Our birthmother selected us two months before her baby was due. We did not meet her prior to delivery, but we did know she wanted to present the baby to us at placement. Since we had not yet met her, this was a terrifying thought. What would we say to her? It would be so awkward.

On the day of placement, we walked into the room at Sunny Ridge to find a lovely young woman quietly rocking a beautiful baby boy, our baby boy. As soon as we saw her and began talking, all our fears melted away. She is a very mature, sensitive, and straight forward kind of person, a person we have the greatest respect for, a person of courage and strong values. The next hour with her, her mother, her sister, and a close family friend, and our new son, was tender and precious. We talked about the baby, his birth, his eating habits, his "family" ears, and his blue eyes. It was so special for us. She and her family gave us gifts for him.

We joined hands for a prayer. There were hugs and tears. She said good-bye to her son and placed him in our arms. That day was such an incredible memory. For on that day, we received from our birthmother the greatest gift one can give.

Adoption has been a totally positive experience for us. Our son is loved and adored by our family. He fits so perfectly into our family that we have no doubt that from the very beginning to the end, our adoption process was guided by our Heavenly Father, who had a special plan for us and for our son. We correspond with David’s birthmother every six weeks or so, through Sunny Ridge. We send pictures and tell her about all the wonderful things David is doing and how much he is growing. She writes to us and to David, too. We are saving all of her letters in a safe place for him, for a time when he is old enough to understand them.

The idea of sharing glimpses of our child’s life with his birthmother through letters and pictures struck us as a great privilege, enabling us in a very small way to return to her a tiny portion of the great joy and priceless gift she had given to us.

The degree of openness we share with his birthmother seems as comfortable for her as it is for us. Adoption has provided a way for God to give us the desire of our hearts: a son to love. Open adoption has wiped away the many fears and questions we would have had concerning his birthmother. Open adoption provides her with reassurance, through letters and pictures we send, that her biological child is receiving the love and care she so diligently and bravely sought for him.

Update: April 2004
I am the birthmother referred to in the above story. It is now 14 years and another adoption later. Our story is very unique, not only because there are two children involved, but because we are so close. We are closer than either family ever could have imagined. We stay in touch through every "outlet" on a regular basis. We try to visit at least once a year. They were even a big part of my wedding in September 2002. Their attendance at this blessed event made it possible for my other siblings and family members to meet them for the FIRST time. It was an awesome experience. I never, in a million years, expected these two wonderful children I made an adoption plan for, to be at my wedding.

My husband and his family are very accepting of them and our unique situation. They felt honored to have met them at our wedding. My family has exchanged contact information with the boys parents and correspond freely, as if these boys and their family are just an extended part of our family. My husband and I have no children yet, but know that this adoptive family will be an intricate part of our children's lives.

We now live on opposite coasts from one another, but nevertheless continue to grow, "live" and pray together. These special boys are, no doubt, loved and nurtured by both adoptive and birth families. They are now 14 and 12 years old, and will never doubt the love and dedication their birthmother and birth family had/has for them.

We are all aware that our Lord Jesus has been the guiding hand of our relationship. It is through Him that we continue to grow together. I thank Him for blessing me with this wonderful adoptive family. There is nothing I would not do for them.

I wanted to update and share my story hoping it would bring encouragement to other birth moms or families waiting to adopt. My adoption counselor is Becky MacDougall, she is a wonderful, caring and loving person. She really pulled through for me when times looked too bleak to go on. I love her dearly.