I remember the day my niece Bayley was born like it was yesterday. I was spending the night at my parents house because my sister Leigh Ann was to be induced the next day. We had all of our things ready, cameras, baby quilt, magazines, etc. We finally settled down and went to bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, the phone rang. It was Leigh Ann. She was in labor!!!! Up we were and on our way. Thank goodness it was the middle of the night because there was fewer people to see the 3 crazy people running through the hospital to labor and delivery. There was so much excitement in that waiting room. Every time a baby was born they would play a lullaby on the overhead speakers in the waiting room. So, naturally every time it played we would get so excited.
Finally, at 6:58 am on January 16, 1997, the lullaby played announcing the birth of my beautiful niece, Lauren Bayley Sharp. Moments later Keith, my brother-in-law came through the doors that we all had been staring at for so long. He told us all about her and then soon after we all got to go back and meet her. I was the first to hold her. It was a moment I will never forget. She was perfect!! As she was passed around the room, I remember watching my sister and how happy she was and how happy everybody else was and I thought to myself, I can't wait for the day I get to experience this same thing.
Well, God had a different plan for me than my sister. My plan is adoption. And what a plan it is. It is a journey filled with excitement, anticipation, waiting, heartache, patience, longing, disappointment and happiness. It is a journey not for the weak of heart. It will literally test you emotionally, physically and spiritually. I have good days and I have really bad days. I have questioned God more times in this journey than others do in a lifetime.
I don't mean to make adoption sound like a bad thing. It is the best decision I have ever made. I know without a doubt this is my purpose in life. I also know that God has prepared me for this journey. He has made me into one pretty tough cookie.
I have experienced so many things throughout our journey so far that I would have missed out on had we not made this decision. There is a group of ladies from my adoption agency that I have had the privilege of becoming friends with because of adoption. We have never met in person but they are ladies that I can count on to be there if I just want to talk about the frustrations of waiting. They are a source of needed encouragement on the really bad days. So, Sheri, Ellyn, Karen, Aimee, I thank you. I am honored to be on this journey with you.
For those of you that are reading this, if you have questions about adoption or if you feel a little tug on your heart, look into it. It is an amazing journey. For the rest of you, please just pray for those of us that are waiting.