I Dreamed You Into Life

By John and Laurel Wanner

March was the month our dream of becoming a family began.  A friend from work was compelled to take a flyer from her church and bring it to me, and it announced an informational meeting from WORLDWIDE.

My husband and I had experienced the similar situations of other childless couples—fertility drugs, insemination at the doctor’s office, exploring adoption options, and becoming foster parents.  We had almost given up our dream of becoming parents, as every road seemed to end. We decided to go to this information meeting without any expectations.  We had heard about the costs of international adoption, and didn’t believe we could afford it.  We listened to Peggy’s presentation and left with a newsletter of parent stories, and again hoped this could happen to us.

Before my husband and I could talk about the meeting, someone from WORLDWIDE called him and said she had a baby girl in Guatemala who needed a home.  John and I talked and prayed all night and the next day; I called WORLDWIDE to ask some questions.  She needed an answer so she could check with other couples, and I found myself saying yes, we want her!  My emotions were going crazy—excitement, joy, fear, and panic, but I felt a deep peace that this was the right answer.

We began tackling the unbelievable amount of paperwork and notary visits.  We also asked our church to help with fund-raising, and they eventually helped us raise $6,000.  Somehow—through prayers—everytime we needed to send money, we had it to send.  As August approached, we were told it would be another month or two before all the Guatemalan process would be done.

Between August and December, was the most difficult and emotional time for us.  It was hard to think of anything else but our daughter, and the fact that she was continuing to age and grow without us.  In November, we had to experience many date changes and even had made airline reservations, and got another call that she wasn’t ready yet.  I can’t even put into words the agony that this created in us.  Our daughter’s birthday was fast approaching, and I had decided months before that I had to be with her on her first birthday—we had already missed so much with her!  We finally decided she was close enough to being ready, that we would rather wait with her in Guatemala, than without her up here.  We ended up flying down on her birthday, December 4th, but arrived too late that night to get her.  We were set to have her brought to us the next morning, and got up early and waited.  Finally, the lawyer arrived, and told us we were to go with him to pick her up.  I was so glad I could see where she had been, and meet her foster family.

They were gracious to us, and served us lunch, and shared mementos of her first year, including pictures that I treasure!  It was obvious how much they loved her!  When it was time to leave with her, there were many tears and hugs!

We were amazed by our daughter—although she was not interested in us at all!  She resisted us, and did not want to leave with us, but within a day we felt she was adjusting well.  We were able to spend a few days just being with her at our hotel, in a beautiful garden that was peaceful and healing!  We successfully went through the embassy visit and finally met other Americans, and ventured out to town to buy mementos.

We left the next day; five days after we arrived, and while in line at the airport, the foster family showed up to say good-bye again!  I was so afraid our daughter would have to go through separation all over again but she stayed with us and never made an attempt to go to them.  I really felt a bond growing at that moment, and for the first time we had her, she jumped off our laps and took my finger and began walking! We discovered our little girl loved adventures and is always ready for another one!

Since our return home, our daughter, Alita has made an incredible adjustment, and is signing to us what she wants, and obviously understands us.  She has already met family in Florida, been to the beach, and been in a snowstorm!

We have a group that meets in our hometown of other families who have adopted so we can keep connected to others who have walked down this road.

A few weeks before we left for Guatemala, I heard a song, on the radio that said what was in my heart— “ I knew and loved you before I met you; I think I dreamed you into life.  I knew and loved you before I met you; I have been waiting all my life!” Amazingly, this song played in our hotel lobby as we were waiting to go pick her up—and Alita and I dance to it frequently, now.  I believe she’s beginning to understand more and more what a miracle she is to us!

Thank you WORLDWIDE staff for being a vehicle to bring our angel home to us!  

WORLDWIDE Adoption Services, Inc

101 Builders Court, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29316
Phone 864-814-1336    Fax 864-814-1340