Adoption Talk with Joy and Leslie
She sent me an email asking if I was, “free for lunch Friday?“.
She went on to say that she and gal by the name of Leslie were meeting at 11 o’clock, and that I was invited too.
The email was from Joy, who I had first “met” when she appeared on an episode of “Designers Challenge” on HGTV back in 2008, and then had the pleasure of meeting in person later that same year. I’ll never forget the day she brought her newly-adopted Ethiopian daughters into the photography studio I was working at at the time.
By the end of her email, I learned that Leslie and her husband (a student minister at a local church) are adopting from the Congo sometime this year, and that Joy thought it would be a good opportunity for me to meet someone else traveling a similar path.
Well, the thought of getting out of the house for a couple of hours to have lunch and “talk adoption” sounded amazing, so I immediately wrote her back and said “YES, YES,YES! Just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there with bells on!“
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The restaurant we met at was dimly-lit, and had a masculine feel to it. Joy and Leslie shared a booth upholstered in red & black plaid, and I sat across from them in a dark brown leather chair, complete with sturdy wooden arms and shiny nailhead trim. We were the only ones there. Perfect. (I’m all about eating at restaurants before the rush, grocery shopping after the rush, and seeing movies at noon during the week!)
We placed our drink orders, then our food orders, (chicken salad sandwich and kettle-cooked potato chips- mmmm!), and then dove straight into “adoption talk”.
Joy shared stories about her Emme and Zoe from Ethiopia, and since that’s where Kev and I hope to adopt from this first time around, I clung to her every word.
When I met Zoe three years ago, she didn’t speak much English. But I tell ya what- she had “hello, yes ma’am, and thank you” down pat. Such a polite little girl!
Her biological mother passed away during childbirth, and for the first few years of her life, she shared a small mud hut with her father and grandmother. The only water they had access to was also used by cattle as a bathtub. I can only imagine what kinds of things were living in that water. When both her biological father and grandmother died, Zoe was taken to an orphanage by a caring neighbor.
Zoe is 12 years old today, and Joy said that she, and Emme, are both super bright & bubbly kids! Zoe is doing great in school, and is passionate about helping bring awareness to the worlds clean water crisis, and Emme will start Kindergarten next Fall.
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Joy told us about adopting Samuel from China, too. He had to undergo some major surgeries (cleft lip and palate, and a single ventricle heart) but he’s doing great these days, and will celebrate his 9th birthday in March!
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She told us about Eli’s challenging domestic adoption as we walked to pick him up from the daycare center.
Sounds like it was quite an ordeal, but everything worked out in the end. (Yay!) He turned one last year, and my friends at the photography studio I mentioned above put together the cutest video of him (and Joy, and birthday cake!)…
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Joy and her husband recently became foster parents too. They’re lovin’ on the little fella in the car seat below right now…
He’s 18 weeks old. Life has been really tough for this little guy so far. It was extremely hard for me to even comprehend how someone so young could go through all the things he’s had to go through in just 9 months, and 18 weeks. I’m so glad he has a safe place to call home now, and that the Portis family loves him the way he deserves to be loved!
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Joy has been such an inspiration to me over the past few years, and it’s so nice to know she’s just right around the corner (in Montgomery) if we have any questions or need emotional support throughout the adoption process. And, thanks to Joy, now we’ve got the lovely Miss Leslie to bond with too! I look forward to getting to know her more over the coming months, and Kev and I will definitely be praying for her and her hubby as they travel to the Congo later this year.
(Joy, me, and Leslie)
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If you’d like to visit Joy’s blog, you can find it HERE!
(Joy’s family)
And if you’d like to visit Leslie’s blog, you can find it HERE!
(Leslie, Brian & Knox)
PS-
Check out the cute necklace my friend Christine sent me…
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Leave a Reply
57 Responses to Adoption Talk with Joy and Leslie
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kelly says:
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Mimi says:
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Sherri Langford-Farrell says:
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Ricki Jill Treleaven says:
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Vanessa@Decor Happy says:
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Jenny B. says:Jan 16, 2011 at 7:55 pm
What a wonderful connection! Seeing the picture of Joy and Zoe gave me goosebumps because I think their faces look very similar. I recently thought the same thing about a dad at our church and his new little boy from Korea. I’m not saying all adopted kids look like their adoptive parents, but sometimes – even though they look very different in some ways – they seem to have a family resemblance.
