Every great story begins with once upon a time, so this is our beginning.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Vanessa who was born to a dad, mom, and one older sister.
Four hours away, a little boy named Chris was born to a dad, mom, and one older sister. While they would grow up in the same town, go to the same small town schools, and have some of the same friends, they would not remember each other or meet until much later in their lives.
When Vanessa was little she loved dolls and babies. Everywhere she went she would play with dolls and babies and dream about the day that she too would get the incredible chance to become a mother. Meanwhile, while Chris was growing up he dreamed of hunting and fishing when he wasn’t out hunting or fishing.
When she was thirteen, Vanessa saved up her money to buy an African American Bitty Baby Doll and felt strongly from God that one day she would adopt a little African American girl. That dream would come true thirteen years later. First though, she had to meet her prince charming, Chris. It took a few frogs before she met him, but when they were seventeen they met for the very first time.
It definitely was not love at first sight. In fact, the complete opposite was true. He thought she was a snob, she thought he was a nerd.
Eventually, God brought their paths together through mutual friends and there was a like that developed, and shortly after a first date occurred on Vanessa’s 18th birthday, love came.
Six days after Chris’ 20th birthday they were married.
Four years went by while they finished school and established a life together as a couple before their first daughter Zoelle was born in May of 2007.
Life was blissful, but in the back of her mind, Vanessa knew that the desire to adopt was still there. So when Zoelle was 14 months old, in July of 2008, they decided to pursue adoption.
With a leap of faith, and literally no money to do so, they signed up to adopt a domestic infant. Then in September of 2008 they were surprised to find two little pink lines on a stick. Yep, they were pregnant.
Knowing that they would have a belly babe did not deter them from their passion to adopt. Instead, they spent countless hours filling out adoption grant paperwork, praying, and trusting God that not only would He provide, but He would provide at the right time.
In May of 2009, their daughter Meridian was born. Most would think that having a two year old and newborn in the home would make them want to change their minds on adopting, but it did not.
It was shortly after the birth of Meridian in which they found out that their home study agency had not advocated for them throughout the pregnancy (despite being told it was ok to adopt and be pregnant). After some phone calls, e-mails, and meetings, it was decided that they could go ahead and adopt despite having two young children in the home.
Thus they made profile books and decided which agencies they wanted to place their profile books in. However it would not be until February of 2010 that a birth mom, “R” would choose them to place her child with. In March of 2010, a little boy was born to “R”. The day after he was born, “R” decided not to place her son with them and they were devastated.
Three months later, on June 10, 2010, Vanessa’s half birthday, she would get the call that would forever change her life. A birth mom, “J” had chosen them to be parents to her daughter who was oddly enough due on their wedding anniversary in August.
On July 5, 2010, Vanessa got a call from their social worker saying that their little girl was on her way. Quick cleaning and packing ensued and at 3:37 the next morning, July 6th, beautiful Xiomara Marie was born.
On July 8, 2010 she was placed in Chris and Vanessa’s arms forever by her wonderful and amazing birth mom “J”. On December 28, 2010 they were able to finalize her adoption in court and make her legally theirs, although long before that she was theirs in their hearts.
And they all lived happily ever after….or so the story goes.
