A Big Adventure

Where do we begin?

Landon and I have been happily married for almost eight months now. When we decided to get married, we knew that God would take us on an adventure, but we had absolutely no idea how big it would be (even within the first year!)!

We spent our first five months of marriage going to school and living on campus at Lubbock Christian University. It was a beautiful challenge as we learned to adjust to married life while getting to know one another more each and every day. We had fun together while experimenting with cooking and putting together our new home.

For our first Christmas together, we decided to travel to Haiti to be with my Grandma Sue and her children. We wanted to include our immediate family members so we had each of them buy Christmas gifts for each child. While it was difficult at times, it was a great way for us to spend our first Christmas together as a married couple.

Just two weeks after we returned from our trip to Haiti, the country itself was shaken as well as our lives. There was a terrible earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th, 2010. I will remember that day vividly for the rest of my life. Landon and I heard the news from a facebook friend. We immediately turned on CNN and it was all over the news. I began calling my grandma to see if she and the kids were OK, but I wasn't able to get through. Calls began to swarm my telephone as family and friends were also concerned about my grandmother's well being. I was mesmerized by the television and could not comprehend the news that was flashing before my eyes. Landon and I stayed up until two or three in the morning calling my grandma over and over again. Finally, at six in the morning, we got up and began calling grandma again. This time we were able to get through, but only for a few moments to find out that she and her kids were physically OK. As days went on and as communication became more and more available to Haiti, we were able to learn more about the damage in my grandma's area. The security wall surrounding her house had collapsed outwardly. Items inside of her home were thrown around and cracks filled the walls. To this day, there are around fifty cracks throughout the walls of her home. In her area, there were houses that did collapse, but God had something else in mind for her home.

I need to back track a few months before the earthquake and before we visited Haiti in December. There is a little girl that my grandma has raised since birth. Her biological mother died just before she was born. Her father was not able to buy formula and he decided to give her to my grandma. My grandma lovingly took her in and gave her the name "Amanda" which means "Worthy of Love". After only a few months, Amanda had a family that was planning to adopt her. After being in the process for two and a half years, they decided that it wasn't the right thing to do. Unfortunately, Amanda was then stuck. I have known Amanda since she was seven months old. Landon has spent a lot of time with her as well. We were saddened by the families choice and heartbroken for Amanda. We began growing an attachment to her and completely fell in love with her. After Landon and I were married, my grandma asked if we would consider adopting her. What? Us? Adopt? Here we were, young, newly married and struggling with whether or not this was God's will. Adoptions in Haiti take years to complete, some of my grandma's kids have been there for four years! This was, in a way, a plus for us considering our state and the time we had left in school. After time in prayer and talking with one another, we decided that this was what God wanted us to do. Therefore, we decided to adopt Amanda.

Back to the earthquake. Due to the conditions in Haiti and lack of food and water, the government decided to expedite adoptions by giving visas and humanitarian paroles. Well, needless to say, Amanda was granted her humanitarian parole visa less than two weeks after the earthquake. Ah! In just two weeks we moved apartments and became parents of a three and a half year old. We have now had her for two months and let me tell you our family has grown and come a very long way. There have been struggles along the way and believe me it has not been easy. However, in the midst of the chaotic moments we can, without a doubt, call ourselves blessed. This sweet girl has blessed our lives, and God has shown us first hand that we are not in control of our own lives. Our plans are not ours anymore- they are His.

We have learned that submission to Christ is a road that will be full of joys, uncertainty, hardship, love, and a road that is filled with adventure. It's not always easy, but it's worth every minute if it means knowing our Savior more each day.

I'm going to try to keep everyone updated on our lives. Currently, Landon and I are both going to school at Lubbock Christian University and plan to graduate in 2011. Amanda is adjusting well and goes to preschool. She is very active and loves learning. Please pray as our family bonds together and as Landon and I adjust to parenthood.

To God be the glory!

Landon, Courtney, and Amanda