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Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. says:Jan 16, 2011 at 9:24 pm
I’ll never forget the moment I walked into our local Starbucks to meet my first fellow adoptive mom-to-be. I found her adoption blog online and realized that we lived in the same city and were both adopting from Ethiopia and had started the process at similar times. It was so nice to meet someone who was going through the same process. We’re both still waiting (our adoption agency declared bankruptcy last year :S) but we’re so glad to have met. No-one “gets” adoption like other adoptive families, that’s for sure.
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Rachel says:
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Heidi says:Jan 17, 2011 at 6:35 am
Thank you for sharing this…and all those great, smiling pictures, so sweet!!! Just wondering, do you think Leslie has a FB? I would love to hear how her process is going and who she is working with (maybe we’ll be traveling there around the same time!)
[hugs]
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Alima says:Jan 17, 2011 at 7:22 am
I love that you are sharing your journey with us.
I found your blog because of home design, but my husband and I have always thought about adoption so I sort of feel like maybe I found your blog for other reasons too
And what a perfect gift from your friend. Even the name of the company is perfect for you! What a thoughtful friend! -
Jody says:
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Cynthia Hallum says:
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Jennifer says:Jan 17, 2011 at 11:56 am
Hi Layla,
What an exciting journey you are beginning! I knew I liked you when I first discovered your site through Hyacinth’s room project. We both love decorating and helping Hyacinth and now we both share a love for adoption. There truly is no other experience like it! Thank you for braving this journey and being willing to share it. I am convinced others will be inspired to do likewise through your testimony!
One word of wisdom…when your little one arrives – embrace the experience! Just 5 months ago a sweet 1 month old baby foster daughter was placed in my arms. It has made writing my weekly decorating email a challenge. Not that I don’t have things I want to say…I simply don’t have the time to sit down and write like I used to. Recently I let my readers know that I just couldn’t keep up the weekly pace. My baby is growing so fast. I wanted to experience her quickly changing life so for now I am not writing, at least not as much. Everyone has been so understanding. I just wanted to “give you permission” to do the same if it begins to feel like to much. They are only small a very short time.
So very excited for you!
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Shell says:
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Vanessa@Decor Happy says:
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Trudy says:
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nic says:
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Angela Bushatz says:
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Jami @ freckled laundry says:Jan 17, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Yep. Cried. Video’s fault. Thanks for sharing your sweet post.
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Rachel says:
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Design Love says:
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jennibell says:Jan 18, 2011 at 10:11 am
Here’s another family, another story you might want to read about. http://longingforafrica.blogspot.com/ There is a lot of good information and they too are passionate about adoption!!! Love that beautiful necklace. . .what adventures lay ahead for you and Kevin
Glad you have friends IRL to bond with as well as the support of the whole world wide web! -
Elizabeth says:
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Missy says:Jan 21, 2011 at 5:14 am
What a beautiful family she has! I can’t imagine what that poor little baby has gone through…it breaks my heart to think of all the kids/babies out there that are being mistreated! I just can’t imagine hurting a little one…oh my heart hurts just thinking about it!
Your lunch sounds like it was very informational (and fun too!…who doesn’t love girl talk and chicken salad!)
Hope you have a great week my dear!
love ya oodles
Missy -
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Emma says:Jan 30, 2013 at 11:30 am
Hi Layla,
Thoroughly enjoyed browsing thru your website & especially loved this post because Joy’s story is so inspirational (p.s. I’m from Ethiopia
. I am SO thankful for generous people like you & Joy & Leslie & many others who are taking in orphan or unwanted children. There is such poverty and such great need out there! I do hope you end up adopting from Ethiopia. I’ll keep checking back to see where you are at with the adoption.
Many, many blessings to you & your family.
Emma
Great post Layla! And you are so welcome. I hope the necklace brings you the pitter patter of little feet!