My Miracle Baby

Today we finalized the adoption of our of Miracle Baby ~ Jacob Thomas Garcia.

I now feel completely at peace sharing a piece of his amazing story and journey into our family.

Many of you know that our boy Ethan has prayed without ceasing for a baby brother since August of 2006. Long after Brian and I gave up on the possibility of adding to our family – Ethan kept praying.

Just recently he began praying specifically that his baby brother would come from Russia. Sadly, the relationship between Russia and the U.S. has been compromised over the years and even more so when the little boy in TN was returned to Russia by the women who adopted him.

Brian did his best to explain to Ethan that shy of a miracle his little brother would not be coming from Russia – if he was even to have a little brother.

So….Ethan prayed for a miracle! He prayed and asked God for a brother from Russia.

Just a few short weeks later I received an email from a long time friend. She had heard of a little boy who was adopted from Russia in November of 2009.

His former family had 2 biological children and felt called to adopt from Russia. They went through the long process and even traveled to Russia 3 times.

While in Russia they did not feel like they were to be his parents. They didn’t quite “get it” but they knew they were to complete the process and bring him home.

Several weeks after coming home from Russia with him they realized they were not bonding with him as they had with their biological children. They were kind to him. They nurtured and took care of him but they knew they were not his forever family and so they begin seeking placement for him.

I have to pause for a moment and give thanks to my dear friend Nicole who saw the email about this little guy and forwarded it on to me. Nicole THANK YOU from the very bottom of my heart. Words will never express our sincere gratitude to you!!

As a result of that email we contacted the family. We exchanged emails, photos and agreed to meet. They were just an hour North and so we made regular trips to get to know him and for him to get to know us.

I can honestly say that within the first 5 minutes we knew, that we knew, he was a GARCIA! Just look at him!

And they knew too! They knew that for a reason none of us could explain they were called to travel half way around the world ~collect our son~ and deliver him to us.

This story is nothing short of a miracle. And no words or amount of details will give God the Glory He so deserves…all I can say is that the Lord has shown our family incredible favor and once again has blessed us beyond all that we could have ever hoped, dreamed or imagined.

Jake is an amazing kid, a terrific little brother and the most perfect completion of our family.

Please join us in officially welcoming him into the Growing Garcia’s.

6 years ago~ TODAY

6 years ago today I received THE CALL for this cute little boy named Igor.

It was a Friday afternoon and we had just finished hosting part 1 of our weekend yard sale fundraiser.

My mom and long time friend April were here to help make the fundraiser a HUGE success. By the time the rain came and forced us to close up shop we had already raised well over a THOUSAND dollars.

As we stood in the garage in complete AWE of the generosity of everyone who donated items, everyone who shopped and everyone who prayed we couldn't help but feel the overwhelming presence of the Lord.

Without warning the phone rang and broke the peaceful silence. I looked at caller ID and instantly recognized the 703 #. That was the area code of our adoption agency America World.

I couldn't imagine why they were calling. My Dossier was already in Russia and translated so I knew there were no questions there. I was told not to expect "The Call" until at least December...so I knew it wasn't that. I answered the phone and I heard Leslie (my family coordinator) say " Hello Jen, are you sitting down?"....

Everybody knew that was ALWAYS Leslie's opening line when she was calling with a referral.

All I could muster was "no, please don't say anything until I can sit".

So I sat down and I heard those words "I have your son". My heart leaped to my throat. I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move.

I could hear Leslie say "Jen are you there, Jen did you hear me, Jen?"...

It was the most surreal feeling. To be able to hear and feel but not move or speak. Without even seeing his picture or holding him close he had melted my heart and filled it with overflowing emotions.

I managed to get a "yes, I am still here" out and then I asked her to conference Brian so he could think and talk for both of us.

She did and later she sent us these most beautiful pictures...

June 11, 2004 was the day I officially felt like a MOM.

Meet Igor

My beloved Ethan

My Miracle Baby

It is with overwhelming joy that I introduce to you….our Jacob!

Many of you know that our boy Ethan has prayed without ceasing for a baby brother since August of 2006. Long after Brian and I gave up on the possibility of adding to our family – Ethan kept praying.

Just recently he began praying specifically that his baby brother would come from Russia. Sadly, the relationship between Russia and the U.S. has been compromised over the years and even more so when the little boy in TN was returned to Russia by the women who adopted him.

Brian did his best to explain to Ethan that shy of a miracle his little brother would not be coming from Russia – if he was even to have a little brother.

So….Ethan prayed for a miracle! He prayed and asked God for a brother from Russia.

