Today is my baby sister's 23rd birthday. Happy Birthday, Autumn!
It was 23 years ago that my prayers for a sister were answered. My dad came and picked me up from school early because my sister's birthmother was in labor. We got to the hospital and waited. and waited. and waited. Until finally my mom came out and told us we had a girl. I knew we had a girl already. I had prayed for a baby sister and I knew when my parents decided to adopt that baby that it would be a girl. My parents trusted the doctor when he said SHE was a boy. The bought boy clothes, boy diapers, and, well, boy stuff. I told them to buy pink but no one listened to me. Dad had to exchange everything. <giggle>
Autumn was a little bity bit when she came home. She weighed less than 5 pounds and could fit in my Cabbage Patch Preemie doll clothes. Mom and dad had to special order her bottles and her diapers. 23 years ago they didn't carry preemie diapers at local stores and we couldn't find 2 ounce bottles with preemie nipples anywhere. She was just so tiny and cute.
Anyway, I'm happy to call Autumn my sister. She's become a beautiful young woman who loves God. I'm proud of her. I'm thankful to God for giving her to us.
Happy Birthday, Autumn; I love you!!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Beth on being adopted as an infant
Today's adoption story comes from my dear friend, Beth. Beth and I met about 6 or so years ago online. She has been an awesome friend and I have loved getting to know her. She lives in East Texas and owns her own business. She's the momma to several little doggies (I just love seeing pics of them!) and has done a wonderful job of helping her dad raise her younger brother. Beth is a very inspirational young woman! Thank you, Beth, for sharing with us.
Adoption has always been something very special to me, since I was adopted as a baby. To try and put it simply, my aunt & uncle adopted me from my aunt's older sister, and became my parents. It was not an easy process though, adoption never is.
I was born early on a snowy morning in late December to a woman who was wonderful but into some habits that were not. She was older and already a mom to two grown children: a daughter that would become pregnant with her oldest 6 months after her mother realized she was pregnant, and a son. I could have been terminated, but thankfully my birth mother did not believe in that. She gave birth to me, and my family being the close one that it was was all there. My future mother held me not knowing that one day she would become "Mom" to me. My birth mother took me home, where ever home was at the time. At one time after I was born I believe her home was with her older sister, another aunt of my maternal grandparents family. I was loved and cared for, but my birth mother knew that she could not continue to care for me as I should be cared for. Five months after I was born she gave me to the state of Texas to be placed for adoption. From there I believe she moved on to another place to live, and went about her life as best as she could.
Little did she know, her younger sister & her husband had already been trying to get pregnant for about 4 years now, without any luck. When the news came through the family grapevine that the older sister had given up her newest daughter for adoption, my future parents knew what they wanted to do.
They started the process with the state, filled out the paperwork, passed all kinds of tests and background checks. They were allowed supervised visits with me in a secure facility every 2-3 weeks for only 30 minutes at a time. They were fighting the State of Texas for custody, so they had to have a lawyer to help with the proceedings. An ad was even put in the local paper to let my birth father know I was up for adoption, and he could put a stop to it if he wanted. No one ever came forward. I don't know who my birth father is. Honestly, he was probably the kind of guy who didn't even know he got someone pregnant, and that's ok. The process took months though, and my family stayed strong with lots of support and prayers, as well as completing family reference letters. My maternal grandparents & extended family were really excited about the idea of me staying "in the family".
My future parents were not the only ones applying to adopt me. My foster parents who had several other children wanted to adopt me as well. There was one time that my future parents got to visit me in the foster parents' home, and after that my foster family decided not to try and adopt me.
The time came for the house inspection visit, and my future mother was nervous. My future parents owned their own house, and everything was very clean and well cared for, but not new. They also had three dogs, and that caused extra worry. The anxiety of maybe not being the perfect parents didn't get to them though. They aced that inspection! Turns out the inspector was very similar to my future mother, and she loved dogs as well.
Three long months after becoming a ward of the state, my future parents officially became my legal parents-- the only people I'd ever consider parents. My future parents and I were late to our court proceedings because I had to be changed first. I think that made a good impression on the judge. In the courtroom the day it became official the judge said to my parents with a smile, "Now you know you can't bring her back." Haha! After all the hard work, stress and prayers they had just been through, they never wanted to consider the possibility of giving me back!
I was probably four years old when my mother told me I was adopted. It did not stress me out a bit. In fact since that day I've been proud to be adopted, and not ashamed to tell anyone about it. I am blessed and very thankful that I was adopted within my family. I grew up under a watchful eye because my birth mother would make kidnapping threats while under the influence. Aside from that I grew up hearing the good stories about her, and I know what qualities & talents that I have that are from her. I've always been the "weird" one in my family because I like different things, and that's ok because I'm adopted. Unlike some other adopted children, I never wondered about why I am the way I am. I don't have this need to find my birth parents because I met my birth mother before she died.
I wish it was my mom writing this story. She's no longer with me, so I'm relying on stories she and other family members told me. My dad, who doesn't talk about things like this unless you ask him, was glad to fill in the details. The adoption process took place in 3 months, but the love I have for them will last a lifetime.
Adoption has always been something very special to me, since I was adopted as a baby. To try and put it simply, my aunt & uncle adopted me from my aunt's older sister, and became my parents. It was not an easy process though, adoption never is.
I was born early on a snowy morning in late December to a woman who was wonderful but into some habits that were not. She was older and already a mom to two grown children: a daughter that would become pregnant with her oldest 6 months after her mother realized she was pregnant, and a son. I could have been terminated, but thankfully my birth mother did not believe in that. She gave birth to me, and my family being the close one that it was was all there. My future mother held me not knowing that one day she would become "Mom" to me. My birth mother took me home, where ever home was at the time. At one time after I was born I believe her home was with her older sister, another aunt of my maternal grandparents family. I was loved and cared for, but my birth mother knew that she could not continue to care for me as I should be cared for. Five months after I was born she gave me to the state of Texas to be placed for adoption. From there I believe she moved on to another place to live, and went about her life as best as she could.
