Adoption Stories: Growing Paynes

We continue today to share snippets of adoption stories from 4theVoiceless's forthcoming adoption cookbook.  (We hope to have a name for said cookbook by sometime today.)  Today, I want to introduce you to Joe and Annette Payne's story of adopting their little girl, Hayley, from China.

Anyone who has been through the adoption process, whether domestic or international, knows that the waiting and the unknown are the hardest parts of the process.  Yes, the paperwork is daunting, but at least you are DOING something. As I read Joe and Annette's story, I couldn't help but notice many very familiar phrases that I have heard from other families at similar stages of the process.

Life on Hold

"We knew something was missing."

 

"I was totally shocked."

 

"...I wasn't fully on board yet..."

 

"At the time it all seemed endless."

 

"...we did not have the resources on hand..."

 

"...still no word from our adoption agency."

"We were growing a bit impatient."

 

"We began to question..."

 

"Out of frustration we even made statements..."

 

"...we had to know something."

And then...

Annette, Joe, & Hayley Payne

"A special needs child?"

 

"There was no way imaginable that WE could care for a special needs child."

The Rest of the Story

The rest of the Paynes' story will be available in the adoption cookbook.  For now, I'll leave you with one more significant phrase from their story:

"...God intervened..."

 For the rest of Joe and Annette's story, along with all the others, we hope you will invest in our cookbook for the sake of others following in their footsteps and walking through that long process and great expense of adoption.  Oh, and there are some pretty good recipes in the cookbook, too!  Personally, I'm looking forward to making the Haitian gratinee. 

We are working feverishly to make the cookbook available by the end of next week. Pre-orders will be taken locally at the 4theVoiceless table at the SHE ministry crafts fair at the CHC Southaven Go Center this Saturday from 9:00-5:00.  As soon as we have a production date, we will let the rest of you know how to order.

Thanks for reading and making a difference for the fatherless.

4theVoiceless,
Al