Welcoming a new child into your home is a beautiful, mysterious and miraculous experience. In the first print issue of Inspiration Mississippi, we were proud to share the story of a Mississippi family, patiently and anxiously awaiting their December journey to India. In a Kolkata orphanage sat a precious little girl named Eden, waiting to meet her new family.
Jessica and Robby Followell, owners of Followell Fotography in Clinton, were happily settling into life with their baby daughter, Meg, when they viewed the documentary “it’s a girl.” Instantly, their hearts were changed and they felt desperately pulled to adopt. Jessica and Robby spent the next few years prayerfully walking through the international adoption process.
Shortly before last Christmas, Jessica and Robby faithfully traveled to Kolkata where they would finally meet one of their greatest loves. Today, we are thrilled to share Jessica and Robby’s extraordinary photographs from India, captured by Ben and Erin Chrisman of Chrisman Studios. We also had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica about their whirlwind trip, how they are adjusting to life as a family of four, and what advice she has for others hoping to adopt:
How did you prepare for your trip to India: mentally, emotionally and spiritually?
“The terrible and great thing about international adoption is that you have a LOT of time to prepare. YEARS even. Robby and I had both been to India, so the actual packing for the trip wasn't too daunting. We tried to rest and enjoy time with Meg the weeks leading up to our trip. Work was really busy, which made the weeks fly by. We had a worship night at our house the week before to pray over our trip and our family. But I think mainly, we just tried to savor our life as a family of three, mourning a little bit of its end, while being overly ready to make our transition to the family of four we had envisioned for so long.”
Tell us about entering the place where you first met Eden, and the moment you first saw her!
“We landed in Kolkata at 10am on Tuesday morning and were suppose to be at the orphanage by 3:00pm. We had not slept, barely eaten and our bags had been lost. By the time we ate, showered and put back on our dirty clothes, it was time to go meet her. I think we were so overwhelmed with exhaustion and excitement that the day seems a bit hazy. I remember her coming in and literally my breath stopped. The moment you wait and wait and wait for as an adoptive parent is there and all the wondering is over. The reality that she was real AND ours was actually unbelievable at first. Waiting had become so much of our identity and in seconds, it was all over. That first day was the hardest. I wasn't expecting to be so sad. What was happening to our family was beautiful. But the weight of having her in our family meant hers was broken. To have her as my child meant she had been abandoned. It was a very delicate, beautiful and sorrowful day.”
How was your time in India? Did Eden know and understand she would be going home with you?
“Eden did not want us near her at all! She rejected us the entire time she was in the orphanage. We basically gained no ground. The night we took her she perspired through her clothes, would not make eye contact and did not eat or drink. She woke up the next morning and I was terrified she wouldn't eat and would be hysterical. But she did eat. And each hour of each day, she trusted us a little bit more. So many moments stand out. Probably some of the biggest are the small moments when she started being nervous around other people, and coming to US for comfort.”
How is little Meg doing as a big sister?
“Much of our decision to adopt was made possible because of the personality of our little Meg. She has always been affectionate, accepting, loving and flexible. She is sensitive but strong, and just pure joy to be with. All of those gave us comfort, knowing this decision to adopt was something we were making, but something that would affect her JUST as much as us. She has really blown us away with how well she has transitioned; probably better than anyone. She loves Eden and is patient with her; she doesn't ask for her to go back to India anymore :) There have been hard moments. When we first came home, Meg was very frail and threw up a couple of times. No illness, just shock really. But she has gone from that to wanting to wake Eden up everyday, hugging her constantly and encouraging her even more than I do. She was just made to be Eden's big sister.”
What's next? I know Eden will have several doctor's appointments. How do you integrate Eden into her new family, home and life in MS?
