Monday, September 21, 2015

Caleb's Adoption Story


 Jeff and I had come to the point that all couples who struggle with infertility come to before their family miraculously expands:  we were totally content with our small family. We were in that sweet spot of making the most of the lives God had given to us.   Zack was old enough to do some of the things that we love doing, we took him skiing and he loved it (a good sign for future ski trips), we were hiking more of our local trails, and getting out and doing some fun adventures.

We remained on the foster care roles but more and more because of God's call to take care of orphans and less and less because we wanted to have more children.  We were licensed foster parents for almost 2 years before we actually got a call for a placement.  We knew that we were in God's hands and that if he wanted us to care for a child He would bring that one our way.

In April of 2014 I was looking at shoulder surgery and was in such intense pain I practically ran to the operating table. It turns out my labrum,  and rotator cuff were torn, the joint needed tightening, and I had to have a bone spur removed.  The severity of my problems may or may not have had something to do with carrying Zack down mountains in said ski trip :)  Before I went to surgery on April 24th DHR called me about a
new born placement.  He was to be born in a few days and taken immediately into custody. I agreed to take him and Jeff and I spent the weekend getting out all of the baby stuff so the house would be ready.  It turned out that the mom of this baby went into hiding and he would never come to our home, but the house was ready and instead of welcoming a baby boy I went to the operating table.  Game on for getting the shoulder fixed on April 24th.

After the surgery I was not able to do many of my daily tasks for about a month. It was pretty much humbling times 5000, but by the middle of May I was able to have my arm out of the sling a little and physical therapy was going well.  June 15th we got a call from DHR about a baby boy who needed a home.  We said Yes immediately. It was such a timing of God moment. I wouldn't have been able to care for him when he was born on May 29th. I was not allowed to carry him at that point.  As God would have it our house was already prepared for a baby because of the call we had gotten in April.  God is gracious.

There are so many amazing God moments in this that I am just going to list them for you. I don't want to write a book here or you may get bored and miss the good parts so here are the highlights, or better yet the God fingerprints:
  • Caleb, Jeff, and Zack's birthdays are all 1 day apart.
  • Caleb was in a good foster care home for his first 3 weeks.  They felt they needed to give him up because there was a woman with whom Caleb's birth mom wanted him to be placed.  They were growing attached to our sweet baby and did not think their children, especially their adopted child, would cope well with removing Caleb from their home.  If this woman wasn't a placement option, Caleb would still be in that first home.
  • Caleb was placed in our home with the full understanding that he would be moved in a couple of months.  We were not at all anxious. We just trusted God to work.   He did.  
  • From the very beginning of having Caleb I prayed that God's will would be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven regarding Caleb. This gave me the courage to place my trust and faith in God and not try to manipulate situations or carry anxiety.  
  • Early on in the placement I prayed and asked God what Caleb's name really was. The name he came with was fine, but I did not sense it was his true name.  God laid the name Caleb on my heart.  I looked up it's meaning and it means "wholehearted".  Jeff believed God was calling us to love Caleb wholeheartedly.. 
The hand of God is apparent in this entire journey of fostering and now adopting Caleb.  It has been a time characterized by peace and trust, not anxiety and fear. If God is calling you to foster children, please do it! He will certainly fill you with peace and joy, and in the most amazing way you will be able to love on some little humans who God adores.
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I would like to introduce you to Caleb Joshua Webb, "wholeheartedly the Lord rescues".  Indeed he does.





3 comments:

  1. I love this Judy. and I am so happy for your family. He is adorable. May God continually bless you guys as you go on to be who God wants you to be. It's so hard sometimes to remember that God is in control of your kids. Thanks for that reminder. As I sit here alone today for the first time since Heidi went to Nashville, I'm encouraged by your words. Thanks friend for speaking truth and allowing God t use you always. Much love and prayers to you all. Hugs.

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    1. Thanks for the affirmation, Wendy. God is so good and He uses His story to bring blessing. May God guide Heidi and Holli and let them both follow wholeheartedly after Jesus. And Lord, teach them to use their gifts to build up the body and proclaim the gospel.

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  2. Hi Judy . Thank you for keeping myself in your prayers . I had a set back a year ago and now here I am back on track happy healthy and two months from delivery of a little girl.

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