finding Clayton [3]

our story about finding our child. he happened

to be born on the other side of the world:

finding Clayton [1]

finding Clayton [2]

i had such peace after prayer and telling matt about the meeting i had with the director. 

i did not know what the outcome would be, but i knew it would be the perfect path for our 

family. our "plan" was to continue to pray, ask the director to be able to take pictures of 

"D" to send to matt, and possibly, if none of that felt right STILL, 

meet with the director....again.

they like you to get permission to take pictures. this is the children's home and they 

shouldn't be photographed constantly. i will say that most people there do not get permission. 

they hide their cameras and take them out briefly when they want a picture. i'm not judging 

them for this, i'm just making a point that i just felt so compelled to ask permission. the office 

staff said the director was no longer there, but when i walked out, i saw her having lunch in 

one of the outdoor huts with some staff.

i excused myself for interrupting and told her what i wanted to do. she said, "no. don't you think

that is just going to confuse you more? here is your son walking up behind you." i turned 

around to find that "D" was coming to grab onto my leg. he must have spotted me and wandered 

all the way over.

the director began to tell her staff that i was refusing to realize this was our son and basically 

laugh at me. one of the women looked me right in my eyes and compassionately said, 

"what, Love? why do you not realize? who is it that is in your heart?"

my eyes filled with tears. i replied, "in my heart? E." 

she glanced at the director and looked back at me. she said, "trust me, we will pray about this." 

it felt like this was just the situation we had prayed for....for the director to SEE my intense 

love for "E." the director granted me permission to send "D's" picture to my husband.

i sent pictures and my husband & i both felt that we still weren't led to pursue 

adoption of "D" at this time. i was fully committed to love on him during the time we 

had together. and i have prayed every.single.day for his forever family to come quickly.

so, against everything that is my nature, i went back to meet with the director. i told her 

how my husband and i have prayed, how i have spent time with the children, and how i 

love "E" with my whole heart. with absolutely no disrespect to his birth mother, i feel like 

i could have given birth to him. the love was that real, intense, deep, unwavering. a mother's 

love. i told her that we were willing to wait for "E" to be cleared for adoption. 

and she said....."okay."

after every "no", after every "it is never going to happen." and
after every time of trying to tell me who our son was......
she simply said, "okay."

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

You see, the little boy I immediately feel in love with? The name they gave that 

little boy upon his arrival to the babies home was Elijah..."E." The name we will give 

him in honor of his paternal great-grandfather is Clayton.

Our Clayton Elijah:

i will catch clayton's story up to current tomorrow.

i will share where our adoption stands right now and

a truly amazing moment that God gave me

to tangibly let me know that this is indeed our son!

thank you for your support as we walk this blessed journey. thank you.