“Currently we are working with the beautiful people at Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport. We were encouraged to try Shriner's because of the financial help. But we quickly found out the one in Shreveport specializes in orthopedics, which is her condition, so that made it a great fit. Eden has had a couple of castings done to straighten her feet and will, hopefully, be wearing braces within the next couple of months and learning to walk with them. We will take it one step at a time with her physical development. Her hands, which are missing fingers and have some deformities, are scheduled for surgery in the fall. As for her personality and other developments - she is rocking it out! I have never met a person- adult or child- as strong and determined as this little one. She is literally in bent casts and is learning to pull herself up and toddle around in them. Her English is improving every day. She completely understands what we say to her. Her ability to love, show affection, play, misbehave - all of it is right on par or past where she "should" be at her age. Eden is a force to be reckoned with. She really embodies that famous quote by Shakespeare, "Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
Any advice for parents who are considering adoption?
“It is hard for me to give advice. I know every family is different. Our struggles and how we handle them all vary. So, I can only speak to the little crazy-beautiful experience we have had. On a spiritual side I would say these things:
Trust. Trust that God's faithfulness will show up for you. In people. In His word. Financially. And any other obstacle of fear.
Enjoy. We said yes to adding to our family through adoption and it has blown us out of the water how many people have been changed by it. NOT because we are rescuers or are amazingly brave or holy. But because we obeyed His call. He really took care of the rest.
Pray. I mean on your face, walking around your house, morning, noon, day, night, with others, alone, for your family and God's presence. The struggles are tough. But the rewards are sweet.
And on a practical side I would say these things:
Relax. You can't follow every blog and book you read about adoption. You will kill yourself trying to do it all AND your adopted child does not need you to do everything by those books- they need you to be attentive and flexible to their specific needs. So allow yourself to mess up and then regroup. You are learning them. They are learning you. That takes time and trial and error. It will all be okay.
Community. Take every ounce of help you can get. If people offer- take it. If they bring the food, do NOT say "they shouldn't have.” Line up help. You don't have to be superhuman. You are in a stressful time. Let others be a part.
Be Gentle. Mostly with yourself. You won't be getting back to your old way of life. You have a whole new way. New way people look at you. New schedule filled with doctor's appointments. New routines for bedtime, eating, dressing and bathing. New social calendar for the first few months, especially. Allow yourself a lot of time. You have to love your family and eat. THAT IS ALL. Do those things and consider yourself the most successful person alive.”
Jessica and Robby Followell, owners of Followell Fotography in Clinton, were happily settling into life with their baby daughter, Meg, when they viewed the documentary “it’s a girl.” Instantly, their hearts were changed and they felt desperately pulled to adopt. Jessica and Robby spent the next few years prayerfully walking through the international adoption process.
Shortly before last Christmas, Jessica and Robby faithfully traveled to Kolkata where they would finally meet one of their greatest loves. Today, we are thrilled to share Jessica and Robby’s extraordinary photographs from India, captured by Ben and Erin Chrisman of Chrisman Studios. We also had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica about their whirlwind trip, how they are adjusting to life as a family of four, and what advice she has for others hoping to adopt:
How did you prepare for your trip to India: mentally, emotionally and spiritually?
“The terrible and great thing about international adoption is that you have a LOT of time to prepare. YEARS even. Robby and I had both been to India, so the actual packing for the trip wasn't too daunting. We tried to rest and enjoy time with Meg the weeks leading up to our trip. Work was really busy, which made the weeks fly by. We had a worship night at our house the week before to pray over our trip and our family. But I think mainly, we just tried to savor our life as a family of three, mourning a little bit of its end, while being overly ready to make our transition to the family of four we had envisioned for so long.”
Tell us about entering the place where you first met Eden, and the moment you first saw her!
“We landed in Kolkata at 10am on Tuesday morning and were suppose to be at the orphanage by 3:00pm. We had not slept, barely eaten and our bags had been lost. By the time we ate, showered and put back on our dirty clothes, it was time to go meet her. I think we were so overwhelmed with exhaustion and excitement that the day seems a bit hazy. I remember her coming in and literally my breath stopped. The moment you wait and wait and wait for as an adoptive parent is there and all the wondering is over. The reality that she was real AND ours was actually unbelievable at first. Waiting had become so much of our identity and in seconds, it was all over. That first day was the hardest. I wasn't expecting to be so sad. What was happening to our family was beautiful. But the weight of having her in our family meant hers was broken. To have her as my child meant she had been abandoned. It was a very delicate, beautiful and sorrowful day.”
