Bringing Home Meili Grace
Donation protected
We are two ordinary people seeking to raise money to bring home our daughter. We don’t yet know her, but our love for her burns constantly in our hearts!
Our adoption journey actually began while we were in high school! At age 17, I (Melissa) began having ovarian pain which resulted in surgery. I can still remember KC coming over to help me recover by walking with me to the mailbox and back again (always supportive)! During all of this, the doctor started saying things that I couldn’t fully process during that stage of life. She said things like, “You may want to freeze some eggs,” and “You will need a hysterectomy as soon as you have kids…if you even can.” As any teenager would, I dismissed these cautions without a second thought. As KC and I began dating seriously in college, I needed another surgery for a serious case of endometriosis. This time, the doctor’s warnings seemed a little more real. A strict shot regimen, along with hormone replacement pills, became an unpleasant part of my routine. By now, we knew we would spend our lives together and conversations of marriage and kids became a regularl part of date nights. We convinced ourselves that I couldn’t have biological children.
My eyes became opened to friends and coworkers all around me walking the difficult path of infertility while bearing the weight of what they thought were unanswered prayers. Hindsight now uncovers how their stories have brought glory to our Almighty Father who holds us so gently in His mighty hands. Our hearts began to turn toward orphans as we prayed, researched, and educated ourselves. By this point, KC and I had been married for about a year and a half and began to pray about how God would bring a baby into our home. We decided that we would try for a biological child for one year only, and if unsuccessful, would begin our adoption journey. One month later the test was positive! We had prayed for God to speak clearly, and He certainly had. Those of you that know our sweet Landon know what a blessing she is to our lives, and we can’t begin to imagine the story of our lives unfolding without her in it. She is going to be absolutely the best big sister imaginable!
But she was not to be the bookend to our little family. Once again three years later, the pains began. This time it was decided that a hysterectomy would be the best course of action. I remember the comments we got from family, friends, and strangers, “You are too young,” or “Don’t you want to have more kids?” In the midst of the short time between my initial appointment and surgery, I spent a good deal of time praying and reading God’s word. A certain word kept popping out at me - peace. It was in every verse I read, every song I sang, and every prayer I prayed! We never doubted our decision and knew that this would not stop our family from growing. He laid on my heart his word in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
KC, Landon, and I began praying specifically for God to reveal to us His perfect timing, an agency, a country, and the Godly mentors we would need to bring home our next child. He came through once again. God has shown us unending grace and mercy by adopting us as His children, and we would consider it a blessing to mirror this image. In no way are we attempting to rescue this child the way our Father rescued us, rather we hope to connect with her through the story of adoption we all share. His word concerning adoption is clear in James 1:27; "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." We began talking to and reading about others who have adopted internationally and learned of the phenomenon of “gendercide.” The facts are staggering, breathtaking, and led us to take actual steps. We decided to focus our efforts on bringing home a girl from China. The theme of peace has continued throughout our time of decisions, paperwork, and waiting. We are confident in God’s promise in Isaiah 26: 3-4: “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, because they trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the everlasting Rock.”
This girl is loved beyond measure. We have chosen the name Meili Grace for our little angel. “Mei” means beauty, “Li” means strong, and “Grace” has endless significance. We crave your prayers through each step of this crazy journey and can’t wait to share our unfolding story with you. Kind words NEVER go unnoticed, and we have already been blessed beyond measure by so many. We pray that you are blessed because of your love, prayers, and support!
Our adoption journey actually began while we were in high school! At age 17, I (Melissa) began having ovarian pain which resulted in surgery. I can still remember KC coming over to help me recover by walking with me to the mailbox and back again (always supportive)! During all of this, the doctor started saying things that I couldn’t fully process during that stage of life. She said things like, “You may want to freeze some eggs,” and “You will need a hysterectomy as soon as you have kids…if you even can.” As any teenager would, I dismissed these cautions without a second thought. As KC and I began dating seriously in college, I needed another surgery for a serious case of endometriosis. This time, the doctor’s warnings seemed a little more real. A strict shot regimen, along with hormone replacement pills, became an unpleasant part of my routine. By now, we knew we would spend our lives together and conversations of marriage and kids became a regularl part of date nights. We convinced ourselves that I couldn’t have biological children.
My eyes became opened to friends and coworkers all around me walking the difficult path of infertility while bearing the weight of what they thought were unanswered prayers. Hindsight now uncovers how their stories have brought glory to our Almighty Father who holds us so gently in His mighty hands. Our hearts began to turn toward orphans as we prayed, researched, and educated ourselves. By this point, KC and I had been married for about a year and a half and began to pray about how God would bring a baby into our home. We decided that we would try for a biological child for one year only, and if unsuccessful, would begin our adoption journey. One month later the test was positive! We had prayed for God to speak clearly, and He certainly had. Those of you that know our sweet Landon know what a blessing she is to our lives, and we can’t begin to imagine the story of our lives unfolding without her in it. She is going to be absolutely the best big sister imaginable!
But she was not to be the bookend to our little family. Once again three years later, the pains began. This time it was decided that a hysterectomy would be the best course of action. I remember the comments we got from family, friends, and strangers, “You are too young,” or “Don’t you want to have more kids?” In the midst of the short time between my initial appointment and surgery, I spent a good deal of time praying and reading God’s word. A certain word kept popping out at me - peace. It was in every verse I read, every song I sang, and every prayer I prayed! We never doubted our decision and knew that this would not stop our family from growing. He laid on my heart his word in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
KC, Landon, and I began praying specifically for God to reveal to us His perfect timing, an agency, a country, and the Godly mentors we would need to bring home our next child. He came through once again. God has shown us unending grace and mercy by adopting us as His children, and we would consider it a blessing to mirror this image. In no way are we attempting to rescue this child the way our Father rescued us, rather we hope to connect with her through the story of adoption we all share. His word concerning adoption is clear in James 1:27; "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." We began talking to and reading about others who have adopted internationally and learned of the phenomenon of “gendercide.” The facts are staggering, breathtaking, and led us to take actual steps. We decided to focus our efforts on bringing home a girl from China. The theme of peace has continued throughout our time of decisions, paperwork, and waiting. We are confident in God’s promise in Isaiah 26: 3-4: “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, because they trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the everlasting Rock.”
This girl is loved beyond measure. We have chosen the name Meili Grace for our little angel. “Mei” means beauty, “Li” means strong, and “Grace” has endless significance. We crave your prayers through each step of this crazy journey and can’t wait to share our unfolding story with you. Kind words NEVER go unnoticed, and we have already been blessed beyond measure by so many. We pray that you are blessed because of your love, prayers, and support!
Organizer
Melissa Kuriger Dodder
Organizer
Madison, MS