This week a family grew through adoption.
It was not ours, no. But we rejoice knowing that a baby girl has a loving adoptive family and birth family. And, Craig and I can feel confident that we did the right thing by making ourselves available.
In this adoption journey, we want to be available to respond. Craig and I have had many recent discussions about this together and with God. The challenging (and rewarding) part of making ourselves available is that we make ourselves vulnerable too. We have to prepared for a “yes” and a “not yet” from God.
On Tuesday, I got a call. A birthmom had come into an adoption agency in Florida and wanted to place her baby up for adoption. A C-section was already scheduled the following morning. Wow!? At that moment, we had to ask ourselves: Are we really available
It was not ours, no. But we rejoice knowing that a baby girl has a loving adoptive family and birth family. And, Craig and I can feel confident that we did the right thing by making ourselves available.
In this adoption journey, we want to be available to respond. Craig and I have had many recent discussions about this together and with God. The challenging (and rewarding) part of making ourselves available is that we make ourselves vulnerable too. We have to prepared for a “yes” and a “not yet” from God.
On Tuesday, I got a call. A birthmom had come into an adoption agency in Florida and wanted to place her baby up for adoption. A C-section was already scheduled the following morning. Wow!? At that moment, we had to ask ourselves: Are we really available
I called Craig. All of these thoughts ran through our minds: Are we prepared? Are we willing to drop everything? Are we ready to hop on a plane? Can we cope with the potential medical issues? Are we as sure as we thought we were about open adoption?
When you’ve been talking to God about being available, the answers are all YES! And so, by Tuesday evening the birth parents had our family profile.
The baby girl was born Wednesday morning and we did not find out if we were picked until Thursday. Oh the emotions! There were periods of adrenaline rushes, encouragement, nausea, hope, concern, impatience, exhaustion, and a slew of everything in between! Here’s a (unofficial) chart of all the many emotions of the adoption wait:
When you’ve been talking to God about being available, the answers are all YES! And so, by Tuesday evening the birth parents had our family profile.
The baby girl was born Wednesday morning and we did not find out if we were picked until Thursday. Oh the emotions! There were periods of adrenaline rushes, encouragement, nausea, hope, concern, impatience, exhaustion, and a slew of everything in between! Here’s a (unofficial) chart of all the many emotions of the adoption wait:
If I’m honest, there was some sadness when we got the news Thursday evening. We were just so… available. It was a temporary feeling overcome by the hope and confidence that “not yet” may be the answer for now, but a “yes” is coming!
From this experience, I know this to be true:
We can also rejoice for this baby girl who is surrounded by the love from her birth parents and adoptive parents. And get this, the birth parents chose a local Florida family that had been waiting three years to become first time parents! They have all truly been blessed!
In love,
Beth
From this experience, I know this to be true:
- We would do it again in a heartbeat.
- We are stronger for going through this.
- We are stronger in our relationship with God.
- We are confident in His plan.
- Baby Burge, you are still out there!
We can also rejoice for this baby girl who is surrounded by the love from her birth parents and adoptive parents. And get this, the birth parents chose a local Florida family that had been waiting three years to become first time parents! They have all truly been blessed!
In love,
Beth
