I am the oldest of six siblings. We are all adopted.
One of the things that I love most about being adopted is that each of us has our own story. God has brought our family together in many ways, and sharing each of our stories is always fun. Just as families have “birth stories” we have “how we became a family stories”. I won’t share them all, because it would take forever, but I will share my own. You’ll just have to imagine the joys and excitement of my brothers and sisters stories, which include the Chicago White Sox, a secret adoption, the Chicago el train, and more.
Because I’m the oldest, my story begins before my parents met. While in college, my mom got sick. She had cancer, and at the time, her doctors decided that a full hysterectomy was the best option. She was devastated, but trusted God. On my parents first date, she informed my dad that she was unable to have children, giving him the chance to back out early on. But he didn’t. You see, even before meeting my mom, my dad had considered the possibility of adopting as a single person. It was meant to be.
Fast forward six months, and my parents got married. Fast forward another 3 years, and I was born. My birthmother knew that she couldn’t keep me, and very selflessly chose to give me a life that she couldn’t. She never even saw me in the hospital, and that’s all I know about her. My favorite hospital fact is that when babies were going to be adopted, they were labeled with the last name Smith, after the head nurse. My bassinet said “Baby Boy Smith.” It was the way that private adoptions were. Private.
Coming off of Thanksgiving weekend, my parents received a phone call from my mom’s doctor. Knowing that my mom couldn’t have children, he wanted to know if my parents would be interested in adopting a baby that had been born. They quickly answered “YES!” The doctor replied, “wait, don’t you even want to know if it’s a girl or a boy?” My dad answered, “We don’t care if it’s a girl, a boy, or purple with polka dots! We want the baby!” (This part always gets to me!)
A few days later, my parents picked me up from the hospital, brought me home, and gently placed me under the Christmas tree.
Being adopted by my forever family has given me a life more wonderful than my birthmother could have imagined. Knowing that I was chosen, and that I am loved unconditionally is so amazing. And getting to be a part of the adoptions of my brothers and sisters has shown me over and over what a blessing adoption is. It brings tears of sorrow and happiness, but it is worth every moment.
Even better, being adopted by my Heavenly Father has given me life of grace and joy…forever.
mollie, thanks for sharing! hearing your take on adoption, as a grown adopted child, really blesses me. our adopted son is only two years old. my prayer is that his feelings will mirror yours in his future. praise jesus for folding us into HIS family!
this is such a beautiful story. thank you for sharing with us 🙂
~Andrea
lovely. thanks for this!
This is wonderful.
What a sweet story
I love hearing about these sorts of stories! Love it!
Beautiful! I love hearing the perspective of a child who was adopted. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
placed you under the christmas tree? that is the sweetest thing i've ever heard.
loved this story!
Danielle,
I am SO enjoying your line up of adoption stories. Seriously, making my heart smile.
You have left your blog in very good hands!
xo,
Brhea Koneman
noplacelykehome.blogspot.com