Domestic Adoption
When they were first married, God placed a desire on Brian and Melodi’s hearts to have a multiethnic family. “We knew that this desire was given to us from God because His word speaks repeatedly about adoption,” says Melodi. They also see ethnic diversity as part of God’s creation. “We believe that God created all of us with various shades to our skin, eyes, and hair to make up his beautiful rainbow,” says Melodi.
God’s Plan Unfolding
The couple soon had two biological daughters, but still the dream of adopting someday lingered in the back of their minds. Last year they decided to look into AAI’s domestic adoption program and see if the timing was right. It was.
“As we prayed and gathered information, everything fell into place,” says Melodi. “We were beginning to see our dream unfold.”
Facing Trials with Faith
For Brian and Melodi, their adoption journey was not without its trials, and they hit their first stumbling block when their first adoption fell through. Yet, the couple remained positive and they turned to their faith to support them during this difficult time.
“We always depend on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in times of difficulty,” says Brian. “His word always comforts and encourages us to seek His direction in every situation.”
The couple was also supported by a Christian couple that they met at the first adoption meeting they attended. This couple went through the entire adoption process along with Brian and Melodi, and they too experienced the heartbreak of a fall through. “We were able to uplift one another in prayer during these difficult times,” says Brian.
A Stocking Full of Joy
Even though Brian and Melodi had reached a hurdle, they still had the desire to adopt, and on Friday, December 22, at 9:00am, their caseworker brought a gift to the family. The couple gave the present to their daughters to open. Inside “there was a picture of our new son with a little blue blanket,” says Melodi.
Brian and Melodi were told that the birth mother had just signed the court papers, but due to the Christmas holiday, the courthouse was going to close at noon. “We had to rush over to AAI to sign the papers in order to bring him home,” says Melodi.
They arrived at AAI, signed all the forms in time, and were given their son, who was dressed appropriately for the occasion. “The host home caregivers had brought in our son stuffed in a Christmas stocking,” says Melodi.
A New Family Member
Brian and Melodi brought home their son, who is African-American, that same day and he was welcomed by his loving big sisters. “The girls absolutely adore him and love to snuggle on him every chance they get,” says Melodi. “They have been praying for quite some time for God to bring them a new baby brother. This was an answer to their prayer.”
Joy and Peace
Looking back, Brian and Melodi have peace about the adoption that fell through. “We are convinced that God intended us to have THIS child,” says Melodi. “We also feel that God used the fall through for good because it … led to receiving our son.”
The Greatest Gift
“This precious little baby was, by far, the most amazing Christmas gift I was ever involved with,” says Brian and Melodi’s caseworker, Sally Mouw.
For Brian and Melodi, their son has been an answer to fervent prayer. “God fulfilled the desire of our hearts with a son,” says Brian. The couple also say that the adoption of their son was “the best Christmas gift our family has ever received.”
And as for the couple who went through the adoption process alongside Brian and Melodi … they brought home their son a week after Brian and Melodi brought home theirs. The holidays were very happy for both families this year.
For More Information
If you would like to learn more about domestic adoption, please visit our domestic adoption page.
