“I told myself I’d stay single, just roll with things. Doesn’t God just laugh when we make plans?! Rather quickly, we were pregnant…both of us were 38! He had 2 kids already and so did I, what in the world were we going to do?!”
‘Divorced, I told myself I was done. No more messing up marriages. Then a good friend from high school messaged me.’: Woman shares journey to beautifully blended family
‘Jeffery was where he belonged and I wouldn’t give him up for anything. He’ll never be hurt by anyone ever again.’: Widow finalizes adoption of nephew with Shaken Baby Syndrome
“Jeffery will always struggle to catch up with others his age, but I will be right here pushing him to be all he can be. Jeffery is the best of us all and deserves the world.”
‘They didn’t stay because he was ‘lifeless,’ leaving Jeffery with the nurses and machines for company. I knew I had to be there for him.’: Aunt details caring for Shaken Baby Syndrome survivor
“The second we got off the elevator my heart dropped to my feet. I wasn’t ready for what I was about to see. We walked only a few hundred feet but it seemed like miles. I remember the smell of saline and alcohol as if I was there. The beeping and the sounds of the machines working to keep my nephew alive still haunt my dreams.”
‘Mommy, will the new baby be autistic?’ asked my 7-year-old. ‘We’re so lucky to have Koimburi!’: Special needs mom moved to tears after daughter’s sweet moment of inclusivity
“I’d racked my brain for all the reasons she was asking. Was she hoping for a different kind of connection than with her autistic brother? A different kind of play experience with her new sibling? Tears welled in my eyes, moved by her matter-of-fact, whole-hearted acceptance.”
‘At 18, my mom asked, ‘Would you like to have a letter your birth mom wrote when you were born?’: Adoptee shares beautiful relationship with birth mother, 4 bio siblings
“Before that day, I had not been told my birth mom’s name. After reading her letter, I looked her up online and followed her on Instagram. She instantly messaged me. Growing up, I often wondered what my birth mom would be like, but I never imagined she would be such a beautiful person inside and out.”
‘Being a big sister was not supposed to be kissing an urn before bedtime each night.’: Mom shares gift of rainbow baby boy after heartbreaking loss
“I had visions of three beautiful girls dancing throughout my house. Two big sisters meeting their little sister in the hospital. Everything I ever hoped and dreamed for crashed to the ground.”
‘6 years old, she showed up at my house in the pouring rain and blurted out, ‘They said they don’t want me anymore. You can have me.’: Mom of 6 shares emotional adoption journey
“I was 24 years old, single, living in a different country, and already had two children. But I knew in my gut Michaelle staying with me was the right thing. After a few months, she scooted over in her bed and said, ‘Look, mom, we have room for one more.’ I nearly choked, but I couldn’t deny I felt the same tug in my spirit. Little did I know, she had a sister.”
‘Having her tell us how her heart was broken in half nearly destroyed me. Her biggest wish was to be a sister.’: Mom shares family journey, failed adoption of baby boy
“We spent Thanksgiving with our family who would meet Luca for the first time… and say their goodbyes. When he left, he took a piece of my heart with him.”
‘You’re so mad at me. You hate me?’ Moms make mistakes too.’: Mom shares parenting lesson learned over spilled milk
“Sometimes we make mistakes as parents, and we have to model kindness and humility to our children: we have flaws too.”
‘I’ll never forget sitting in the lobby of the orphanage and seeing him come around the corner.’: Dad shares emotional international adoption journey
“‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’ sung by Michael Bublé, came onto the radio, and I had tears in my eyes thinking about another full bedroom in our home.”