Triple Down

Why triple down? Well, good question! 

TRIPLE DOWN: to strengthen one’s commitment to a particular strategy or course of action, typically one that is potentially risky. Or simply stated to double down even harder. 

Our house right now is me, Kristina; my husband, Matt; and our three biological children. Charlee (the oldest) has a strong will, strong mind and strong body. She is always moving. Levi (the middle) has a soft heart, creative mind and is soft-skinned. He is always trying to do what Charlee does, but most of the time with a little more effort needed. Mia (the baby) is calm, has a fun outlook on life, a bold personality and has Mosaic Down Syndrome. These are all characteristics that make up our kiddos, but they do not define them. Their identity, I credit, to the one who made them, our Lord and Savior.  Our foundation was built on May 16, 2009. Have you heard the song The Bones by Maren Morris? 

When the bones are good, the rest don’t matter
Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter
Let it rain ’cause you and I remain the same
When there ain’t a crack in the foundation
Baby, I know any storm we’re facing
Will blow right over while we stay put
The house don’t fall when the bones are good.

– Maren Morris, The Bones

I love it because it is so true! The house won’t fall when the bones are good (grammar correction mine). Matt and I love each other and continue to strive everyday for a strong foundation with Christ on bottom and our marriage next. 

After Mia was born, we started talking about future kids. She is by far the easiest child. Mia is calm, loving and pretty much self-sufficient after watching her sister and brother do everything and figuring it out for herself. With a yearning heart for adoption, I felt this would be a good time to bring it back up with Matt. I asked him to go with me to an adoption interest class. He was still hesitant on adoption (we had this conversation early on in our marriage as well), but said he would go and consider it if we agreed to adopt from the Hispanic community. He felt called to this community specifically and at the time I was a bit frustrated. Why so specific and limiting? Also, from what I knew, the Hispanic community very rarely had children placed into the system. They have strong family ties and usually a relative comes forward to help before a child gets that far.  A close acquaintance who works for a local Memphis non profit confirmed that, yes, this was true and it very rarely happens.

In any case, I reluctantly agreed to his conditions, hoping they would loosen as we went further into the process. In early Spring of 2017, we went to the class. Within a month, we got a phone call that would change our lives forever!  I remember the conversation I had with Matt after:

Me: Hey Matt, we need to adopt a sibling trio. 
Matt: Are you crazy!
Me: Ok! Well what makes you not crazy?!

Actually, that’s not how it went at all. That’s what I expected to happen, but what had happened was completely the opposite. 

Carolyn, a friend from church, called to discuss finding a home for a sibling trio at a children’s home where Matt and I had visited many times on mission trips. She, at some point during the conversation, suggested we do it! I remember thinking to myself, did I tell her we were thinking about adoption? I don’t remember doing so. Then why did she call and within a month of us going to that class? When she told me the family, I got chills. I didn’t start crying because Carolyn, whom I respect greatly, is a very strong woman and I didn’t want her to think I was “soft” and not up for the challenge she just put before me.  But when I got off the phone you better believe the flood gates opened! The family she described was in fact the only Hispanic family at this children’s home we’d been serving at for over 5 years. Later, we also found out, the only children even classified as “adoptable” at this children’s home at the time. I called Matt right away and this is how the conversation REALLY went:

I said let’s adopt A, I and I and he immediately said let’s do it. No hesitation and no concerns. One of the many things I love about Matt is that when He knows the Lord has called Him to do it, He knows and doesn’t question. We will figure out the logistics later.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

– 2 Corinthians 5:7

Those of you who have spent any time with Matt also knows he is very cautious. He will pray and fast about a decision FOR LIKE FOREVER. I mean the man cannot make a fast decision! “Can I buy these shoes?” “Well, I think we need to consider what we are giving up and pray about it.” I mean come on, they are shoes! But three children and he’s like yes, let’s do it!

In May of 2017, we decided to triple down on our family and adopt three more kiddos! We signed a contract with an adoption agency in June of 2017. Our friends and family already know this. You have seen us on this journey for the last two and a half years. You have been right there with us through the ups and downs, the delays and triumphs. I have caught myself saying multiple times throughout this process, no wonder more people don’t adopt, this is impossible! But I am quickly reminded that “with God all things are possible”, Matthew 19:26, for me and for you!

I want to invite you to continue tracking with us through this process. I will do a better job of communicating and documenting our progress. 

As of today, we are waiting on one final court date to happen in Belize and hopefully we will get that call any day to make travel arrangements and bring home #ThreeMoreTubis.