When God Says Wait: A Family Formed by Faith, Adoption, and Miracles.

Even before we married, Sue and I shared a deep love for children and a strong desire to raise a family. We both came from happy, traditional homes in the suburbs of Detroit and longed to recreate that joy in our own lives. Our shared passion for nurturing led us into education-related careers—and into years of longing, heartbreak, and ultimately, overwhelming joy.

But our journey to parenthood did not begin as we had hoped. After several years of trying to conceive, we were devastated to learn we faced infertility. We prayed fervently, asking God for clarity, healing, and children. Yet, month after month, year after year, the answer seemed to be silence.

I was undergoing fertility treatments by Dr. Robert Leach at Beaumont Hospital, but even with hormone injections, my sperm count remained extremely low. Still hopeful, another doctor suggested we try in vitro fertilization (IVF) using my sperm. We proceeded, only to be met with failure once again. It was a dark, discouraging time.

Eventually, we considered IVF with donor sperm. That decision brought its own spiritual struggle—was this God’s will or our compromise? Nevertheless, we proceeded. But even then, conception didn’t happen. We were told definitively by several specialists that neither of us would ever have biological children.

The heartbreak was immense. As Christians, the temptation was to feel abandoned by God. Had He turned His back on us? Had we given up on Him?

Still, through the haze of grief, our desire to parent remained. We turned to adoption, something we had always planned to pursue. Though the process was long, complicated, and expensive, our hearts were renewed when we prepared to bring home our daughter Heidi—a baby who had been abandoned in a basket on the steps of a church in Seoul, South Korea.

Heidi was a gift beyond measure. Her presence filled our home with laughter and purpose, and slowly, our sadness lifted. In 1979, we welcomed another daughter, Dena, also from Korea. Then, in 1983, a local social worker called us about a special-needs child in foster care. Denise came into our lives just days later, and her strength, resilience, and unique spirit brought us even more joy.

With three beautiful daughters, we considered our family complete. But God had something more in store.

In 1986—after 16 years of marriage and countless prayers—Sue became pregnant. Our son Zachary was born that year, a complete surprise, and an undeniable miracle. We were stunned, humbled, and overwhelmed with gratitude. Just 18 months later, another miracle arrived—Corey, our second son.

We went from heartbreak to a home bustling with life. Our daughters welcomed their brothers with love and grace, never once making us feel that our family was anything but whole. The presence of each child—whether by birth or adoption—was evidence of God’s hand in our lives.

And just when we thought the story was finished, God gave us a final reminder of His divine orchestration.

Five weeks after Corey’s birth, I scheduled a vasectomy—five children was a full house! As I walked into the clinic, I realized something astonishing: the procedure was being done in the very same building, on the same floor, where Dr. Leach had once treated me for infertility. Years before, it was there that I had given up hope. Now, I was there for a very different reason.

I entered Dr. Leach’s waiting room and asked to see him. When he emerged. I shared the news. He congratulated me, but pretty abruptly walked away.  I don’t know what he was thinking, but for me, the moment was clear. God had answered our prayers—not in our time, but in His. What medicine could not do; God had accomplished.

Looking back, I realize the real miracle wasn't just the birth of our sons. It was the journey itself. Without infertility, we might never have pursued adoption. We wouldn’t have the “miracles” of Heidi, Dena, or Denise—each uniquely placed in our family by God’s hand.

Today, we give thanks daily for the five children and now six grandchildren who fill our lives with love. Through seasons of waiting, sorrow, and joy, God never left our side. He answered our prayers in His perfect way, reminding us that no struggle is wasted and no prayers goes unheard.

We are living proof that God’s timing is perfect, and His blessings exceed anything we could imagine.