Our First Adoption Story--We met our Angel Birth Mother!

We met our Angel Birth Mother for the first time, and got to share a hug or two with her. We loved loved loved being in her presence! She smiles easily and is a very pretty girl. We just couldn't get enough of her.

We met her mother. She is a lady that fully supports her daughter--and her love for her daughter is very apparent in their interaction. In her words, her support comes "not because it is easy, but because it is right." She is kind and wise, and very intent on wanting Sam and me to have as much of the experience as possible with the birth of our son. Sam's word to describe her is perfect: genuine.

We also met her dad. I loved to watch how tender he was with our Angel Birth Mother! Although at first glance, he is a tough guy--we found his heart of pure gold. Sam had a great time chatting with him while we girls browsed up and down Pike's Place Market.

How is it possible that our heart can fill with love so quickly for people that we met just a few days ago!?! We understand a little better how easy it will come to enlarge the circle of our family to include these good people. And it gave us a glimpse of the powerful feelings we will immediately feel the moment we meet our new little boy.

Our Angel Birth Mother surprised us with 2 blankets for the baby--a green one that she crocheted (ohh, so soft!) and one that her ward's Relief Society tied for him. They are treasures!

As we boarded our flight to come home, the flight attendant called for anyone traveling with small children to pre-board. My heart did a little flip as I thought about having an arm full the next time we return home. This time, I bask in having a heart full.

Our First Adoption Story--Our Angel Birth Mother Found Us!

We are thrilled that we have been selected to become parents by a selfless birth mother. We have been able to talk to our birth mom a couple of times this week, and both Sam and I feel that she is very close to heaven in the decision she has made. She is a delightful girl, and we look forward to getting to know her better. As the birth mother of our child, she will be like another member of our extended family!

The birth mother invited us to be at the delivery of a baby boy that will join our family around February 1. Of course there is nothing that we would want more--to meet our little guy the very day he makes a grand entrance to this great world! We just hope that we have enough warning to get us down to Seattle in time for the delivery!

Sam received the first call from our caseworker, telling us that we had been selected. He then called me to share the good news. I reminded him that not very many husbands get to be the one to surprise their wife with the happy news that a baby will be joining the family! That was just another unique part of this journey called adoption.

In the miracle of it all, we are reminded that Heavenly Father creates families. His kindness has been evident. We feel truly grateful to know that God loves us! And he loves a young girl that is selfless enough and mature enough to make a difficult decision based on what is best for her baby. We love you too, Angel Birth Mother!

Our First Adoption Story--The Waiting Officially Begins!

This week marks 7 months since Sam and I began adoption paper work with LDS Family Services. We just learned this past week that finally we have been accepted as an adoptive couple. We had to submit my fingerprints to the FBI 3 times before they would accept the fine ridges on my right pinky. It has been a tremendous labor of love to get us this far. Here is what we have had to do:
1--Each of us answer (separately and independently) 40 questions about our background, our marriage, ourselves, and each other. We didn't know each other's responses until we were in an interview with the agency director. I think every couple should have the opportunity to do this questionnaire to strengthen their marriage!
2--Have a home study where someone came and made sure that our home would be suitable for children.
3--Engage in multiple interviews together as a couple and individually.
4--Prepare hard copy portfolios of pictures that depict our personality as a couple.
5--Get medical checks, background checks, employment checks, ecclesiastical referral, and friends' referral letters returned back to the agency.

We fully believe that God creates families, and adoption is the way that he will be blessing our family. We have been told that only the strong survive the adoption process. We are driven by our desire to become parents and the understanding that Heavenly Father wants to teach us about parenthood through the miracle called adoption. We look forward to telling our child about the unique way they came to join our family.