“It’s in the genes” they say. Inheriting the same traits and physical attributes are extremely common. Kids look like a younger version of their parents, having the same athletic abilities or being as short as your mom or as tall as your dad. That’s not the case with this family.
Mat and Mandy were raised in Louisville, Kentucky. They met each other in their high school years and dated up until they decided to get married. Not long after, Mandy and Matt decided to move closer to her family in Owensboro, Kentucky. Being parents was always the goal for them but was a struggle. For seven years, it was disappointment after disappointment. In 2005, they finally heard of a woman who decided to put her baby up for adoption. This child was halfway around the world in Guatemala City. Two days after he was born, they found out about him. In tears and overjoyed, Matt and Mandy couldn’t wait to travel halfway around the world to get their future son. In July 2006, the couple brought the baby home back to their small town in Kentucky. The baby has been surrounded by a large extended family with more than 25 cousins and a small country church. While he is not biologically by blood, this kid is still treated as he is. The adoption agency in Guatemala closed less than two years later, which made Matt and Mandy feel even more blessed to have him in their arms.
As time goes on, so does his journey. In public settings, others would look at the family of three differently because of how they looked. The side eyes, the facial expressions and smirks could be seen and even felt. At school, the boy’s classmates and friends would ask questions about why he didn’t look like his parents. They would tease him and even make fun of him about it. Not just because of how he looked different, but by telling him how his bio family didn’t want him. Always making up a narrative instead of asking for the whole story.
On his sixth birthday, the boy made a wish that didn’t seem realistic at the time. He wished for a baby brother. Mandy and Matt didn’t plan on having anymore kids. It just didn’t look possible at the time financially and emotionally. Almost two years of searching, they would finally receive a call. A woman in St. Petersburg, Florida decided to give her future son up for adoption and asked them to come and meet her. The woman had no spouse, parents, siblings or any other family to support her needs. After long deliberation, she decided she would give her child to the family of three. She wanted her baby to be raised in a Christian home surrounded by people who would love and care for him the rest of his life. So, when he was born, Matt, Mandy and the boy were so happy to see him and hold him for the first time. It was one of the most significant days for this family.
While it may seem like a happy ending, it wasn’t over yet. The birth mother later decided she wanted to keep her baby and raise him herself. The three were devastated. Going home empty handed with no child in the car seat was hard to endure. During that time, the boy was sad he didn’t get his wish he had been waiting for. But his heart changed. The kid was troubled and could no longer pray for the baby but had to pray for himself. So, after they traveled back home, he made the choice to pray and repent to be saved. A week after the baby was born, the Lord saved him and blessed Matt and Mandy.
As the weeks went by, they received another call. The baby’s birthmother had changed her mind again. She decided to give her baby to them again. They didn’t expect this call and was a decision made from God. Matt and Mandy flew back down to Florida to get him while the boy stayed home. It was the longest week of his life. But eventually, Matt and Mandy would pull in the driveway, only this time the baby was in the car seat. Truly a wonderful day for the new complete family. The baby was named Garrett. Over the years it hasn’t always been perfect. And even though they may not be blood, they were raised no different. Unfortunately, Garrett’s birthmother died when he was three. While we didn’t forget what she did, Matt and Mandy felt even more blessed to be Garrett’s parents. Not by luck, but by God’s plan.
A truly remarkable family was put together, not by coincidence, but on purpose. The boy couldn’t be more blessed to have a home, a large, loving family and to be living with his birthday wish. Who is he? Yes, he is me. This is my family, this is our story, this is who we are. This is our LEGACY.
