Harvesting Hearts in Vietnam: Made It Home!

How our Adoption Journey Began

Our adoption journey started on Oct. 8, 2006, when our 10 year old daughter's prayer intersected with the will of God.
We have 4 wonderful children Clay 13, Erin 11, Suzanne 8, and Brett 6. After Brett was born, we finalized the number of biological children we would have. Before the operation Jeff asked me if I would consider adoption. I said, "yes", mostly because I wanted to ensure I wouldn't ever have to be pregnant again, knowing he would agree with the operation if I would consider adoption.
The years went by and Jeff brought up the adoption discussion many times and each time I ended it with the words, "lets pray about it some more." Jeff and our oldest two children began to talk about it more and more. One day my daughter Erin asked me point blank, "Mommy are you ever going to want to adopt?" I sat down with her on my bed and told her, " Erin I think adopting is a wonderful thing, but Mommy feels like I don't have enough time for the four of you as it is. I'm so busy and I don't feel like I would be a very good Mommy if I took on anymore. And if God wanted me to adopt, he would make my life less complicated. " (This part never happened) I told her to pray that God would change Mommy's heart if he wanted me to adopt.(I thought we'd be good for another year on this subject)But little Erin got right on the task.
The next day I meant a woman, who is now my good friend, Sunnie Frank.(her real name is Kelly, but people call her Sunnie for obvious reasons I'm sure) The meeting was quite odd from her recollection and mine and in less than 3 minutes I found out that she had 4 biological children(like me) and 2 newly adopted little girls from Vietnam. As I was talking to her, I felt the strangest feeling come over me. I was watching her lips, but I felt like I was hearing a verbal conversation between my heart and my mind. And it was loud!
My heart pounded all the way home. I told Jeff and Erin when I got home that I was seriously ready to consider adoption. At that point Erin ran to her room and came back with the prayer she had written to God and put under her pillow the night before. She had tears in her eyes as she handed the paper to me. In her prayer she specifically asked God to change Mommy's heart and help her realize how much we could offer a child with no family. She told God that we could help one child be saved that might never know Jesus otherwise. Wow! That really hit us all!
That night, our family's daily prayers that God would lead us in the direction he wishes us to follow, Erin's specific prayer for adoption, and God's will for our family meant.
Since that day God has answered numerous prayers from Jeff and I to calm our doubts, fears, and anxieties in equally amazing ways.
God Loves You All and So Do We!

Monday, February 4, 2008

Made It Home!

We finally arrived home Saturday morning at about 5:30 am. It is now Monday at 2:00pm and we are very sleep deprived. I will try to write more tomorrow about Eli and Emily's return home. And include pictures. I can't thank you all enough for all your prayers. They got us through when we were too tired and too overwhelmed to pray. Love you all!
Jeff and Sherri
Clay, Erin, Suzanne, Brett, Elisha, and Emily

4 comments:

Rebecca said...: Welcome Home! Prayers have been answered again.; February 5, 2008 4:09 AM
melissa said...: Jeff,Sherri and Family,
Welcome Home! I hope all is well and you are getting some rest. We are excited for you. You have a baby sitter here. Really. Go on a date.:) I hope we can talk soon. I know you are probably swamped with friends and family. Let me know and I will fix you supper some night. I pray that I can learn from your experience. You have given me courage to try to do this.
Your family has been blessed.
Love In Christ,
Melissa; February 6, 2008 3:49 PM
brmoli said...: Sickafoose Family,
We don't really know each other, though our families do. We are an adoptive family also. Beth Ann shared with my Mom that you were adopting and would be traveling soon. I was so pleased to hear, through Becca's Blog, that you would be blogging the journey. What a joy it has been to read your journey leading to adoption, and a privilage to pray for you. You have been on my mind often. Thank you also for the link to the Urban's blog, what a blessing! My brother and his wife are adopting from the Ukraine also; God places us in amazing situations with us not knowing how they may affect others lives. :) As my husband and I look forward to adopting again in the future (thanks also for the link commented to the Glick's Blog as we are very interested in Ethiopia), we look forward to being able to blog also. What a neat idea, and way to stay connected when so far from home! I simply wanted to share with you what a great blessing this blog has been to me! Welcome Home!!! Praying that the adjustment back proceeds smoothly, and that the bonding and attachment continues also.
Brooke (Bollinger) Lincoln; February 6, 2008 5:52 PM
Charissa said...: Hi Sherri! How is life with 6 kids?! HA We kept the kids home from school yesterday for some bonding time, and I wondered if you are having the same problem we are having. The problem of too many helpers.. :) I hope you'll post photos soon!
I am so thankful we had the opportunity to meet. What a gift that was to me to help calm my nerves right before taking the adventure of a lifetime. I hope we will stay in contact.; February 7, 2008 1:58 AM