lindseyandjay

How exciting to have another Abrazo baby boy in northwest TN!! Congratulations to all!

I think this is a very interesting topic. I truly feel that God puts those desires for children in our hearts, whether it's the first, second, or sixth child. Why should any of our children be any less desired than the first? A wise piece of advice someone gave me as we were struggling with how or when we would ever become parents when we wanted it so badly was to pray that God remove that desire from our hearts if he did not intend for us to be parents. We prayed that fervently, but the desire only became stronger. That is when I knew that God did have a plan for us to be parents. I just had to be patient and wait for His timing. A few months after we brought Quinton home, I began to feel those urges again for another child. I certainly had the thoughts you mentioned of "what are you thinking? You finally have a child and all you want is another one." But I prayed again that God would give me a peace about it, that I would be content with my one child or still desiring a second. Those feelings never changed, so we did not have to think twice when Quinton's birthparents asked us to parent another little boy, just 10 months later. I was already emotionally prepared for that. Now the same feelings have surfaced again, so I'm praying again. But I just really believe that God has a way of coordinating our desires and emotions with His plan. Some people respond better to being surprised by an opportunity to parent a second or subsequent child, and God knows that too. Not to say that whatever we want we will always get, of course, but it's all just part of THE big picture. Not sure if any of this makes much sense. It's hard to put it into words. But I certainly don't think that you should feel any less entitled to another child than anyone else. God has a specific plan for each person. Just my two cents! Lindsey

That sounds like how we started out! It's a lot to do, but a week is plenty of time. So glad we went for it instead of waiting.

Congratulations to such a sweet family!!!!

Jen, we used Microsoft Publisher to create our profile, and it worked great! It makes it really easy to make copies and change things as needed. I think you should go for it!! Lindsey

Thanks, everyone!! I didn't realize he was the first boy of the year! We are doubly blessed!!! I put some pictures in the gallery in Quinton's album. They look A LOT alike, at least in comparing their NICU pictures. He is doing well, breathing all on his own now. We just have to wait for him to get bigger and stronger. Maralou, I particularly liked your idea that mom will get whatever she wants with all these little boys around. Sounds like a plan!!

Ooh, so true!! LOTS of His fingerprints.

Finalization can't come soon enough!!! That's all I can say about that. :angry:

What a sweet little angel she is! It is so good to know that she is doing so well and that her birthmom knows it! A little burden lifted from my heart, for sure. Indeed, God is good!!

Elizabeth, thank you for starting this topic. These types of questions have been on my mind a lot lately. Because we are in the ministry and are now adoptive parents, I feel like people expect us to have all the "correct" answers to any questions such as these. Yet, it's such a complex issue, to put it lightly! Stephanie, I appreciate your responses. I feel as if you and I are on the same page most of the time! One thing that I hear a lot from people outside the adoption community: "I think adoption is a beautiful picture of what Christ did for us by adopting us into his family." I would be interested to hear what you all think about that statement. Something about it just doesn't make me feel right. Any thoughts?

I have a very close friend who recently shared with us her and her husband's decision to begin the process of adopting a child from Russia. We were totally shocked to hear this since we did not realize they were even thinking of expanding their family right now. But I have been so excited that one of my very closest friends (since preschool!) will be someone that will understand the emotions and experiences of not being able to carry a child, of the whole process of adoption, and of the issues the adopted child will face throughout his life. We have already had some opportunities to "vent" to each other about the things people say, etc. But our adoption experiences are going to be so different that I'm afraid we're going to disagree on some things. An open domestic adoption and an obviously closed international adoption are just very different. She has admitted to me that the reason she decided on international was that she couldn't handle the thought of a birthparent changing his or her mind. (We do have a 10? or 14? day period in which that can happen in TN). I don't remember that ever being a consideration when we decided on domestic. She also talked about some adoptees who spoke at a training they had to attend who said that they have no desire to know who their birthparents are, that their adoptive parents are all the security they need, etc. (which is totally the opposite of what we heard at our "training"!) But I just don't believe that. I think that if we're being honest, EVERYONE wants to know where he came from. That's just human nature. I can't imagine anyone ever being truly content to have that "void" in their life story. Maybe I'm wrong, and I know that it's just not possible to know in many situations, so maybe God is able to give those people a peace in not knowing. International adoption is just a totally different experience. Yet, it's undoubtedly a good thing that these children are being placed in good homes, just as our domestic adoptees are. I just think that prospective adoptive parents often do not do enough research before they begin the adoption process. It's easy to think about what's easiest for us and not what's best for the child. I never thought through a lot of this either until later. It's just really been on my mind lately due to this news from my friend and to our thinking through what our next adoption experience may be, as we hope to begin that process fairly soon.

Amen, Stephanie!! I think about this precious baby all the time.

Stephanie, I know how you feel! There's just something about the thought of that little angel in the NICU all alone that makes me want to rescue her right away! We're not eligible to take such action right now, of course. But having been through the NICU experience, as hard as it was, I would do it again in a heartbeat now that I know the joy of bringing that precious life home. Hopefully someone will feel God's leading very soon.

CONGRATULATIONS, ASHLEY AND TED!!!!!

I have a REALLY GOOD feeling that something's about to happen!!

YEAH!!!! BRUCE AND DYANNA!!!! AND BABY GIRL!!!! So excited for you!! Can't wait to hear all about it!!!

Wow, Jennifer. That is such a horrible thing to say, and from your mother-in-law! I'm a very non-confrontational person, but if anyone ever says anything like that about my four miscarried babies, I will no doubt lose all the cool I've ever had! And to suggest that God would EVER make a mistake. Wow, that's a lot of nerve. I believe with all my heart that my four precious babies are alive and well at Jesus' side. Oh, to be there with them someday!!