I want to share with you our adoption story. It is a small insight into my families life and the true reason of why I stockpile. This is the SHORT version 
In May 2004 after year’s of struggling with infertility my husband and I decided to pursue International adoption. After attending several seminar’s and doing research on the Internet we decided to adopt from Guatemala. After completing our home study and collecting all of the documents for our dossier we received US approval and the wait for our baby referral began…that was January of 2005.
On February 3, 2005 we got the call! A baby boy was born on January 6, 2005 and needed parents to adopt him. Were we interested? I did not sleep for one minute that night with anticipation of the “package”. The next day we received photos and a 5 minute video. We immediately accepted the referral and the roller coaster ride began!
The wait was terrible…the most miserable and painful time of our lives. As each day passed the only thing that kept me going was the update pictures that we received from our agency each month. However each update was heart wrenching. Watching our baby grow and change without me there was extremely difficult and heart wrenching. Thank God for my Mom and good friends or I would have never gotten through it.
In April, 2005 we visited. We had our baby with us for 4 wonderful nights and 5 days and it felt like our family was finally together. However that visit was bittersweet as it didn’t last long enough and I left Guatemala devastated that I couldn’t bring our son home with us. The only thing that gave me peace was that I met our son’s foster mother and saw the love and care she had for him and was providing to him in my absence.
The next three months were full of pain as we waited for the legal hoops to be jumped through. I had two amazing baby showers and they were exciting but painful at the same time.
On June 23, 2005 we got the call! Our adoption process was complete! We booked the first flight to Guatemala and on June 27, 2005 our sweet baby boy was placed in our arms forever! He is now five year’s old and is the joy of our lives. As I reflect on the process and our infertility I thank God for it (the infertility) each and everyday.
If it were not for the infertility we would not have our son and without our son our life would not be complete! I have such wonderful friends that I met through the process that I would not have in my life and I am truly thankful for each of them (including Shelley). I was given a words of wisdom which at the time I didn’t understand. My caseworker told me it is always darkest before the dawn. At the time I couldn’t understand that advice but I sure did the day he was placed in arms forever.
Thanks for allowing me to share our story of how our family became a “full circle”. Though I could talk for days about the process in the end it all seems to fade away as I am now just “Peyton’s Mama”.
Here we are on the plane…heading “home” on June 30, 2005.
Here we are Mother’s Day 2008!
Here we are celebrating our 5th Family Day as we call “Peyton’s Day”.
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Melissa and Shelley are best friends who met through 
He is adorable! Adoption stories always touch my heart and bring tears to my eyes. You have a beautiful family.
Thanks Leslie! Mine too
Children ALWAYS come from their mother’s heart! Thank you for sharing. You have a beautiful family <3!
That is what I tell Peyton when he asks if he was in my belly
Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for all you do.
I am typing one-handed as I cuddle our 8 mo. old foster daughter. We are in the process of adopting her. Your work helps me be able to be a SAHM to her, an 18 mo. old and our nearly 9 yr.old.
Again, thank for all you do.
Thank you so much Holly! It means so much to us!
Thank you for sharing! I know completely what you mean about the blessing of infertility, although I don’t wish process leading up to it on anyone (hindsight gives a much better perspective!). We were in Russia meeting our two at the exact time that you were bringing your son home. Ten months later we were officially a family of four! Blessings to your family!
Thanks so much Elizabeth! I totally agree with you about the process…Congratulations to your family as well!
You have a beautiful family and story! I had tears in my eyes reading your triumph!! I wish your family the best!!
Thanks so much Kerri!
This also got me all mushy Melissa!
Thank you for sharing your story- I wish the adoption process wasn’t such a long one..it makes no sense to me, but that’s a whole other topic.
Our close friends/neighbors adopted two Chinese girls at separate times, and your story reminds me a lot of theirs- down to wearing the US flag on the trip home! (How funny! She flew to get one of her girls on July 4th and brought her home with the US flag on :))
Anyways, I know you are a strong woman, have a kind heart, and any child would be lucky to call you mom.
Thanks Jasmine! You are so kind
That is why I call you my friend 
I can only imagine the heartache and triumphs that you faced along the way Melissa, but what a Happy Ending to share with us!! We too are thankful for Peyton!
Thanks Jaime
I loved reading your story! We also have a beautiful little boy from Guatemala. He’s 5 years old, just like your son! What a wonderful journey adoption is!
How awesome Jenny! Wish we lived closer so they could be friends and we could clip coupons together
Hugs!
Truly a wonderful treat to read first thing on a Monday morning
Thanks Masha!
What a great story! We brought our little man home at the end of July 2005, from Guatemala! I totally agree about the roller coaster ride, but so worth it in the end. Our bio son, was 3 at the time we brought him home and he couldn’t stop touching and hugging him. He was so excited to finally have a baby brother. We have since adopted 3 more, all had been our foster children. Adoption is such a blessing and great thing. Keep the great deals coming, wish we lived closer so our boys could play together.
Blessings from MN,
Jody
Yes, it is Jody!
xoxo
Melissa
Thank you for sharing your story! I am also an adoptive mom so I know the roller coaster of emotions that you are talking about! We had two failed matches before being matched with our daughter! The wait between the match and the day we brought her home seemed to last forever but now it feels like she’s been a part of our family forever! Blessings to your family!
Thanks Jamee – you do know the roller coaster ride for sure! I understand how you feel
Congratulations!
What a great way to give a child a family and a child to a family!
Thank you.
So happy for your family and the love you have for your son. It shines through. I love kids and am so happy to see parents that love their children. I see so many children that aren’t truly appreciated and enjoyed, they are God’s gift to us and we need to cherish them.
Thank you Mary!
hi…i’m also an adoptive mom, with a beautiful 8 year old Guatemalan son…I think we’re in the same area (northern Kentucky)…do you guys know of any support groups in the area?
There was one on facebook when the kids were little but now they are all so busy with their sports and other obligations.