Submissions Celebrating National Adoption Month

If you would like to share your story about how adoption has blessed your life click on the email me button on the sidebar of the blog and send it to Jenni. We'll let you know what date your story will be published!

Feel free to change names or keep names, send photos or not. But do share, please!

Our Story, Part I

Eleven years ago, when people could come and go inside airports as they pleased, I flew from Salt Lake to Atlanta to visit my sister. Upon leaving, she and two of her children were with me to say goodbye at the terminal, I was bawling, of course, you know the “ugly cry.” I was one of the last to board the plane and tried leaning forward to look through the window back into the terminal to blow one last kiss and wave good-bye to my tearful sister. Bad idea. Or maybe not.

Loaded down with packages and a fully stuffed backpack I lost my balance and smacked right into the gentleman in front of me. Humiliated I thought if I could just get to my seat and on the plane I’d just cry all the way to Houston and then on to Salt Lake. Lo and behold that gentleman was seated next to me on the flight. That flight and an email account changed my life.

One year and multiple life changing moments later we were married. I was 32 and officially a late bloomer. I had no idea how late “to the party” I was. There was no question we wanted children and assumed all that would just naturally fall into place...after all hadn’t I done everything I was supposed to? Followed all the YW lessons, stayed true to my temple covenants, repented, stayed active, taught Gospel Doctrine, Relief Society, read my scriptures, prayed? But all too soon the procreative years were falling off the precipice of reality and the crushing weight of childlessness in a child-filled church was overwhelming. The fasting, prayer, and temple attendance so familiar to most of you became our lifeline. The Savior was the only one able to pull us through and he did in a most beautiful, tender way.

Our birthmother was 12 when we were married. We hadn’t met {in this life} yet. She would have been far too young and innocent for the experience ahead had she become our birthmother on my time table. I’m thankful for “unanswered” prayers. And so the 7 years that felt so precious, irretrievable and long-gone to me were the right amount of time for her to have the maturity necessary to make the most difficult and painful decision of her life. She is the most radiant, intelligent, and beautiful woman and birthmother I have ever met. And she gave us the daughter of our dreams who is also radiant, intelligent and beautiful. I feel so very blessed by them both. And in the process we gained an entire family to love and cherish.

Our polynesian birth father inaugurated us into the trans-racial world of adoption. We love him for giving Sydney a treasured heritage and the other half of her “designer” genes, as we like to call it.

Placement was its own form of painful, intense labor, and not because there was ever a risk or question but because we loved this family so much we could hardly bear to see them suffer through the events that transpired 48 hours after Sydney’s birth. It was tremendously joyful to bring home the most beautiful baby known to man but also tinged with heartache, sorrow, and loss. It is difficult to describe and for many difficult to understand.


Sydney made everything better. The sun shone again. Birds sang. The world was new and exciting. Mark and I raced to be the one to feed her in the middle of the night. The one who got to her first got to rock her while the other made her bottles. She had the full and devoted attention of two people who had waited and anticipated her arrival for 7 long years {and you might as well know, I waited not just 7 years but my whole life for her. I came to earth wanting nothing more than to be a mother}. I felt that if she was all there ever was, she was more than enough. But the Lord had more in store...

Our Story, Part II

Somewhere along the way we felt like we had so much love to share. There was that nagging little feeling that another spirit was waiting and the spirit seemed to whisper, “Hurry up.” Within days of completing our application with LDSFS we were chosen by a birthmother who was carrying a son. Mark’s dream was about to come true. It all seemed so “meant to be” and yet didn’t feel quite right. There were lots of complications and other issues kept cropping up. It was a very stressful time. All the while I was trying to shield Sydney from disappointment and pain. Our adoption plan headed south. We decided to go private. Flippantly I thought, “it will never work. We can’t afford it. I want a birth mom I can connect to like I did the first time. I’ll just trust in the Lord. Surely, He understands and knows my plan.”

A week later I was in the throes of preparing my keynote speech for girls camp; readying myself for youth conference and getting my house spruced up  for my mom and sister’s arrival. They were going to stay with Sydney while I went to camp and fulfilled all my many church assignments. Meanwhile Mark had continued to pursue the private course,  finding a referral service and identifying potential situations for which we would be considered. He identified two. I nonchalantly agreed hardly paying attention to the details of birth parents, race, or due dates. Afterall, I had prayed and agreed to “just trust in the Lord” advise the Lord as to what my desires were again!

As the Monday before camp arrived I said something like this in my morning prayer, “Dear Heavenly Father, I’m thankful {fill in the usual phrases including all my many blessings}...but you know what my week looks like and you know all the many things I have to get done to be prepared to teach and be with the young women...please help me get all these things accomplished.” Had I actually been listening I think I may have heard him tell me, “Yes, many things my dear, but I have another plan in store for you and it will be hard but I will help you get it done. I promise.” Instead I packed everyone up and headed off shopping for swag to give out at camp and off to the zoo. It was a hot day in June. Texas hot.

