Imagine my shock when I celebrated Christmas with my then-boyfriend's family for the first time. Andrew's family members are among the most generous people I know, so there have always been TONS of presents under the tree. And by "under the tree," I mean that the radius of gifts actually extends well into the center of the living room. I counted seventeen gifts just for me that first year. Hello, Christmas.
Material gifts are nice, whether they come at Christmastime or not. While the true meaning of Christmas can easily be lost in commercialism, the love behind the gifts given is typically what makes
the season so full of joy. I'm excited about my new Sperrys and my Nike running tights (people know me well), but all of the thoughtful gifts I received pale in comparison to that one not under the tree.
She's sitting in the middle of the living room, wearing her Christmas pajamas and a silver bow on her sweet little head.
The greatest gift is my daughter.
In December 2012, our pastor asked everyone to write an impossible prayer on an index card and place it in an envelope so that he and other church leaders could pray for everyone's requests. I had almost
forgotten that I turned this in until he texted me a picture of the card a couple of months after we brought Piper home:
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Three years ago around Christmastime, Andrew and I decided that we would start trying to get pregnant. Needless to say, December 2012 was difficult. Two years had passed with surgeries, doctor visits, and countless negative pregnancy tests. I did the obligatory "liking" of pregnancy announcements on Facebook and sullenly attended baby shower after baby shower, but inside I was anxious and angry.
This Christmas season has been different. To a small degree, I think I will always wonder why we are unable to have biological children and struggle to truly be happy for people who so easily find themselves pregnant. But the joy of Piper has overwhelmed all of the negative feelings in the past few months as I've realized that there is truly no other child I would rather have but her.
This afternoon, we finalized Piper's adoption. Though she has been our daughter in our hearts since we found out about her in May, today she became our daughter on paper. I didn't think I would be emotional about this court date, but the finality of the decree and the words below brought tears to my eyes. She's really ours.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED BY THE COURT THAT THE CHILD GRACE C-H (the previous name on Piper's birth certificate), IS HEREBY DECLARED TO BE THE LAWFULLY ADOPTED CHILD OF THE PETITIONERS, ANDREW AND MARY RACHEL, HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND THAT THE CARE, CUSTODY, NURTURE, EDUCATION AND CONTROL OF THIS CHILD BE, AND HEREBY IS, VESTED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE PETITIONERS.
One calendar year, minus three days. That's how long this adoption process took from start (filling out the application) to finish (finalization). An impossible prayer? Sure seems that way. Many applicants for adoptions are in the waiting phase alone for over a year. But the impossible came true. Today, I'm thankful that God hears our hearts even when we can't verbalize the emotions within it. I'm thankful, amazingly, that I don't plan my life, because 2013 has ended so much better than I could have ever envisioned. And of course, I'm thankful that my name is next to my sweet angel's on her new birth certificate. Piper Anna Fenrick- that's the best gift of Christmas.
2013 in Pictures:
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| January 2- We fill out our application and mail it to Deaconess Adoption. |
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| February 8-9- We complete our agency's required adoption seminar. |
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| February 15- Our friends throw us an adoption party and help us raise over $1,000 to bring Piper home. |
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| Adoption Party Hostesses, Jordan and Abby |
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| March 1- My sweet friend, Jenna, puts together a surprise baby shower for me at work. |
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| Friends at my work shower |
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| March- Piper's nursery is ready. |
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| March- For 30 days, Andrew grows a horrendous mustache, which goes on to raise over $3,000 for Piper's adoption campaign. |
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| April 2- Our home study is complete and approved! |
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| April 5- We have a huge garage sale at my friend, Rachel's, house, to continue raising money for Piper. |
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May 16- I get a phone call at work from Piper's birth mom, saying that she has chosen us to be Little Girl's adoptive parents. (I posted this picture to Instagram after Andrew got home that day: "Extra big smiles today because we just found out we are going to be PARENTS!")
May 30- We meet Piper's birth parents for the first time at the adoption agency. Even our smiles here can't explain the significance of that day.
 
Sweet friends
 June 23- Fenrick Family Baby Shower  
June 28, 7:00 p.m.- Piper Anna Fenrick is born at OU Medical Center in Edmond, Oklahoma, weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces.
Perfect.
I meet Piper for the first time. The face says it all.
Dad meets his angel.
Our new family. (Too many visitors at the hospital to post pictures!)
June 30- We get to take Piper home to Norman. (Our case worker, Bonni, is on the right.)
July 4- Piper's first holiday
July 24- "Mr. Conner" and "Miss Amanda" (Piper's birth parents) go to court to terminate their parental rights. We love them to pieces. Now that they have done this, we are allowed to acknowledge Piper's existence on social media.
 
Flower Mound Shower
  
Piper meets her "Nana" (great-grandmother) at the Hicks Family Shower
October 19- Andrew and I run in the "Orphan Love Mud Run" to raise money for 10 different adopting families in Oklahoma, of which we are one.
October 31- Piper's first Halloween with Mom the Princess (and Dad the Frog). Not that she cares.
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November 28- Piper's first Thanksgiving.
  
Christmas morning
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Fenrick Family
Heck of a year. Here's to 2014!
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This made me cry......God is so good!!
ReplyDeleteTears... Wow! This is simply amazing! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteYou sure know how to make a grown woman cry...That is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing your sweet family...
ReplyDelete-Bridget
Awesome! I believe the day you filled out your application with Deaconess was Andrew's first day here at HL. It has been such a joy to watch you two go thru the process. No other couple is more deserving than you two. You are giving Piper a gift she probably would not have had w/o you...the gift of being raised in a God fearing Christian home! Keep your eyes stayed on Him so she can follow Christ when she follows you.
ReplyDeleteI love you all so much and pray for you so often. What a wonderful testimony of God's faithfulness and that He hears our cries!!! Your story with Piper is such a beautiful one. Thanks for being so vulnerable and sharing. It's such a humbling blessing to get to be a part of this prayer journey!!
ReplyDelete-Christi
Despite the anxiousness and anger first felt, I'm so glad that you two remained steadfast in God's promises. Piper is a living, breathing manifestation of one of His promises...so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLynnetta