Today I want to share with you some excerpts of testimonies sent to me by several different adoptive families. Each has a unique story that contains both challenges and blessings. This post is the longest I’ve shared, but these stories of God’s provision are so special!
I hope you will be encouraged by what you read! Tomorrow I’ll be sharing my own adoptive experience and whether or not we feel called to adopt children of our own!
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photo credit: arztsamui/freedigitalphotos.net |
From Beverley, mother of five children, (two adopted):
After arriving as a nanny in the States, I met and married Jim and it made sense to us for me to continue in my line of work with children. This drew us to foster care and in two cases, the day came when the parental rights of the foster children were terminanted. We were given the option to adopt. In some ways parenting the two of them was similar but varied greatly in other ways.
From Debbie, mother of a 14 year old adoptive son:
My husband and I struggled with infertility for 12 years in our marriage. In June of 1997, we both agreed and prayed with God that if it was His will that we do not have children (my husband is a pastor) then maybe that was because He wanted us free for ministry work and that we were willing to accept that and love and serve Him anyway. We had such peace about us that we hadn’t had in 12 years.
Two months later in August around 10:00 pm, we received a phone call. My husband answered the phone and said, “Ok, alright. Well, we’ll pray about it and get back with you. Bye.” I asked him what the call was about and he said, “It was (a mutual friend) and she wanted to know if we were interested in adopting her unborn grand baby and I told her we’d pray about it.” I turned to him in shock and replied, “Pray! What do you think we’ve been doing for 12 years. Get back on that phone and tell her YES!!”
Finally Joshua was placed beside me in the warmer. The medical staff was cleaning him and I just stood there staring at him, mostly unable to see because my glasses were so fogged up from sweat and tears. Rachel delivered via c-section and here she was lying on the table. She turned to her mother and said, “Mom, you need to go be with Debbie, cause she doesn’t look so good.” Here she was being tender and sweet to me, and I’m the one receiving this incredible gift.
One of my biggest fears was the bonding between my son and I. I was so afraid, because I hadn’t carried him in my body, that he’d bond with anyone.
At the end of February 1998, Josh and I were able to fly home to New York. It was an uneventful trip, but at the end was a very grateful and excited Dad. My son is now 14 and started high school this year. Time sure does fly. I am still in awe at times of the fact that there’s someone in my home who calls me “Mom.”
From Rachael, mother to a 2 1/2 year old adopted son:
For years we tried to have a child, but couldn’t seem to manage it. After countless prayers and an “unexplained infertility” diagnosis from doctors, we finally decided to try another route. We were both convinced that IVF was not the way to go, and so adoption it was.
We contacted social workers several times and were informed that it would be difficult to adopt through foster care in our state because of new laws that were about to go into effect.
After about six months, we got news that a birthmom had seen our photo album in the agency office and chose us to be adoptive parents for her little boy. She was eight months pregnant. She met with us twice, called me frequently, allowed me to go to her final doctor appointment. One night the agency called and said birthmom was in labor.
I held the baby and watched the nurse bathe him. I went home to get extra baby supplies and four hours of sleep. I returned to the hospital early the next morning and she was holding him. She was so happy and I knew something wasn’t right. A hospital social worker informed me that birthmom had changed her mind. I screamed, ran home, and fell into depression, inconsolable. I was angry at God. I wanted to do something good, why would He take this from me?
Six long months later, we got another call from our agency, and we got our answer from God. There was a baby boy born just four hours ago at a local Catholic hospital. Birthmom had made no adoption plans for him, but knew she would not be able to parent him. She didn’t want to meet us, she just wanted to go home. My husband was on a cruise and would not be able to fly off the ship this time. He would not meet our son until three months later. By the time I got to the hospital eight hours after the birth, birthmom had left. The social worker told me to put the name on the birth certificate. I cried.
The labor had been quick (three hours!). The baby was beautiful. He was tiny at five pounds. He was pink and had lots of black straight shiny hair. I fell in love despite being very painfully aware that birthmom could still change her mind. Two and a half years later he is still my beautiful little boy. I could not imagine having any other child. He was obviously meant to be ours.
Now we are almost finished with foster parenting classes and are excited to adopt another baby. The foster care law we were told about before never went into effect, and in just a few months we will be foster-to-adopt parents. I truly believe this was in God’s plan all along and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I would encourage those who are considering adoption not to be put off by my struggles, my situation was extremely uncommon and we certainly had a happy ending.
WANT TO SPEAK WITH GRACE TO YOUR KIDS INSTEAD OF YELLING?
2 Comments on How Adoption is Changing Lives (Encouragement from Adoptive Parents)
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Appreciated the stories. God reveals himself as his plan for each family unfolds. Looking forward to reading your post tomorrow.
Love these stories!! As an adoptive mom now too, I love that we can make a difference in ones life and honestly – they add so much to ours! So grateful for God’s grace and pushing our family over the edge and following His will – it is a scarey journey, but so worth it in the end!