As we got back to the car and started re-hydrating Sydney my cell phone rang. I answered and Mark told me we had been chosen and needed to be in Tyler as soon as possible to pick up our son. Dumbfounded. I was so shocked I asked him what the baby was a boy or a girl. The “duh” in his voice was pretty gentle considering he’d just told me we needed to pick up our son. I was overwhelmed. This was nowhere on my list. I checked it twice. Nope.



We made phone calls, arrangements, excuses and left town to meet our son and his birthmother. We spent two hours going over names and finally agreed to leave it alone for awhile. We met our 2nd birthmother who was very different from our first. I can’t imagine her pain and sorrow {I know we always say that but seriously...} except I know that the 11 month-old jumping on the bed, throwing his bottle, and hitting the baby, and who was also her first son gave her every evidence she needed to know that both boys would suffer if she tried to single parent two boys under one and she knew it. Originally she had planned an abortion but couldn’t go through with it and so, called an agency to make an adoption plan. Though I don’t think she seriously considered backing out she did delay signing for nearly 9 hours. I was so nervous I sprayed Sydney down with hairspray thinking it was sunscreen and couldn’t figure out why she was so sticky as we played at the park while waiting. That little spark who came virtually out of the dark became our #2, as well.



Samuel was such a shock. It was a breeze to buy things for him but an adjustment to get used to the idea of being parents to two. He quickly stole our hearts and has found that we are just as eager to be his parents and champions of his milestones. His gifts and talents are equally amazing and we delight in his brilliance, humor, and quick wit. He has blessed our lives immeasurably and taught us things we’d never have known. He draws people into conversation and has such a sparkle about him {except when he is screaming bloody murder so he doesn’t have to go to nursery}.

Adoption was never on my radar growing up. It wasn’t meant to be my story, don’t you know? I had written a totally different story for myself and as it turns out, it would have been a cheap dime store novel but the Lord put me among the best-sellers with his version and in time I hope he is able to turn us into a “family classic.” We love the Savior and are grateful for his plan. We’ve learned so much about the principle of adoption and hope to be able to continue the symbiotic process of sharing and learning from the members of FSA, Houston and San Antonio. I’m sure you’ve got a few best-sellers, yourself and we are anxious to “read” every single one!

Please come and be a part of what is going to be a wild and wonderful year!

Reins and Responsiblity

Hi! My name is Sylvia. My husband is Mark. We have been given the opportunity to serve as the co-chairs for Families Supporting Adoption, Houston Chapter. Thus we've been given the Reins of Leadership and the Responsibility to offer something of worth to those we serve.

I am excited about this for two reasons. First I have two tremendous blessings who happened to come to us through the power of adoption. So...does this sound familiar? "Because I have been given much I too must give..."

Second, as a group we have so much to give to each other in way of information, ideas, and stories that can bless each other. Our children will benefit from our willingness to "bear one another's burdens" and sometimes, "mourn with those who mourn."

I, of course hope that there is more joy than mourning among us but we have been given to each other to know and understand--even empathize in a way that others who have not worn these shoes cannot.

To those in San Antonio with whom we share this blog and this bond, "hello!" I look forward to meeting you. I have been reading over your blogs and profiles. I am enjoying getting to know many of you and hope to have a chance to get to know you. I suppose it is only fair for you to get to know our family. Over the next few days I will "reveal" {haahaa} our story to you on this blog. Are you excited? We also have a group on Face Book {or is that one word now}. If you'd like an invitation, request one. I'll try to email the Houston Group. Search for it on FB as Families Supporting Adoption, Houston Chapter. I think you'll find it. It may also be on my profile {I'm excited to answer your friend request and induct you into our FB Group!}

Exciting things are in our future. I do look forward to getting to know you better. Please join us on this leg of our journey and let's make it memorable indeed!

First Aid and CPR Class in our area

I just found out about this class, if anyone needs to update or certify for their adoption.
Jenni


First Aid & CPR class
Date: October 16, 2010
Place: LDS Church 16333 Hafer Rd. Houston, Texas 77090
Time: 9:00am. to 1:00pm.
Cost: $30.00 per person

These classes provide the very latest guidelines in CPR for an adult, child and infant. The latest in the most effective educational techniques and technologies to teach you the current guidelines for first aid and resuscitation..

Please call or email me and let me know you are interested in taking the class... I will need your payment by Oct. 13th... Mail your checks to: Lucy Stern 15707 Autumnbrook Dr. Houston, Texas 77068 Space is limited so let me know if you are interested....I need to turn in the number of people attending by the night of the 13th. so that they can get their materials together.

If you have questions, please contact
Lucy Stern, Houston North Stake
281-444-8504