One Year Ago Today, part 4

One year ago today we sat across the table from Epiphany's birth parents at Red Robin. Cara, our case worker, was there. So was their aunt.

After we were served our food, the birth mom handed me a card and said something like "this is for you" - I smiled, said thanks, looked at Jesse and said should I open it? I did and he read it over my shoulder.

It was a Congratulations on Your New Baby card.

When I looked up at her with a few tears in my eyes, she was smiling. I'll never forget that smile because my daughter still wears it. They said that they were so glad we were willing to meet with them again, in person, so they could tell us that they would like us to be the adoptive parents to the baby.

Jesse wasn't able to say anything, so I said thank you. Thank you for the card, for wanting to meet with us, for this gift. They also thanked us for writing our profile, for being willing to be interviewed and for bring who we were. They were glad to begin a friendship with us.

I remember they said they'd like us to wait at the hospital during the birth.

And they said we should name her.

We talked for 2 more hours and ended the visit with a plan to meet again the next day for bowling.

Jesse and I drove back to our hotel and hugged & kiss each other before calling our families. This was something I'd waited a long time to do - announce the expectation of our child! 2 weeks! Due in 2 weeks!

After dinner (I have no memory of eating), we went to Babies R Us and we each picked out an outfit for our baby.

One Year Ago, part 2

One Year Ago, yesterday, we met Epiphany's birth parents for the first time. We sat in a room waiting for them and then we heard them enter the main doors of the building and the ladies at the front desk greeted them. We heard them walk down the hallway.

My memories of first seeing them are dim. It was such a rush of excitement and nerves that the moment past without much imprint.

I remember wondering if I should introduce myself with my last name or not.
I remember thinking my palms were sweaty.
I remember hoping I didn't stutter or stumble over my words.

I remember seeing a well-built, dark haired man with a black dog and woman whose pregnancy wasn't immediately noticeable. I remember thinking that was how my mom carried my youngest brother. She was short, with curly hair and was dressed in comfortable pants and shirt with a sweater. It was wonderfully warm for March 1st.

Our caseworker, Cara, began with some general introductions and since they had both brought notepads with them, she offered to let them ask anything they wanted.

I remember feeling like they knew all about us, from the information off our profile, but I didn't know anything about them. I felt comfortable with the way they looked at us, smiled, looked as awkward as I felt.

We were asked questions and we got to ask them a few questions. I wasn't sure what to ask so it wouldn't seem like prying. We heard how they met and how he proposed. We heard about his mission trip to East Europe and her trip to China. He called himself a "Sports Dork" and she liked to write and read.

Our first visit was comfortable and we felt there was room for a friendship to grow. We were excited and worn out.

A year ago we met two people who changed our lives. Our adoption story has been one of great grace, ease and smooth sailing. And a large part of our joy was made possible by two people who cared, loved and freely gave.

One Year Ago Today, part 1

One year ago today Jesse and I were staying with our nieces and nephews while their mom and dad had a weekend away. I was at work in the afternoon when I got a call from the adoption agency we worked with.

"A birth family liked your profile and wants to interview you."

The call we'd be waiting for, the call expressing interest, had come. Someone had read our profile, added us to their "maybe" pile and decided to meet us.

Coming to the decision to adopt is difficult. I've seen a young woman ready to give a gift, a young man who wasn't able to handle the decision, and a couple searching for direction as time draws near. I appreciated that our adoption agency encouraged an interview process; a chance for both families to meet, talk, hear each other laugh and prepare for a new relationship.

I took down all the details I could, told our case worker we'd call her tomorrow and called Jesse. We talked quickly since he was in the middle of full time Uncle Afternoon, but his encouraging words were that there were no red flags. No concerns. No immediate hesitation.We'd never come to this stage in the adoption process before and we were ready to proceed.

I called the agency back and set up an appointment for Friday, March 1st.

Happy Sabbath

Sabbath means singing psalms with kids on laps. Kids that you poke and tickle and they laugh.

Sabbath is choir and kneeling and folded hands. It's congregational and bodily.

Sabbath is lovely our neighbors, starting in and working outward. Latimer is set aside and husbands are cared for.

Sabbath is a day of rest. It's watching the premeir of Stargate Universe while eating ham-cheese-squash-cilantro-corn-carrot quiche and sourdough bread. It's 2 hour naps, speed Scrabble, blogs, facebook and books.

Sabbath is making brownies to the glory of God. And eating them to His glory too. Amen!!

Happy Sabbath!

New things

As I prepare for marriage and a radical change in my life, I realise what I've been given and where I have been for the last 22 years.

*I have been set down in a godly family. My dad has been the most wonderful dad that I could have ever imagined. Even better than that. He has led me through many tricky spots, he has corrected me and chastened me, and he has loved me continually. My mom has always given us girls the best. Best training, in fact. She home schooled us through many grades, subjects, and family interruptions. She taught me how to sew, to cook, to clean, and to do all with a cheerful attitude.

*I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. How many girls can say that? I have joyous memories of sharing a room with each of my sisters (and actually the boys too! lol Robert must have been 4 and George was a new born when there were four kids in one room that year).

*I have known city life, town life, and country life. My dad took a position teaching at Veritas Academy in PA and we lived right in the heart of Amish country. What an experience!

*I have enjoyed being close to, and living near my grandparents all my life. My grandparents are most wise and I am grateful for their presence in my life. They've been to every birthday celebration (minus two, I think) and many choir performances and piano recitals. They have given me great gifts of time with them, walks, trips to Lewiston to feed the ducks, dinner out, shopping trips together, Easter egg coloring, "Grandma day", and the amazingly special memories of welcoming Grandad home from work on his lunch break.
When we heard the garage door open, we all would shout "GRANDAD!". And his response would vary. Sometimes he said "Woof! Woof!" Sometimes he said "Quack! Quack!" :-) But he always smiled really big and I knew that we made him happy.

Times are changing. I'm thankful that my fiance' isn't moving me across the country, or far, far away. I'll be happy to handle the new change of "wife" without the added difference of a strange environment. But, of course, if he decides to move I'll go with him, cheerfully and willingly. And he knows it.

All I did was sort through childhood photos and this is the post I wrote! :-)

God is good.