Cleaning, Organizing, Laundry...OH MY!

Today I have been SO productive. I woke up with plans to run a few errands, maybe meet up with a friend. That never happened and I'm really glad. The cleaning fairy must have flown over and sprinkled a little cleaning dust on me because I have organized my closet by color, finished 4 loads of laundry and put it all away. There are 2 more loads left and there will be NO dirty laundry in this house (save the clothes that I am wearing). I love having all the laundry caught up. It feels so good to know that there is nothing dirty and it is all put away. I am notorious to folding and sitting. I'll fold it up and sit it down on a chair, the back of the couch, the end of the bed...basically anywhere that it doesn't go! 


While I was doing all of these things I had my iTunes playing. One song in particular made me stop what I was doing and just thank God for all He has done in my life. Everything to Me-Mark Shultz always brings back memories of when Davy became a part of our family. His birth mother gave us the most precious gift----him. I spent the day with him last week when I was home and enjoyed it so much. His laugh, his hugs, his sweet little face. We had so much fun playing in the park, eating a cupcake at PapaBoo's and drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. Simple things but they meant the world to him--and me. I am so thankful that he is a part of our family. He is the best little boy ever. I don't think much of how he got here, only that he is here. Every now and then, like today, I think about what would his life be like if his birth mother didn't give him up. I don't like to think about it, because the reality is overwhelming. I am so thankful that God placed him with my aunt and uncle. He was made for our family long before we knew he was. 

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Today is this sweet boy's birthday. Two years ago today our family was blessed with a precious little boy. We were in love the moment we laid eyes on him and he continues to fill our hearts and lives with so much love and joy. I am amazed at how perfect he is, the things he does, and how much I love him. God hand picked this baby for our family and I'm so glad he chose our family to place him with. I'm super excited about being able to go home tomorrow to help him celebrate his second birthday. Time is flying by and I'm finally coming to grips with the fact that he's not the same snuggly baby he was in the picture above. I'm thankful though, that he's still my little cuddle bear when he wants to be....

How Adoption Changed My Life

(November 2006)
This cute little baby is my sweet little cousin. He joined our family almost two years ago by adoption. He is such a doll and absolutely precious.

The road leading to this sweet little baby boy was not an easy one. My aunt and uncle had been pursuing adoption for a quite some time. Right before I moved to college, a young girl had chosen them to be the parents of her baby. We were so excited! The birth mother was due pretty soon, so we didn't have a lot of time to get ready. When she went into labor we were there at the hospital with her. When she had the baby she wanted us there. We were over joyed at the thought of the baby joining our family.

But God had different plans.

My aunt and uncle were to bring this new baby home from the hospital. They were excited at the thought of being new parents. They arrived at the hospital, ready to bring home their new son. But things had changed. The birth mother changed her mind. Changed her mind. Wanted to keep her baby. My aunt and uncle arrived at the hospital and the news that she had changed her mind hit them both like a ton of bricks. This girl that we had taken in, loved, and cared for, took the most precious gift not from just my aunt and uncle, but from her baby as well. She was a troubled girl, and the odds of her being able to give her baby a good life were slim. My aunt was devastated. They went home with an empty car seat and empty hearts. This little baby, whom we had only known for 3 days was already so very loved by our family. We had held him, kissed him, and loved him from day one. But he was no longer ours.

My aunt was almost certain that she didn't want to try again. She had already been crushed when she couldn't have a child of her own, and when she had the chance to love another baby, it was taken away as well. We cried and grieved for the baby that wasn't placed with us. But we also understood my aunts pain. She wanted to be a mommy so badly. But at times, the pain didn't seem worth it. In the end, she finally decided to give it another shot.

Exactly a month after the failed placement, they received a call. A single, young girl had chosen them. She was due in two months. She knew she couldn't care for her baby like she wanted, and she wanted to give him the best life possible. And she chose my aunt and uncle. The case workers told her of the previous situation and she was very empathetic. She knew that my aunt and uncle were taking a huge step in putting their name back out there but she said she just knew they were the right people.

Over the next couple of months we spent time with birth mother #2 and she was amazing. She had an overwhelming story and the fact that she loved her baby enough to give him up so he could have a good life was more than I could sometimes understand. I had a very guarded heart before the baby was born. I hurt from the last time and it was hard to let that go. There was always that fear in the back of my mind. And I know it was there for my aunt and uncle as well.

