There is nothing more sacred (and scary) than telling your story. Today I am honored to be able to assist in helping to share one such story. A story of love, ups, downs, and ultimately of family for two of the most deserving individuals to be parents I know. On what better day than Thanksgiving to provide such an example of true gratitude than with a story of adoption.
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| via National Council for Adoption |
You may remember Laci from Simple Plates. She and her husband Robbie quickly became our friends in Mobile after we met through our church, and I am truly blessed for having been a part of their lives if even for such a short season. After one afternoon of cooking for Ransom Cafe, sharing lunch, and chatting through the afternoon, Laci shared with me the journey she and Robbie had been on for the past few years. A journey that we stepped into prayer with them on, and one that has been such an encouragement to witness. November is National Adoption Month. The month began with the photo and caption below on Instagram, and when I saw it, I knew I wanted to help Laci in sharing their story even further. Over the past few weeks, Laci has put a voice to adoption, and I encourage you to read along and be prepared to be blown away and she pours out her heart.
November is National #Adoption Month. I will share our story of how we became a family. #openadoption #adoptionadvocacy #adoptioneducation
In 2010 we decided it was time to grow our family. In 2011, we sought help for infertility and I was diagnosed with #endometriosis. In early 2012, we unsuccessfully completed our third IUI and decided it was time to follow our hearts and start the #adoption process. #openadoption #adoptionadvocate
So then we did our research and decided on an agency called Bethany Christian Services. On April 13th 2012, we attended. A training class to start our#adoption process. The information and education we received, the experience we had and the people we met at this meeting truly shaped our journey. BCS educated us on the importance of our respect for birth parents and their decision and the benefits of #openadoption. “Fear is not a reason to chose a closed adoption.”
#adoptionadvocate #bethanychristianservices #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
In July of 2012, we became “paper pregnant”. We had completed our homestudy which is a requirement for all adoptive families. The details of our lives from our financials to our parenting discipline plans were scrutinized. #Adoption is a long, learning process and a true blessing that will open your eyes and teach you things about yourself. We are so #thankful.
#openadoption #adoptionadvocate #adoptionawarenessmonth
And then we waited. And dated, and planted, and built, and painted, and ran, and traveled, and napped, and played, and laughed, and cried.
#adoptionadvocate #Adoption #openadoption #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
And we prayed. Our Heavenly Father takes our neediness and our weaknesses and turns them into something beautiful. We are thankful, yes thankful for our #infertility. Without our challenges, we would not be in the place we are on our faith journey. Seeking God and praising His name in all circumstances. He provides us comfort, peace, encouragement, forgiveness, grace, mercy, love and joy. He is constant and will answer prayers according to His will. Amen. We prayed.
#openadoption #adoptionadvocate #Adoption #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
Between August 2012 and April 2013, 15 birthparents hoping to make an adoption plan looked at our profile. Three chose to meet us. One miscarried before our meeting, one chose another couple after meeting us and one chose us. There are a lot of decisions we make in our lives. Most of us will never be in a circumstance in which we decide that it is in the best interest of ourselves and our child to choose someone else to parent that child. This is hard to understand. #openadoption #adoptionadvocate
Holidays were always hard for us while experiencing #infertility and waiting to #adopt. We were joyful to be surrounded by our family and friends yet we felt sadness at the same time. Acknowledgement, extra hugs, someone to listen, a prayer is all that is needed. Let your loved one feel, cry, talk, laugh, smile. #adoptionadvocate #Adoption #adoptioneducation #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
March 2013. I was renewed in spirit and hope by the signs of spring. And I journaled about “the dream” and “the date”. This is part of our story. This is personal.
#nationaladoptionawarenessmonth #openadoption
Recently I got word of a waiting adoptive family whose birth parents changed their mind. It is the birth parents right to decide to parent their child. This is a fact every adoptive family knows. It is risky for us to put our hearts into the match but their is no other way to wait. Waiting is hard. Changed minds break hearts. We are told when our child is in our arms we will understand. But this lose for them is now. Prayers for the adoptive family of healing and comfort, prayers for the birth family for strength, prayers for the unborn baby for health. #adoption #openadoption #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
This is the sunrise on April 9th 2013, the day we received “the call”. A birthmom who anxiously wanted to meet us. The details sounded promising. But this had happened before. When could we meet her? I remembered. Tomorrow. We have to meet her tomorrow, April 10th. And my tears started to flow. In my heart, I knew this was going to happen. #openadoption #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
April 10th 2013 (the date in my dream). We had previously made plans to wake up early and drive to the beach to catch the sunrise. We were celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary that weekend. We didn’t know our lives would be forever changed that afternoon when we met with our birthmother. We just knew this moment. The present moment is always hard to breathe in and focus on because a lot of times we live in the past or the future. Focus. Right now.
#openadoption #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
April 10th 2013. Our meeting with Marcelite’s birthmother “T”. She walked in the door with M’s two half bio sisters (2yrs old and 1yr old). She handed us this ultrasound. We chatted. It felt natural, comfortable, normal. T is cute, funny, strong, blunt, motivated, smart, hurt, tired. She has chosen life. She has chosen us to parent her child. She has made us parents. She has made us a family. She is our family. #adoptionadvocate #adoptioneducation #openadoption #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
We were matched with “T” when she was 17 weeks pregnant. Our baby was due 9.22.2013. How could we wait this long. How could we not. Waiting for a match is hard, waiting after a match is a different kind of hard. Joy, relief, excitement, disbelief, fear, doubt, mistrust. Highs. Lows. Every emotion warranted and worthy.
#openadoption #adoptionadvocate #adoptioneducation #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
November 23 was National Adoption Day so I will wrap up our story. We worked for almost 5 years to build our family. Naturally, fertility research and treatments, adoption research and education, waiting for a birthparent match and waiting for birth. It was not quick, it was not easy, it was not always joyful but it was always His plan. And it all came down to this moment. August 10th 2013 at 5:46pm, both Robbie and I were able to watch our first birth together. We were in the delivery room when our daughter was brought into this world. And that moment was worth the wait. Amen.
#openadoption #adoptionadvocate #adoptioneducation #nationaladoptionawarenessmonth
Do you have an adoption story? We would love for you to share. You can get in touch with Laci if you have any questions about adoption or their story via the links below.
Other resources for adoption:
Disclosure: All photos and captions are from Laci’s Instagram profile & this post was a joint collaboration in bringing a voice to adoption & adaption advocacy. #openadoption
