The 7 of Us

Clan Waits - the ones with whom I share my days, the people who capture my heart and the ones who most often provoke my words.  Hearts of my heart.





Alex - The Daddy, the Main Missionary Man, the Leader of all-things Waits.   Alex was born in Glasgow, Scotland and grew up in North Texas.   He played football for lots of years, including both college and a bit in the NFL.   A relaxing morning with Alex includes a cup of great java,  a back porch facing coconut trees and a good book or some thought-provoking, world-changing topic to discuss.   Alex is the motivator, encourager and protector of his little clan.   He epitomizes the Old Spice man, in a good way. :)

Laura (me)  -   The Mama, the one-who-likes-to-write, the English teacher at Instituto Vida Abundante and the organizer of the clan kids' education.   I have an affection for people - old friends and new; simple friendships and complicated ones.    I've worn many hats - foster mommy, lawyer, vegetable co-op lady,  Sunday school teacher, daughter,  sister and friend.    All-in-all, I'm just an ordinary, silly girl who has somehow turned into an ordinary, silly woman who dreams of someday being an ordinary, silly old lady who laughs with my last breath.

Aidan (14) - Oldest bro, loyal friend, and keeper of the books.    Aidan loves music, his buddies and all-things LEGO.     We call him the absent-minded professor, but in reality, he may be the most clear-focused of all of us.   Aidan loves the rain, reading, naps, and late-night movies with popcorn.  He dreams of being a pilot. 

Arlee (11) -  For a long time, she was our only girl and keeper of the dolls.  Arlee is a fiercely loyal person who fights for what is right.   She is spunky, but shy.    Arlee wants a little sister (see below) and Mommies every little girl she meets.   Her ideal day would be sleeping in, eating 3 bowls of yogurt,  riding bikes, swimming in the lagoon and staying up late.    Arlee serves as a translator for visiting teams from the US.  Arlee dreams of being a missionary nurse here in La Mosquitia.

Adam (8)  -   Born in the tummy of another mommy in 2006, but born in this mommy's heart in 2007.   Adam is our sensitive, sweet, sugar-lover.     He is the most likely to give his siblings the limelight while he quietly holds our hands and waits his turn.    Adam is a thinker and often understands things way beyond his years.   His adoption was a gift to this family; the clan would not be complete without his peace.   Adam dreams of living inside the Super Mario Brothers game.

Aaron (7) -   Became a part of the Waits clan in 2007, only 3 months after his birth.   Aaron is the spunkiest, sassiest clan member.    Always at the forefront, Aaron never meets a stranger.   His laugh is contagious and his angry fits are hysterical.   He really loves riding bikes for hours and hours around our backyard in Honduras.    Aaron is an inventor and does not play with normal toys.  Give the child some sticks, a few nails and some string and you've got an afternoon's worth of entertainment.  He loves science and people... Aaron has learned Spanish and Miskito this year in school.  Wonder what technological goodies he will give to our world one day?

Cumi Joy (2+) -  Cumi Joy is a precious toddler that has captured our hearts.  We have legal custody of Cumi Joy and hope to adopt her one day.  Her mom passed away when she was one month old.  Her dad is unable to care for her.   Cumi has been a part of our family for over 2 years and we are all better because of her.  Her biological father visits and we pray for his consistent presence in her life.

 

The Making of a Family


It was a balmy, bright day in Maui, Hawaii when our two separate lives came together to become one life.    We said our vows on a breathtaking beach and enjoyed a private dinner by candlelight with the waves crashing in the background.   It was a night to remember for both of us.    Never, in our wildest visions of the future, did we imagine ourselves as parents to 4 children;  2 biological and 2 adopted out of the Texas Foster Care System!  Never, in our wildest predictions of our lives, would we have guessed we would sell our worldly goods and move to a remote jungle region of Honduras!  Never.   But, that is exactly what we are called to do.   And with God’s grace and the prayers of our dear friends behind us, we walked forward.

So, how did we get from that gorgeous day in 1997 to this one in 2012??

It is almost overwhelming to think about, really.   Only through the transforming power of God could such a thing happen to two ordinary, self-centered people like us.    The transformation of hopes and dreams is just the business God is in… and He has been the ultimate Transformer for the two of us.  He is our Everything, our only Hope.

