May 12, 2011-Crystal

I knew something was wrong. After a very invasive surgery in Cali. to repair and clear endometriosis my specialist said "good luck, you should be expecting in months." That was 2 years ago this November. It is hard when you are faced with infertility and seeking God's direction and no answers. The feeling of guilt of not being content has been something God was working on me about. I thank God each day for Austin but inside wanted more children. 2 years ago I began to pray that if it was not meant to be that God would just take the desire away. "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37:4
However the more I prayed the more I clung to the fact that God does want to give us our desires and bless. He started showing me that things can't be my timing but His. Also I felt that I just needed answers as what was the problem. I had tried every home test, natural meds, drank weird things, and more.
On May 12 it was time. Kevin and I drove down to Fredrick, Md for testing. I had that awful feeling I knew what was the result. Kevin was so encouraging that if we found that we could not get pregnant, God had a cooler way of building our family. As I laid there having dye put through me I could see the screen showing it not going anywhere. As the doctor looked at me with sad eyes I knew-my tubes were no good. I really believe that God spoke to me then confirming he had great plans! The shock on the nurses faces as I got up and comforted them that it was ok, "God has a cooler way of building my family" I will never forget. I got to talk about how God changes lives, how He is the writer of my story, and how God has a plan.
I would like to say I had all the faith I needed. I walked out to Kevin and described what had happened and then we both got silent. Drove to Starbucks and then burst into tears asking God what next. I felt like maybe I had done something wrong that God would not let me carry another baby. I had lots of questions with no answers. God never said he would tell us the plan but that He would walk through it with us, one step at a time. So now we are getting ready to take the next step with Him guiding us as we go. Through this I have held on that God just might have hand picked me and said "yes, she will mother this child that needs a family." How awesome to think that possibly God has bigger plans for me as a mother! I am excited to meet the child or children that God has for our family!

First thoughts- By Kevin

So if you're going to understand why we are heading toward adoption you need to know where we've come. To those of you who know us well, you know how much we love Austin. He's amazing, in fact I tell him that and make him tell me that he's amazing too. It's pretty cute hearing him as he's sitting in his car seat say, "Dad, I'm amazing". I want him to know that because I believe that God did make him amazing and he needs to have that confidence.

Our memories of Austin's arrival is so vivid. Even though that was over 4 years ago, we can still remember all the details of when he was born and when we found out. I remember one specific day, we were missionaries traveling to raise our funding and were back in Kansas for a few weeks between meetings. I was spending my days doing some construction work with a friend and I got the phone call. She was so excited to tell me that she thought she might be pregnant. I, typical guy, was excited, but also freaked out. Days later we found out that yet again, it was false and these negative tests would come again and again and again. Thankfully God had greater plans. Four years we prayed for Austin to come, now four years after he arrived we are back to the place we started at. Knowing that God wants us to have more children but having no way to get there is so frustrating and discouraging, but I always tell Crystal, If God wants us to have more kids, he just has a cooler way of getting them to us. I believe that with all my heart. Somewhere out there is a little boy or girl that was born to be in our family and I can't wait to meet them.

Story of first miracle-told by Crystal

Austin Tyler Elworth: born June 30, 2007.
Kevin and I began to pray for a child a year after we married. Like most couples we had a plan. Stop the pill and a few months later=pregnant. 4 years later still praying. We were heart broken. I read the story of Hannah so many times begging God to bless us. Kevin and I had a little pair of white baby shoes we would look at and pray that God would fill those tiny little shoes. In August of 2006 I began to have pain in my abdomen and in Oct. I went in to have my first of many surgeries. Verdict-Endometriosis and ovarian cysts. That Dec. while traveling on the road for missions I began to get car sick and extremely tired. I didn't even let myself think I could be pregnant, we should have bought stock in pregnancy tests as often as I took them. We arrived back in Wichita, KS at Kevin's family home. As soon as we arrived I scheduled another ultrasound to confirm a large cyst. I can remember that very cold Dec. morning as Kevin and I went into the obgyn office preparing for news of possible surgery. Dr. did an exam and then sent me to do an ultrasound. As I laid there I couldn't help but hope that a little peanut would show. To our surprise the dr. looked at us and said "there is your baby." Kevin and I looked at each other in shock and asked for a blood test to confirm. We returned to the house trying not to get excited but couldn't help it. 2 hours later it was confirmed-We were expecting!
Now 4 years later we have a sweet, energetic, and loving Austin Tyler!