My Melody from China

Monday, September 12, 2011

The second snippet of our story:

So, after seeing her birthday and reviewing her file we called the agency and said we would like to adopt her. (Please note when I say “agency” I mean one of their wonderful advocates, Stacy, who has the biggest heart for orphans that I have ever met. Please check out her blogs.

( http://blog.lovingthefatherless.com/ - http://mycupoverfloweth.blogspot.com )

When I called Stacy, she gave me the unbelievable news that Melody was no longer on the shared list!! That meant that another family had locked her file and was considering adopting her. The family had 72 hours to say yes or no. This phone call took place on a Friday. Basically the family had until Sunday to decide. If they decided to adopt her then Melody’s name would no longer show up on that shared list but if they declined her file then her name would show up on the shared list on Sunday. So the wait began. That evening I started thinking about the Veggie Tales Esther story and mostly about the theme song, “the battle is not ours”. That song kept playing over and over in my mind. I would sing it out loud and you all know that I’m not the singer in the family. (We usually leave that to Amador.) but even still I kept blessing my family with a joyful noise baby!! Elijah and Angelina were like “mommy, I’m tired of hearing that song.” We went to church that Saturday night and we had a guest speaker (JOEL HOLM!) His entire message was on the book of Esther!!! I know!! He spoke about how God works behind the scenes of our lives. God is the Hero of our story. Needless to say I was bawling.

( http://www.facebook.com/HOPEAPP )

AMAZING! So, then comes Sunday….I was checking my email and my phone like crazy! Finally at about 5 or so in the evening, Stacy calls and says “SHES YOURS!”

God is amazing!

Then like every other good southern Californian family, we went out to IN N OUT to celebrate!!!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Big A, Little A! What begins with "A"? Amador And Alexis Alvarez Are Adopting!

A snippet of how our story started....

February 22nd will be a day that forever changed the Alvarez Family. It was on this day that we first received the email with a picture of our Chinese daughter. Prior to this, month after month I would receive emails from an adoption agency which was trying to find homes for orphaned children. Each time, I would open the email, say a little prayer for the “featured” child to find their forever family and then close the email. But this email was different…this child was different….she was our child. I opened the email and fell in love with a little girl with a smile as big as could be and wearing a pink striped dress that on first glance I thought belonged to our little Angelina. She was beautiful. I contacted the agency for her information and when I opened her file and saw her birthday- I knew she was our daughter.

Why was her birthday so important? Well, let me back up to about five days or so. As many of you may know we’ve had it on our hearts to adopt. I remember it clearly; it was Friday, February 18^th (Whittier time). I believe the Holy Spirit urged me to pray for our daughter in China. So, I closed myself up in our studio and I just lifted her up in prayer not knowing anything about her. So…then fast forward to Feb. 22^nd when I see this little girl’s picture. When I noted her birthday I was humbled and excited and amazed because her birthday is Feb.19^th. Indeed, I was praying for our daughter on her birthday. Feb.18^th, Whittier Time was Feb. 19^th, Shanghai time!! Our daughter was born in our hearts on her very birthday!

Here is that first picture of Melody

Now that it has been about 6 months down this adoption road and we are amazed at how far God has brought us.

Melody's Heart Quilts

Melody's Heart Quilts is now opened for fundraising!

Melody's Grandma is an AMAZING quilter. She has graciously donated 3 quilts (so far) to be sold in hopes of raising funds for our adoption. Thanks Granny! You are awesome.

Starry Origami is pastel and pretty!