How was your time in India? Did Eden know and understand she would be going home with you?
“Eden did not want us near her at all! She rejected us the entire time she was in the orphanage. We basically gained no ground. The night we took her she perspired through her clothes, would not make eye contact and did not eat or drink. She woke up the next morning and I was terrified she wouldn't eat and would be hysterical. But she did eat. And each hour of each day, she trusted us a little bit more. So many moments stand out. Probably some of the biggest are the small moments when she started being nervous around other people, and coming to US for comfort.”
How is little Meg doing as a big sister?
“Much of our decision to adopt was made possible because of the personality of our little Meg. She has always been affectionate, accepting, loving and flexible. She is sensitive but strong, and just pure joy to be with. All of those gave us comfort, knowing this decision to adopt was something we were making, but something that would affect her JUST as much as us. She has really blown us away with how well she has transitioned; probably better than anyone. She loves Eden and is patient with her; she doesn't ask for her to go back to India anymore :) There have been hard moments. When we first came home, Meg was very frail and threw up a couple of times. No illness, just shock really. But she has gone from that to wanting to wake Eden up everyday, hugging her constantly and encouraging her even more than I do. She was just made to be Eden's big sister.”
What's next? I know Eden will have several doctor's appointments. How do you integrate Eden into her new family, home and life in MS?
“Currently we are working with the beautiful people at Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport. We were encouraged to try Shriner's because of the financial help. But we quickly found out the one in Shreveport specializes in orthopedics, which is her condition, so that made it a great fit. Eden has had a couple of castings done to straighten her feet and will, hopefully, be wearing braces within the next couple of months and learning to walk with them. We will take it one step at a time with her physical development. Her hands, which are missing fingers and have some deformities, are scheduled for surgery in the fall. As for her personality and other developments - she is rocking it out! I have never met a person- adult or child- as strong and determined as this little one. She is literally in bent casts and is learning to pull herself up and toddle around in them. Her English is improving every day. She completely understands what we say to her. Her ability to love, show affection, play, misbehave - all of it is right on par or past where she "should" be at her age. Eden is a force to be reckoned with. She really embodies that famous quote by Shakespeare, "Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
Any advice for parents who are considering adoption?
“It is hard for me to give advice. I know every family is different. Our struggles and how we handle them all vary. So, I can only speak to the little crazy-beautiful experience we have had. On a spiritual side I would say these things:
Trust. Trust that God's faithfulness will show up for you. In people. In His word. Financially. And any other obstacle of fear.
Enjoy. We said yes to adding to our family through adoption and it has blown us out of the water how many people have been changed by it. NOT because we are rescuers or are amazingly brave or holy. But because we obeyed His call. He really took care of the rest.
Pray. I mean on your face, walking around your house, morning, noon, day, night, with others, alone, for your family and God's presence. The struggles are tough. But the rewards are sweet.
And on a practical side I would say these things:
Relax. You can't follow every blog and book you read about adoption. You will kill yourself trying to do it all AND your adopted child does not need you to do everything by those books- they need you to be attentive and flexible to their specific needs. So allow yourself to mess up and then regroup. You are learning them. They are learning you. That takes time and trial and error. It will all be okay.
Community. Take every ounce of help you can get. If people offer- take it. If they bring the food, do NOT say "they shouldn't have.” Line up help. You don't have to be superhuman. You are in a stressful time. Let others be a part.
Be Gentle. Mostly with yourself. You won't be getting back to your old way of life. You have a whole new way. New way people look at you. New schedule filled with doctor's appointments. New routines for bedtime, eating, dressing and bathing. New social calendar for the first few months, especially. Allow yourself a lot of time. You have to love your family and eat. THAT IS ALL. Do those things and consider yourself the most successful person alive.”
Photography by Ben and Erin Chrisman of Chrisman Studios
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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