critique or Criticism?
Marti

5/5/2010

WRITE: Quad-Cities Christian Writers' Conference--My Favorite Things
Marti

4/22/2010

WRITE: Florida Christian Writers Conference: My Top Five Blessings
Marti

3/26/2010

WRITE: Firm Foundations, Fulfilled Dreams: An Interview with Author C.J. Darlington (Part IV)
Marti

3/17/2010

WRITE: Florida Christian Writers Conference; Jerry B. Jenkins Reception
Marti

3/3/2010

WRITE: My Writing Journey, Part 1
Marti

2/25/2010

WRITE: Relationships Matter
Marti

2/19/2010