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An Unexpected, Full Quiver – Katie’s Story

November 16, 2014

I’ve always wanted a big family. Okay, well, originally I thought that meant four kids. When I was in high school I felt God distinctly tell me that He would call me to adopt someday. Those feelings were solidified when I met my husband, Tim, and he felt the same way too. After we married, we said that we would have four or five kids, but joked that we would have ten or twelve. Our first, a daughter, was born in 2007 and I just loved being pregnant. I knew then that I could happily carry and birth four or five more, if God allowed. We named her Selah, which means to “pause” or “meditate,” and I adored being able to do just that as a mother to my little girl.

What I never anticipated was having trouble conceiving or sustaining pregnancies after Selah. We began trying for our second little angel the year after she was born, but instead, had three back-to-back miscarriages over the next year. By the time Selah was three years-old and all the rest of my mommy friends were pregnant with or already having their second and third babies, I began to despair, thinking that our hopes and dreams of having a large family were quickly dwindling.

We tried fertility treatments next and it was at this time that Tim and I also began to seriously consider adoption. We researched the costs, different agencies and countries to adopt from. I became so certain that adoption would probably be where the rest of our children would come from that I was surprised when we found out at the end of 2009 that the fertility treatments had worked and we were expecting a healthy baby boy. Elijah, meaning “The Lord is the one, true God,” joined our family in May of 2010 and I was overjoyed to have another sweet little one in my arms.

After Elijah was born, we looked into adoption again, but decided that we needed to wait for more consistent finances. I took the next year to enjoy motherhood and it wasn’t until the middle of 2011 that we felt confident in beginning the process of adoption when Tim’s job was more secure. We had just signed the official adoption paperwork, requesting to adopt a sibling group from Ethiopia, when we were surprised to find out we were expecting, AGAIN, this time without the help of fertility treatments! In April of 2012, we welcomed Isaac, which means “laughter” because of the huge surprise he gave us.

We knew we still wanted those two African children, though, whoever they would be, and we eagerly looked forward to word from our agency and dreamed of whom they would match us with. Selah hoped for a younger sister to play with and Tim and I tossed around what Old Testament names we would use once we got the news. But time seemed to drag on and with each passing week without word from our agency, we grew anxious. Finally, in January of 2013, just nine months after our surprise Isaac was born, we were matched with twin boys only five months younger than him. They were born in Harar, Ethiopia the previous September and then moved to an orphanage in Addis, Ethiopia.

In April, we flew to Addis and spent ten days meeting and holding our sweet, new additions to the family, touring the country and even taking a bus to visit Harar, 500 kilometers away from the boys’ new orphanage. By July, at ten months old, they were legally ours and we flew back to Addis and brought home Moses and Zechariah, which mean “drawn out” and “God has remembered.”Evans

For years, we had prepared ourselves from agency classes, social worker visits and numerous books and resources that the biggest struggle of international adoption would be teaching these children how to bond with us as parents and siblings. However, their connection with all of us was as instant as if I had carried and born them myself.  Instead, it seemed to us that the biggest adjustment to adopting twins less than one years-old was that because Isaac was only five months older, we essentially have triplets. And since the twins were adjusting to a new home, new parents and a new routine than they were used to in their orphanage, it was much like having newborns again. They were up every three hours at night, often on opposite schedules. And once they started crawling and walking, along with Isaac, life only got crazier! Thankfully, our older two, Selah and Elijah, now 7 and 4 have been wonderful, big helpers and we have had many, many dear friends and family step in to help as well.

But, God wasn’t done with our family yet, nor His miraculous, surprising ways. Just when I was beginning to adjust to having four rambunctious and destructive boys, 3 of them under two years-old, we had another surprise pregnancy in January of 2014. We found out that we were expecting TWINS a month later and a few weeks after that, the ultrasound showed that they were BOTH boys. I grieved this news for a short time, but God continued to bring me new mercies each morning.

Katie TwinsOur precious new set of twins arrived via caesarian section on September 14, 2014. Noah Robert and Josiah Paul, our smallest babies yet, weighed in at 7 and 5 pounds, respectively. Their arrival meant that as an entire family we could no longer fit in our eight passenger minivan and we are bursting at the seams in our 3 bedroom, 1 bath 1200 square foot home. However, this past summer, God provided Tim with a significant and long prayed-for promotion at work, which allowed us to get approved for a loan on a new, 2015 Ford Transit nine-passenger van. He has also blessed us with a large community of family, friends and even strangers who want to help us with meals, housecleaning, childcare as well as the remodeling to expand our small house to accommodate our large family!

