My story started back in 2001 one Sunday during church. A family was having their infant daughter baptized and my heart just hurt watching them. I wanted a family of my own, but with no boyfriend even, my hopes of having a baby the old fashioned way weren't really a reality. After praying about it, I realized that I would never regret not being someone's wife, but I would regret not being someone's mom and I had the power to be a mom. So I started researching adoption.
Grace (on the right) and her best friend, Zhanna. They were adopted at the same time from the same babyhouse. The girls have known each other longer than their parents have known them.
My sweet Grace this past summer.
The rest of the story is posted on this blog. From the paperwork to getting Gracie's first pictures to coming home. It's all here.
I do want to say the following about adoption. I've been an adoptive Mom for over nine years. The first thing that drives me nuts is that people think I "saved" Grace. I didn't save her; she saved me. NO ONE should adopt because they want to rescue a child. You should adopt because you want to have a child to love, raise, and care for for the rest of their life. It isn't just a commitment until they are 18 or 22. Family is forever.
My second statement is that while the most important thing is love, it will not make everything magically better for a child who has suffered loss. Most adopted children feel this loss throughout their lives at different times and in different ways. Grace was adopted when she was 7 months old. She doesn't remember the babyhouse or her first meeting with me, but she is effected by the loss of her birthmother. This is something that adoptive families will have to deal with and just because you love a child with your whole heart and soul, it won't wipe away the emotional scars that your child carries.
If I had an opportunity to adopt, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm blessed that I met Randy when Grace was 18 months old. He fell in love with both of us and became a father to Grace without hesitation. He formally adopted her and then we were blessed to have two homegrown children. I still long to adopt again. I knew the minute I held Grace in my arms that God had orchestrated the whole shebang. He found my daughter for me halfway around the world and gave me the the resources and determination to go get her. He has shown me over and over that it is no mistake that she is mine. I thank God everyday for giving me what I have always wanted most in this world- a family to call my own.
Look at my Pooh Bear! Oh, how I miss her being that little.
All three of my precious children, Grace, Hope, and Philip.