Our early married years were spent chasing the ‘American dream.’   (Prior to our marriage, Alex had actually lived ‘Every Boy’s Dream’ by playing both college and pro football)    We enjoyed material success and recognition; consumption became our middle name.   Saving our pennies for our ‘dream house’ in the country became almost an obsession.  It was a collective goal and we did everything we could as ‘American dreamers’ to make it happen.

As for children… we spent several years thinking infertility was a reality.  There was some sadness and we did contemplate adoption at that time.   One surprising fall day, we found out we were pregnant.   The dawn of a new millennium brought the celebration of new life with the birth of our oldest son, Aidan.     His exuberance and love of life still prove to be contagious and an important part of our family.    Three years later, after many weeks of bed rest, we gave birth to our only daughter, Arlee.     She is tender and tenacious – two qualities that will serve her well as she grows up.  She is our Little Mommy in every single area!  To know her is to love her.

Honestly, 2 children were enough for us at that point.  We had high hopes for these 2 and felt that we were just fine with a boy and girl.   In 2004, we found ‘IT’ – a beautiful piece of country property with lots of trees and a lovely home. Now THIS was the place our small family would live until our last breath.  Our children became country-folk and ran around muddy and bare-footed.    We were filled with a new-found appreciation for God’s creation.   We held onto this place with fists-clenched; nothing could separate us from this land…  nothing.      Right.

In 2006, the idea of additional children started creeping into our conversations.   We played the ‘what if’ game, trying on the idea of adoption like we were playing dress-up.    By August, we felt led to adopt through the foster care system in Texas.   We went into the entire experience as an ‘adoption only’ family.   Right.   After our training, we were surprisingly moved to a place where we wanted be a foster-to-adopt family.    Our first placement was a precious baby girl without any identifying information.   She had been abandoned in an ugly place with absolutely nothing.   We were able to name her and we believed with all of our heart that she would be ours forever.   She was Hispanic and American Indian, which will mean more later in the story :) … and we had her life with us all planned out.

She, though, was not to be ours.   Come to find out, she had 2 biological brothers who were already being adopted.  CPS keeps families together whenever possible and we sadly agreed that she should have some semblance of her biological family.  The heartbreak was real and exceedingly painful, but God was at work.

We continued to provide respite for other foster families while we prayed about our future.   In June of 2007, we received a call about our Aaron.   We would later find out he had been in 4 placements before coming to our home at 3 months of age.  Through a series of deaths, vacations, etc., our little guy had been shuffled until a foster-to-adopt family could be found for him.   During his initial time with our family, we believed it to be a true foster situation.  All signs were pointing to reunification with his biological family.   We supported this on most levels and tried to love him without reservation.   In early 2008, his biological mother relinquished her parental rights and the green light was given for us to adopt him.  Today, he is our youngest and most rambunctious child.   He is a hand-full of boy who fills our home with lots of laughter.

Shortly after Aaron arrived at our home, we found out that we were selected to be our precious Adam’s forever family.  Adam had been in foster care since birth and he was 15 months old when he joined our family.   His foster family had loved him like their own and he was able to quickly form a healthy attachment to each of us.  Adam is 9 months older than Aaron.   Adam is our sensitive, gentle child.   While he is experiencing some of the ‘terrifying threes’, his heart is beautiful and he pumps his fist in the air and says ‘I adopted!’  He wears that as a badge of honor.

In 2008, the adoptions of both boys were complete.    And …  so then there were 6!
Our call to full-time missions is to the Miskito people of the eastern coast of Honduras.   This area is comprised primarily of indigenous Miskito Indians.  The Spanish explorers also made their impact on Honduras.   The Miskito people have a rich blended heritage of both Spanish and indigenous Indian influence.   It is amazing that the love God planted in our hearts for one little Hispanic/Indian girl has led to a desire to serve an entire people group.   It seems unbelievable …  that is what makes it ALL GOD!

The most obvious next question is… will there be any more Waits?    There may be more permanent members of the Waits family,  there may not.  There will almost certainly be a few temporary members of varying ages.  Our arms stand willing and ready to love the ones that God brings in our path in Honduras.  We trust that He will guide us going forward, as He has done faithfully in the past.

Comments

We Are Family said…
As I read this I am amazed and comforted. I can identify with this on so many different levels. Many Blessings! I cannot wait to read more :)

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