Victoria Ana...Surprise with brown eyes!!

Turns out with all of the birthdays in March and April, my posts are just re-living the amazing way God has created our family. Tomorrow is Victoria Ana's 6th birthday. Her's is a God-story of immense proportions.



Kent and I were vacationing with our family in Florida at my parents' home,

when we received a call from back home. One of the seasonal workers had contacted the farm and wanted us to adopt her un-born child. She was due in 2 weeks. At this time in our family we had six children. We were surprised, to say the least, but felt that we could at least walk Ana through this difficult time for her and maybe help her find a family for her child. She had an ultra sound that said she was carrying a girl.

I was already dreaming of pink bows and ribbons and curls. But the sensible one of our team was doing a better job of waiting and seeing if this is what God had for us.

We contacted a social worker at Bethany Christian Services and began the process of trying to find some help for Ana. About a week later I met Ana for the first time. I was going to pick her up and we would go to the Bethany Office together, she would have an opportunity to meet with a translator and social worker and we could find out how best to help her.

I was so nervous walking up to the door to knock and inquire if this was the right house. When the door opened it was obvious I was. Initially I was struck with how beautiful this young woman was, she had deep brown eyes, and amazing curly hair that hung just below her shoulders. I wanted to cry. I had dealt with two birth moms before, but I had never met one face to face. When God created mothers, His intention was that the bond between her and her child would never be broken. Although I was excited about the possibility of a beautiful, brown eyed girl, my heart ached for this woman standing before me.

We went to our appointment and as we left the social worker said. "Ana knows exactly what she wants, she wants your family to adopt her baby, she wants you to be in the delivery and she wants the baby to go right home to your house."

We got busy, we needed to update our home study and deal with a couple of other stacks of papers, but God had already planned for Ana to go overdue with Victoria. So when labor began the papers were completed.

Victoria's birth was unique. I was with Ana at the hospital, neither of us could speak the others language. For parts of the labor we had a translator, but for most of the difficult parts we did not. My heart hurt for her as she longed for her mother and would cry out for her. At some point during the labor she began to cry for me. I did my best to comfort her and help her through the delivery process. Victoria Ana was born in the wee hours of the morning on April 22, 2006. She took my breath away. I was so proud of Ana. I so wished I could talk with her.

We spent the next 2 days at the hospital. I was given a separate room and would check in on Ana and see if she needed anything. One night we were able to call a number provided by the hospital where a translator could help us talk to each other. Ana thanked me over and over again for adopting her precious girl. I wept.

I loved Victoria, but I was realizing I loved Ana too and so wanted to help her and find a way to make her life better.

On the morning of April 24th it was time to go home. It was a very difficult parting, one that neither Kent or I were prepared for. Just before the appointed time to leave I went to Ana's room and I saw her kissing Victoria's feet. I walked away as tears were streaming down my face.

How on earth could I complete this task before me. It was so gut-wrenching. I guess I thought that somehow if we were doing the right thing, the God-thing that He would make it feel all right. But it wasn't. We were able to give Ana a bracelet and a book of pictures of Victoria and then we left in separate cars. We were crying all the way home. We had one of the most beautiful gifts we had ever been given and yet, there was a brokenness involved in that great gift.

As we paused at the end of driveway, we realized that God had brought us this far and He would provide us with all we needed to take the next step. We were able to go inside where the happy throng greeted us with pure exhileration at another Karnemaat to join the ranks.

Victoria Ana, you are such a blessing, God has an amazing plan for your life, just look at the way in which He orchestrated your entrance. You were so loved by so many, and you were such a perfect fit for our family.

 God always has the best ideas and your life has changed mine in ways I cannot express. Thanks for being our sweet, little princess with just the right amount of spice to keep us hopping!

Happy Birthday, Victoria!! You were such a gift to us, I thank my God for you everyday!!

Spencer Troy...one of the best surprises, EVER!

Tomorrow we celebrate Spencer’s 11^th birthday, as we are awaiting the celebration of another birth. Jordan and Nate are expecting baby #2 any day. Spencer has been praying to share a birthday, so we will see what God has in mind.

As I was thinking back to Spencer’s exciting arrival, I was reminded that he was one of God’s best surprises. I was standing at the sink in my parents’ house looking out at the lake and thinking. Why wasn’t I feeling good? I almost felt flu-like. I was concerned because we were traveling the next week to Guatemala to pick up Hope Olivia and bring her home to join her almost 2 year old sister from the same country. But what was this nagging nausea about.

A light bulb went on and I became aware of the possibility of a Spencer.

 I called Kent, he suggested we buy a test and see if that would shed light on the situation.

It did.

I passed.

I’d failed plenty of those tests, but passing, WOW I was so excited. I hadn’t let the reality of going from 3 kids to 5 in less than 9 months deter my enthusiasm. I also didn’t factor in that when Spencer would be born I would have a 2 year old, 1 year old and a new born. 

Kent came home from work and I showed him the evidence of a Spencer.  The reality of what I described above was a reality to Kent and he told me with frank honesty.

“Kim, I am really excited for you. I am just going to need a couple of days and I will get there too!”

He did.

We traveled to Guatemala, keeping Spencer a secret.

As we arrived home in Grand Rapids to an airport full of family and friends welcoming  sweet Hope!

We were both excited and grateful for a Spencer!

As things go for our pregnancies, the vomiting began the night we arrived home. God had allowed Guatemala to happen without that portion beginning and I was grateful.  So on Labor Day Weekend we shared the secret of Spencer with our family.

They were surprised too!

The verse that God gave to me during the waiting for Spencer was this:

Ephesians 3: 20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I can imagine a lot. But God did immeasurable more than I could imagine. I never imagined a Spencer.

He is still surprising me.  I love the part that it is to His glory that He chooses to surprise us.

Spencer, my boy, I don’t know what great things God has planned for you. I do know that I couldn’t possibly imagine them. I do know that it is immeasurable more than anything you or I could even think of. All I know is you were all God’s idea and you have been one of the best gifts I was ever entrusted with.

So Happy Birthday thanks for reminding me daily about what an awesome God I have.