Ben & Mary Alexia’s Adoption

Let me introduce you to one of the most beautiful couples there is. These two have had so many ups and downs on their journey to becoming parents. Please read their story and give as your heart guides you...

Hey there! We’re the Howards, Ben and Mary Alexia. We’ve been loving each other for a little over a decade, and tied the knot six years ago, making it official!

Shortly after Ben and I married, God placed it on our hearts the desire to become parents. After a mission trip to Haiti serving at a small orphanage in the village of Croix des Bouquets, we felt God tugging at our heartstrings to pursue adoption. While sharing the gospel was our top priority, it was equally matched by the need and strong desire to love on the children who called the orphanage “home.” During this trip, our hearts were completely broken for these orphans, and God began to fuel His desire in us to adopt. Unfortunately, that desire came with an intimidating price tag, redirecting our family planning to a biological expansion until we felt the timing was right, and we could afford adoption.

We have had the joyous experience of learning we were going to be parents, not once or twice, but three separate times. God gave us the gift of three miracles whose feet never touched the ground, but who have touched so many lives. Through reasons unknown to us or our team of physicians and specialists, we have been faced with tragedy, which resulted in pregnancy loss each time. In less than a year, we have carried, loved, lost, and grieved our three babies. Each one has changed us, and made us stronger, braver, more selfless, and intensely yearning for eternity with them. Although we couldn’t give them the world, our three babies have given us everything. A complete dependence on our Heavenly Father, an understanding of our own resilience, the ability to be there for others who need to know they aren’t alone, and the reassurance that our marriage can get through the darkest of days. Our sorrow does not negate our love for the Lord. Our tears and sadness do not weaken our faith and trust in Him. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, and even when it is not the answer that we want. God is still good.

He is our friend. He is our comforter. He is our healer. He is our redeemer. He is our refuge. He is our strength. He is our joy. He is good, and His love endures forever.

We believe that the choice to pursue adoption is not so much a decision, but a calling from the Lord. We are no longer going to let fear dictate what God is fully capable of creating, and we know that He will make everything beautiful in His time. It is now that we begin this journey with hearts full of hope and faith that one day we will have a child whom we can love Earthside. We are confident that God is not only going to show up, but that He will show off his faithfulness and love for us through growing our family. He entrusted me to carry three precious miracles, and now Ben and I must trust Him to match us with ours.

Continue with them on their journey by following their blog at http://sustainedbytheshepherd.blogspot.com