Just a few short weeks later I received an email from a long time friend. She had heard of a little boy who was adopted from Russia in November of 2009.

His former family had 2 biological children and felt lead to adopt from Russia. They went through the long process and even traveled to Russia 3 times.

While in Russia they did not feel like they were to be his parents. They didn’t quite “get it” but they knew they were to complete the process and bring him home.

Several weeks after coming home from Russia with him they realized they were not bonding with him as they had with their biological children. They were kind to him. They nurtured and took care of him but they knew they were not his forever family and so they begin seeking placement for him.

I have to pause for a moment and give thanks to my dear friend Nicole who saw the email about this little guy and forwarded it on to me. Nicole THANK YOU from the very bottom of my heart. Words will never express our sincere gratitude to you!!

As a result of that email we contacted the family. We exchanged emails, photos and agreed to meet. They were just an hour North and so we made regular trips to get to know him and for him to get to know us.

I can honestly say that within the first 5 minutes we knew, that we knew, he was a GARCIA! Just look at him!

And they knew too! They knew that for a reason none of us could explain they were called to travel half way around the world ~collect our son~ and deliver him to us.

This story is nothing short of a miracle. And no words or amount of details will give God the Glory He so deserves…all I can say is that the Lord has shown our family incredible favor and once again has blessed us beyond what we could have ever hoped, dreamed or imagined.

Jake is an amazing kid, a terrific little brother and the most perfect completion of our family.

Please join us in welcoming him into the Growing Garcia’s.

Blessed Beyond Measure,
Brian, Jennifer, Sadie, Ethan, Madison and JACOB

Gotcha Day!

Today my world ~as I knew it~ changed forever. Jacob Thomas came home to forever be a Garcia.

Jake's story (which will be shared in time) is nothing short of a miracle. No words or amount of details will give God the Glory He so deserves…all I can say is that the Lord has shown our family incredible favor and once again has blessed us beyond all that we could have ever hoped, dreamed or imagined.

Jake is an amazing kid, a terrific little brother and the most perfect completion of our family.

Please join us in welcoming him into the Growing Garcia’s.

Why Wouldn't I?

*remember to pause my music at the bottom of this page before clicking the play button*

The Rockstar's need YOU

Remember my friends Brian & Courtney? A few weeks ago I told you about their plan to grow their family again through the miracle of adoption. Then sadly I had to share with all of you that the adoption fell through.

Well...they ARE indeed growing their family again. You can read all about their journey here. The baby will be born SOON and they are needing to raise funds FAST. (They returned ALL previous donated funds for the adoption that fell through)

I am asking my friends and family to consider donating just $5.00 - that's it $5.oo - to my dear friends. Your small donation will make a HUGE difference in the life of a child and possibly in eternity.

You can donate on their secure site or email me privately for their contact information.

Any and all support is GREATLY appreciated.

Blessings to all.

Bring Alayna Home

Please meet my dear friends Courtney & Brian. They are amazing parents to 9 ~yes 9~ AMAZING children.

The Lord has called them to grow their family once again through the miracle of adoption.

Their "Precious One" (the meaning of the name~Alayna) will be born soon and they are seeking to pull funds together quickly.

I am asking if you would prayerfully consider skipping Starbucks or a movie this week and donate just $5.00 to their growing family.

Please know that no amount is too small and that each dollar donated will be used to unite a family FOREVER!

To contribute just click HERE.

Many thanks in advance.

Why then, does it hurt?

Brian and I have been earnestly pursuing growing our family through the miracle of adoption since January 2007.

Although, we LOVE our life and we LOVE our children and we are SO thankful for our MANY blessings -which by the way are COUNTLESS.

We still feel incomplete. We still feel like God has a little more...a little some one for us.

But 27 months, 4 "potential" children, 2 home studies, numerous countries, too many agencies and endless prayer requests...

All of which we felt were at His prompting yet they led us only to to closed doors, crushed dreams and broken hearts.

It has been our sole desire to be in the center of Gods will. To be in the palm of His hand. And to submit to His leading....

We have asked Him to guide our path, to lead us to "our" child, to close doors that are not of Him.

Yet, when He does, I ache. I hurt. I mourn the loss of another child. I'm sad. Sick. Confused.

If I trust Him...if I believe His ways are better than mine...if I claim I want to be in the center of His will...

Why then does it hurt?

Welcome Home Grandstaff's

Thank you all who helped pray my friends home from Ethiopia.

They landed earlier today and are home now as a family of 6. :-)

You can read about their journey and see their beautiful family here.

Grandstaff's we love and are praising God for his blessings upon your family.

Can't wait to see all 6 of you.