Love Makes a Family

It appears that I never really finished Zander's story...which led me to re-read my blog....where I learned that I never really finished Kya's adoption story.  I began the blog and posted "My complete story"...so NOT the complete story.

I left off with a promise to talk more about open adoption and our experience.  A little summary before I continue the story. Carl and I had already met another Birthmother that chose us to be the parents of her baby on the spot while having an ice cream meet and greet with her. It breaks my heart to think that I would have turned down ANY baby that would give me the opportunity to be their mother, but when The Lord has a plan for you and confirms it in your heart...you listen.  We prayed and fasted to know what to do next. Thankfully we didn't have to wait too long for the Lord's plan to come to fruition.  The very next week is when Jerica called. I was working as a night nurse at the time and we had put my husbands phone number as the contact number. It was too difficult for me to have my phone in my possession and be "waiting" for that call EVERYDAY. Waiting is a whole new ball game that I can only try to compare to as a "pregnancy" with an unknown due date...not easy. After a long night shift I went to bed around 6 am. When I woke up at 11 am there was VM on my phone. My husbands calm and soothing voice said, "Call me when you wake, it's important". I remember distinctly the words he said to me when I called him immediately. He said, "A birth mom has called this morning and she sounds like the one. She seems to have a head on her shoulders and very mature. She wants to meet with us soon because she is due next week". WHAT?

I was scheduled to work that night with one of my little precious pediatric patients but I knew we needed to make a trip that night to meet Jerica. It was a Friday and I knew we wouldn't be able to get our case worker to make a two hour drive to meet Jerica with us. So, we went on our own.

As we got closer to Jerica's home my nerves were rattling. Would this be it, would this be the day that we find out our family begins?  We came to the end if their lane and there was a beautiful house on the corner....not theirs...then we passed another house...not theirs...the nerves on edge now with anticipation. Finally the house at the end of the LONG (what seemed like too long) lane.

Carl grabbed my hand and we walked to the front door.  I honesty don't remember who answered the door but I do remember when Jerica walked into the living room from being downstairs. She was a beautiful and so young girl. Her belly was large and all it was all I could do to not hug her and want to rub her belly. I refrained. It was so comfortable to sit there in her families living room and chat with them all. We met her parents, three brothers and little sister who was a year younger than my daughter is now. Her older brother was there and very involved in the conversation.  Carl asked him how he felt about all this...the pregnancy am the potential plan for adoption. It was just like chatting with family, of course I was secretly dying inside, I just wanted to hold Jerica and tell her how much I loved her right then...again I refrained. She hadn't chosen us yet. Remember I am not a patient woman.

The year prior to this meeting, while in the "waiting" process...I had heard of others' adoption stories and how they were so unique and personal to them, I just prayed and prayed that we would be blessed with an adoption that was so personal for me and unique. Silly I know, but that is what what important to me.

As I mentioned in the original post...Jerica's mom so gently and lovingly patted Jerica's belly (my now little Kya) and said, "this little baby was grown in Hawaii". I don't know if my jaw dropped but I  was in complete shock and wanted to jump up and do a cartwheel right then and there.  As an Army Brat growing up, my family moved around a lot and traveled the globe.  I was my parents little Hawaiian souvenir.  That was my confirmation.  My prayers were answered. At that moment I knew I was going to be a mother.

I want to share more but dinner and life are calling. I feel as though this blog is coming into it time.  My intentions were good before, but there is a time and a season for all things.  Now is the time and this blog and it's stories will be more detailed and more heart and soul will go into each post. As mentioned so many times before...adoption is my life and I cherish my children's stories. It is not difficult for me to share their stories, but they are very personal to me and near to my heart. With that in mind...so are the posts that come from our birth families.  I feel as though a lot of how and what we write is therapeutic for us.

There is so much more to tell...until next time.  Not far away...this is our season.