Our trip to Hawaii (almost)

On our 25th wedding anniversary, Tom and I had decided to be brave and fly to Hawaii, though neither of us like flying, especially over the ocean.

Our plans began to grow. We saved our money. When was the best time to go? When was the weather good there? What to take?

But then something happened with our plans. We received a telephone call that changed our lives. Would we be interested in adopting again? Yes, was my answer. Tom was a little more cautious, saying things like, “We’re too old.” I never thought our family was complete, and when we were asked about this adoption, I knew in my heart that we were to do this.

I told Tom it was up to him, and I would go along with his decision. Scripture says, “Children are a blessing and not a curse.” We put into them what God has put into us. From then on, it becomes the choices they make in their own lives.

We didn’t go to Hawaii. Our dearest missionary friends had taken care of a family of 13 children in Bogota, Columbia, and these children had lost both of their parents to sickness. Out of these 13 children, twin baby girls were adopted by dear friends in our church. We watched these girls grow up to be beautiful young women of God.

During this time, their siblings were being adopted out into the United States, and one of the younger sisters to the twin girls was adopted in Washington state. The call said, “She was pregnant and could not keep the baby and while pregnant started looking for friends of her twin sisters’ parents.” Those friends were us.

God blessed us with our third son. We adopted him when he was two days old. Our son has grown up with his biological aunts, who love him dearly.

It is great to see how God works in our lives.

Jeanne Goetz writes occasional inspirational articles for The Odessa Record. Her late husband, Tom Goetz, was a pastor.