We are amazed at God’s gift of seven children in seven years, and it has opened our eyes to become aware of our need for Jesus, family, friends and our church to help us. He has blessed us with the chance to experience and embrace the most beautiful picture of community and the powerful testimony of His provision as we open the doors of our lives, hearts and home to experience His grace, “do life” together, and raise this pack of children with the help and love of a multitude of others. And while I cannot even remember what life was like just seven years ago with only one baby girl, God’s grace and goodness has been abundant, and we continue to trust that He will provide for all our needs.

~~~~~

In 2014 Tim and Katie Evans received help to expand their small home and purchase a van large enough for their family. God has blessed this sweet family, and they continue to open their home and lives to anyone who has need.

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20 Comments Filed Under: Adoption, Adoption Month, Infertility, Miscarriage Tagged With: adoption, children, Christian, church, donate, Ethiopia, evans project, Family, fertility treatment, friend, fundraiser, God, helping family in need, Home, infertility, international adoption, love, marriage, miscarriage, mom, moms of many, mother, motherhood, mothering, multiples, National Adoption Awareness month, national adoption month, Parent, perseverance, sahm, sibling group, stay at home mom, story, surprise pregnancy, triplets, twins, woman

Comments

  1. Kim says

    November 16, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    Doesn’t God have a wonderful sense of humor sometimes? You have been blessed in many ways, and your children are blessed to have you as their parents! May HE continue to bless you and keep you! Found you on Mommy Moments Link up.
    http://musingsofamommabear.blogspot.com

    Reply
  2. Barbie says

    November 16, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    Oh wow, I loved reading your story of how God has given you your children. What a blessing!

    Reply
  3. passagethroughgrace says

    November 17, 2014 at 2:44 am

    What a beautiful and amazing story! God knows what he’s doing even if it ends up being in the form of surprises along the way! Thankful you linked up to The Weekend Brew.

    Reply
  4. Jenny Jones says

    November 17, 2014 at 6:30 am

    What a great post! God’s amazing grace and generosity cannot be outdone or sometimes even understood–His ways are mysterious!

    Reply
  5. Sarah Poppy says

    November 17, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    What an amazing story. I love that you have a great community of people supporting you – it’s true that it takes a village to raise a child. Thanks for linking up with Mummy Mondays. #TeamMM

    Reply
  6. itallmattersmom says

    November 17, 2014 at 6:54 pm

    I so loved your story and love how God’s plans always are better than are own, even when we have to go through valleys!
    Erin
    http://www.itallmattersmom.com

    Reply
  7. Helene says

    November 18, 2014 at 6:10 am

    May God bless you through these little years with their messes, the middle years with their pleasures, and the teen years with their strivings!

    Reply
  8. quiverfullquilts says

    November 18, 2014 at 8:56 am

    Oh Katie..what an amazing life God has blessed you with. Love the way He works.

    Reply
  9. Candle in the Night says

    November 18, 2014 at 2:18 pm

    Wow! Look at all those blessings!! Thanks for sharing your story!

    Reply
  10. Beth Hess says

    November 18, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    What a beautiful story. I love how your site reminds us that ALL mothers have blessed stories — even the hard and unexpected ones. Thank you for linking at Unforced Rhythms.

    Reply
  11. welcomesue says

    November 18, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    wonderful, wonderful – and you look great!! so sweet and abundant! thanks for linking up at welcomeheart – 7 kids truly welcomed!

    Reply
  12. Kelly says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    This is so inspirational! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Hazel Moon says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    What a lovely family and such a blessing! Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.

    Reply
  14. Karrilee Aggett says

    November 19, 2014 at 1:43 pm

    Wow… I love how God has been the one in charge of giving you this family in his timing and his creative ways! We know it’s Him – the giver of life, but we can think we have it all planned out and under control! Praying for you for grace and wisdom and love (and naps… yes, Lord… let there be naps!)

    Reply
  15. nmburk says

    November 20, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Oh my goodness! 🙂 I have three boys and I get comments all the time when we are out and about. I can’t imagine what people must say to you with that brood of boys. (I grew up the only girl and oldest in my family, so I know how your daughter feels) 🙂 Thanks for sharing your blessings with us!

    Reply
  16. Misty B says

    November 20, 2014 at 6:00 pm

    What a beautiful story!

    Reply
  17. tnjcupido says

    November 24, 2014 at 5:34 am

    Wow so blessed by your story. Such a beautiful blessing! I’m sure your life is full on but God has amazing plans for you and all your children. Thanks for sharing. Xx

    Reply
  18. Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says

    November 27, 2014 at 11:56 am

    What a beautiful, victorious story of an amazing family. I love the meaningful names of all your children too.

    Bless you for sharing (and thank you for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).

    Wishing you a lovely weekend.
    xoxo

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Capture Your Journey Link Up - Joy Dare Blog says:
    November 25, 2014 at 10:17 am

    […] 2. An Unexpected, Full Quiver – Katie’s Story […]

    Reply
  2. Countown to Christmas Giveaway: Creating Wonder and Magic for a Child Through Traditions | Made to Mother says:
    November 30, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    […] Finally, as we buy the food for our holiday menu and wrap our many gifts, I like to remind our children that there are so many others out there that are not as fortunate as we are. We think of ways as a family that we can help those in need and perhaps make the season a little brighter for a few others. Some of the ideas we have come up with include visiting a soup kitchen or holiday pantry and donating food and our time to pass it out. Our kids have their own “Boxing Day,” where we choose at least as many toys or items that we got as gifts and donate them to a charitable second hand store or give to others. Lastly, and one of the most impactful has been participating in Giving Trees or Adopt-A-Family, of which this year, we have chosen The Evans Family. […]

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Wynter. Wife to Jonathan and mama to Chloe, Adaya and Liam. I am a writer, artist, MarCom professional, freelance editor, and an avid gardener, TV lover and chocolate-covered cherries addict. Come back here each week for new, powerful stories of motherhood from real moms across the mother spectrum. Read More…

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