HAILEY for the Westbrook family — CO
The Westbrook clan consists of Mark and Kirsten and their 9 children. Mark and Kirsten each brought a son into their marriage, Roy (23) and Jordan (21). Soon, their 3rd son, Samuel (12) was born. After that, they began the process to adopt from China. The seeds of adoption had been planted early in Kirsten’s life and she always knew she wanted to adopt a little girl from China or Taiwan. (Her 2 oldest sisters were adopted from Taiwan in the early 60’s). They had completed their home study and had begun the dossier when they found out they were pregnant again. They were disappointed to have to put the adoption on hold, but were very excited to welcome their 4th son, Mark Daniel (10). After that, circumstances (mostly financial, but later realized that it just wasn’t God’s timing) prevented them from pursuing the adoption from China again. They felt like they had to give up the dream and that they probably would never be able to adopt a little girl from China.
They still wanted to adopt, so they became foster parents and continued that for the next 8 years. They were blessed to adopt their 5th and 6th sons, Dillon (8) and Justin (4) through the foster care system in 2005 and 2009. Also in 2009, they were surprised to find out they were pregnant with their first daughter, a beautiful baby girl who turned out to be blessed with an extra chromosome. Between the love they had for her and their heart for adoption, they soon discovered Reece’s Rainbow. Their eyes were opened to God’s heart for orphans, and especially the many children who are born with Down syndrome in other countries. They began the process to adopt 2 beautiful little girls from Eastern Europe, something they thought they would never get to do. In October, 2010, they brought home their 2 new daughters, Anna and Victoria, with the wonderful help of the Reece’s Rainbow team.
Two months after bringing the girls home, around Christmas time, they first saw Hailey’s picture. There was a definite tugging at their hearts, but they did not feel they could adopt again so soon after their recent adoption. They prayed for her to find a family quickly. Months passed and in June, they saw that Hailey had a new picture on RR. That grabbed their attention (or rather, God did) and they began to pray for her as a family. God started speaking to their hearts constantly and finally they decided to research it. If they didn’t meet the requirements for adopting from China, then they would know it wasn’t supposed to happen. Many doors started opening and instead of thinking “there’s no way we can adopt her”, they began thinking “there’s no way we can NOT adopt her”. God had definitely been working in this situation and the family is so excited to officially be in the process to adopt little Miss Hailey! God is so good!!! He is giving them back their dream of adopting a little girl from China….11 years later. That’s how AWESOME God is!!! And being able to go back to the culture near where Kirsten’s sisters are from, make this adoption extra special for the family!
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
5/19/12—USCIS APPROVED
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at www.bringinghomeourgirls.blogspot.com
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