One of the Greatest Moments in my Life

Its hard to narrow down the many wonderful aha! moments in my life to just one but this one is definitely at the top of the list .

My first great moment was the very second I knew I was really going to bring my adoptive son home with me in four short days. Due to reproductive issues that necessitated a hysterectomy at 39 I was unable to have children of my own so I decided to pursue adoption. I found out that persistence was a great tool to have when dealing with state agencies. I had to appeal to the state office of adoptions to get the necessary parenting classes that seemed to be impossible to find in my local area and once that happened I erroneously thought I was on my way. Surely it couldn't take that long, after all ads were everywhere asking for adoptive and foster parents in my state, especially African American children. I wasn't even asking for a newborn. Naively I searched out adoptable children on a number of websites including one in my state and contacted the local state agencies and was sure they would jump at the chance to get an educated, independent, employed African American woman... Was I ever wrong! When they found out I was a nurse they wanted me to take medically fragile children that need continuos care, translated into around the clock, which I , as a single parent could not adequately provide. The next time they said we have a healthy 4 year old boy you can adopt... if you take his 2 year old sister who has AIDS.... I explained again to the social workers that I wanted a healthy child, I could not work as a nurse at my job all day and then nurse a child all night and I certainly did not want to adopt a child at my age that was so critically ill.

I went around and around with them until a friend of a friend who adopted a child referred me to a private agency she used. What a difference! They talked to me and we decided on a semi open adoption. I wrote a letter to a potential birthmother, filled up a photo album about myself, my life, and my close family and waited. Within weeks my case worker called and said a birthmother picked you out, everything is all set. I had the baby room ready, told everyone, I was so excited. The birthmom had them call me when she delivered to see if I wanted to have the baby circumcised and what i wanted to name him.

5 days into the 10 day surrender period I went to the store and in the parking lot a gentleman walked up to me and said I don't want to scare you but the Lord said to tell you that your due season is not yet but its on the way. I had no idea what he meant... until I got home. My caseworker called and said the birthmom gave the baby to someone else. I was devasted, I literally cried until I had to be sedated because I felt like my baby died, if that makes sense to you. I told the caseworker I didn't want to know again until the 10 day periods were over. A week later she sent me pictures of a beautiful baby boy and said I just had to tell you, in 2 more days he'll be yours. Ironically the surrender period ended at midnight on Thanksgiving 1999.

I truly had something to be thankfull for, I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on him and his birthmom placed him in my arms. He is the love of my life and we have been inseparable ever since. Its tickles both of us when people comment on how much he favors me.
Nothing is greater than being blessed with a child.