A few summers ago, our pastor was doing a series of sermons where he encouraged us to quietly reflect and invite Jesus into a situation we found ourselves in.  I remember closing my eyes, praying that Jesus would walk into my sadness.  As I quietly waited, I saw myself sitting at our kitchen table.  I was crying from the pain of repeated miscarriages, fear, frustration, and loss.  Jesus came, knelt down beside me and draped his arm around me.  I felt his presence and his comfort.

Then, the scene changed.  I saw Him standing in our front entrance carrying an infant.  I remember its little legs dangling from Jesus’ arms.  As Jesus went to hand the baby to me, I said, “This child is not mine.”  He responded, “None of them are.”

I share this story because it was one of those moments that God reminded me that He is here and at work.  I needed that!  Don’t we all sometimes?

We have been on quite the journey the past seven years in regards to desiring children.  Looking back, we see a story of brokenness, healing, renewed hope, trust, beauty and redemption.  God plays a crucial role in it all.

We started checking into adoption agencies and through a series of events, we eventually decided to pursue an open, domestic adoption with Catholic Charities.  After an extensive process, we received our certification to adopt.  It was a lot of work but definitely worth it!  We turned in a scrapbook, our first impression to a Birth Family, and officially went into the pool of waiting families.  When we got a call that we had been selected by a Birth Mom, the feeling was akin to a positive on a pregnancy stick!  We met her the following Monday and felt both excitement and peace to move forward.

As we prepared for the baby’s arrival, we simultaneously started building relationships with the Birth Mom and Birth Grandma.  They gave us the gift of naming our son and invited us to be at his birth.  We experienced such beauty and grace during this time.  So many people were praying!

Our son’s birth turned into a two and half day labor followed by an emergency C-section.  We were in the operating room to see his arrival and brought him home the next day.  When he was baptized he was surrounded by us, his Grandparents, Godparents, our friends, community and his Birth Mom. We love her dearly as we do our son, who we know belongs to the God we serve, love and now co-parent with.  He knows and loves this child more than we can imagine and we are so grateful for this leg of the journey and this season of life.

Our process recently culminated with the Adoption Finalization of our son.  What a moment! We are so grateful for Colleen, our Catholic Charities counselor who has walked alongside us through this entire Adoption Process.  We have learned a lot and have been in awe of the richness of this experience.  We are deeply blessed with our son and our relationship with his Birth Mom.  Thank you for being our teacher, counselor, advocate and friend.  We are so grateful for you!

Related articles:

1. Life Connections Open Adoption feature on FOX21 News
2. Adoption Search and Reunion
3. Open Adoption

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