November 7, 2006, was a day that will always be special. Davy was born into our family, and birth mother #2 gave us the most precious gift anyone could ever give, besides Jesus dying for us. I have the most deepest amount of respect for birth mother #2. She will never truly know just how much she means to our family.

The adoption agency that my aunt and uncle went through had a benefit not long ago and made a movie about my aunt and uncle's journey. Nothing huge, just a short and sweet documentary. They also featured birth mother #2. In the video, my aunt and uncle talked about their first experience, and so did birth mother #2.

I'll never forget what she said.

I can't remember the exact words, but I'm pretty close. In her interview, she said that she although she knew my aunt and uncle experienced such sadness in the time that the first baby didn't become theirs, she was happy. She was sad that my aunt and uncle hurt, but she was happy because she got to give them her baby. She said that if they would have gotten the first baby, she wouldn't have had them to choose from. And she's right.

Even though we experienced some sadness, the joy and laughs we receive now far outweigh the sad times. Davy lights up the room and I can't imagine life without him. I love him more than words can explain and I'm so happy he is a part of our family. He'll be two in a couple of months and I can't believe it. He's walking and in the process of potty training and is talking better. He still likes to talk on the phone to his "Mimi" and I love it! Even though I can't understand him, it makes me smile when he gets on the phone and squeals at the top of his lungs "MIMI!!!"

I'm so thankful for birth mother #1 and birth mother #2 for the experiences that I had concerning adoption. I learned that in heartbreak there is a miracle. And God is in control. He knew exactly what He was doing. He knew Davy belonged to us long before we did. We just had to trust in Him.

As I grow up and begin thinking of starting a family, my heart cries out adoption. I want to carry a child of my own, but I also have a strong desire to give a child a loving home and good life that might not otherwise have one. And if that's God's will, then surely it will happen.

Has adoption ever touched your life? I would love to hear your story!
(July 2008)

Isn't he such a doll??!?!

My favorite little boy

This is Davy, my sweet little cousin. He is absolutely precious and I found these pictures taken a few weeks ago when I was home for the weekend. Davy is a miracle baby to our family and such a blessing. He came to us through adoption.
For years my aunt and uncle tried to have a baby of their own. After a lot of prayer and doctor visits, they decided to adopt. The process for them and the rest of our family was long and heartbreaking at times. We wanted a new baby in our family and were ready to welcome it in our lives with open arms.
There was a time when a birth mother chose my aunt and uncle to be the parents of her child. We met her, had lunches with her, and welcomed her into our lives. We were at the hospital with her during the birth of her baby. And stayed with her the remainder of her stay. She told us over and over again that she was happy with her decision and she wanted the best life for her baby. The morning that my aunt and uncle went to bring him home from the hospital, she broke their hearts and ours and said she had changed her mind and she wanted to take the baby home with her. We were devestated.
The next few weeks were awful. My aunt had a baby room ready for a new baby and lots of little baby things that filled the drawers, closets, and shelves. She didn't know if she would ever want to be put back on the list for adoption. She changed her mind a few weeks later and they decided to try again.
Exactly two months to the day after the birth of the first baby, they got a call. A woman wanted to meet them. She was due a month later and wanted my aunt and uncle to adopt her baby. We were excited, but very distant to the idea since we had already had our hearts broken once. They met and hit it off great. A few weeks later we were able to meet the birthmother and she is amazing. She has such a wonderful heart, but things were keeping her from being able to give her baby the best life he deserved.
After Davy was born, his birthmom kept her promise and allowed him to come home with our family. She has since kept in some contact with my aunt and uncle, and has met her son once. My heart goes out to her because I know she has to miss him. She carried him for nine months, only to give him away.
My prayer to her is that she know he is loved well beyond the stars. He is an answer to prayer and has been loved so wonderfully loved since the day he was born. Thank you for giving our family the gift of Davy, birthmom. Your gift will never be taken for granted, nor will you ever be forgotten. You have touched our lives with Davy and we couldn't thank you enough.

Check out the new link...

I came across a new blog over the weekend. I love the story of this woman and her family and their journey to adopting their two children from Haiti. Take a look at Dreaming Big Dreams over in my Blogs I Read section. I'm telling you, if you have any feelings for adoption, you will love her story!