Little did she know, her younger sister & her husband had already been trying to get pregnant for about 4 years now, without any luck. When the news came through the family grapevine that the older sister had given up her newest daughter for adoption, my future parents knew what they wanted to do.
They started the process with the state, filled out the paperwork, passed all kinds of tests and background checks. They were allowed supervised visits with me in a secure facility every 2-3 weeks for only 30 minutes at a time. They were fighting the State of Texas for custody, so they had to have a lawyer to help with the proceedings. An ad was even put in the local paper to let my birth father know I was up for adoption, and he could put a stop to it if he wanted. No one ever came forward. I don't know who my birth father is. Honestly, he was probably the kind of guy who didn't even know he got someone pregnant, and that's ok. The process took months though, and my family stayed strong with lots of support and prayers, as well as completing family reference letters. My maternal grandparents & extended family were really excited about the idea of me staying "in the family".
My future parents were not the only ones applying to adopt me. My foster parents who had several other children wanted to adopt me as well. There was one time that my future parents got to visit me in the foster parents' home, and after that my foster family decided not to try and adopt me.
The time came for the house inspection visit, and my future mother was nervous. My future parents owned their own house, and everything was very clean and well cared for, but not new. They also had three dogs, and that caused extra worry. The anxiety of maybe not being the perfect parents didn't get to them though. They aced that inspection! Turns out the inspector was very similar to my future mother, and she loved dogs as well.
Three long months after becoming a ward of the state, my future parents officially became my legal parents-- the only people I'd ever consider parents. My future parents and I were late to our court proceedings because I had to be changed first. I think that made a good impression on the judge. In the courtroom the day it became official the judge said to my parents with a smile, "Now you know you can't bring her back." Haha! After all the hard work, stress and prayers they had just been through, they never wanted to consider the possibility of giving me back!
I was probably four years old when my mother told me I was adopted. It did not stress me out a bit. In fact since that day I've been proud to be adopted, and not ashamed to tell anyone about it. I am blessed and very thankful that I was adopted within my family. I grew up under a watchful eye because my birth mother would make kidnapping threats while under the influence. Aside from that I grew up hearing the good stories about her, and I know what qualities & talents that I have that are from her. I've always been the "weird" one in my family because I like different things, and that's ok because I'm adopted. Unlike some other adopted children, I never wondered about why I am the way I am. I don't have this need to find my birth parents because I met my birth mother before she died.
I wish it was my mom writing this story. She's no longer with me, so I'm relying on stories she and other family members told me. My dad, who doesn't talk about things like this unless you ask him, was glad to fill in the details. The adoption process took place in 3 months, but the love I have for them will last a lifetime.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Today begins National Adoption Month
Adoption is close to my heart; some might even call it a passion. It would make my heart extremely glad if every single child in the world had a mommy and daddy to call their own and love them. Why do I love adoption? Am I adopted? No, I'm not. My sister is. She is the daughter that grew in our hearts but in someone else's womb. Is that why I love adoption? No, it's a very good reason but it's not why I love it. I love it because every single child should feel loved and cared for. Every one.
There are children all over the world who have no mom and dad to tuck them in at night. They have no one who tells them every day that they love them. No one to cook their meals with love (and make Momma loves me casserole). Every day there are children who wonder what it is like to be a part of a loving family.
Where are these children? There are children right here in America who need parents to love them. Some are homeless. Some are in childrens homes. Some are in foster care. There are children in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Mexico, and Haiti...just to name a few. There are babies, younger children, older children, teenagers. There are single children and sibling groups.
Isn't it expensive to adopt? Well, it can be. However, there are many ways to adopt. Some are expensive. Some are not. You do NOT have to be rich to adopt.
This month I will be featuring several guest bloggers. Two of those will be from my own family. My mom will tell you about her experience as an adoptive mother. My sister will be telling you what it is like to be adopted in a semi-open adoption situation. I'm waiting to hear back from some friends; hopefully they'll be sharing with you as well. Of course some time this month, I will be sharing what it is like to have a sibling that is adopted and tell you our adoption story from MY view.
I hope you enjoy what we have to share this month. Perhaps I can give you some helpful links too. Maybe I'll get you to think about adopting a child who needs a loving family. Maybe YOU can be that family!
There are children all over the world who have no mom and dad to tuck them in at night. They have no one who tells them every day that they love them. No one to cook their meals with love (and make Momma loves me casserole). Every day there are children who wonder what it is like to be a part of a loving family.
Where are these children? There are children right here in America who need parents to love them. Some are homeless. Some are in childrens homes. Some are in foster care. There are children in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Mexico, and Haiti...just to name a few. There are babies, younger children, older children, teenagers. There are single children and sibling groups.
Isn't it expensive to adopt? Well, it can be. However, there are many ways to adopt. Some are expensive. Some are not. You do NOT have to be rich to adopt.
This month I will be featuring several guest bloggers. Two of those will be from my own family. My mom will tell you about her experience as an adoptive mother. My sister will be telling you what it is like to be adopted in a semi-open adoption situation. I'm waiting to hear back from some friends; hopefully they'll be sharing with you as well. Of course some time this month, I will be sharing what it is like to have a sibling that is adopted and tell you our adoption story from MY view.
I hope you enjoy what we have to share this month. Perhaps I can give you some helpful links too. Maybe I'll get you to think about adopting a child who needs a loving family. Maybe YOU can be that family!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)