Christmas Blessings: God's Adoption Gifts

When I think about the best Christmas present I've ever received, my mind immediately goes to our adoptions.  Not just because our children are incredible gifts (they are!), but also because we've had many important moments for all three of our children's adoptions happen right at Christmas time.

In 2010, the very first time we started the adoption process, we received our "scrapbook" right before Christmas.  This is the scrapbook that our agency makes about our lives to show potential birthmothers.

With every single adoption, receiving our book is what made it become real.  Here is what our child's birthmother will see.  She will choose our family based off of what she loves in our book.   Our scrapbook is like our ultrasound; our connection to our birthmother and baby.  I felt for the first time that this adoption was really happening: we were going to have a baby!

So my favorite gift of 2010 was that we were officially "expecting".

Jim surprised me with a rocking chair for our nursery - so many tears of joy!

The second time around in 2012, we were matched with a birthmother who was due at the beginning of January. But when Santa Claus was putting out all of the presents at 11:30pm on Christmas Eve, we got the call that she went into labor.  We spent all day Christmas at the hospital, but our son B held out til the 26th!

So, of course, our son was our favorite (belated) Christmas gift of 2012.

Celebrating Christmas a few days late, but with our newest family member!

Last year, we were matched with a birthmother due with twin girls.  Twins!  We had a gender reveal with ornaments for both of our families.  We were thrilled!

But shortly after Christmas, this match fell through.  Even though I was devastated, this fall-through really helped me to grow closer to my husband and to God while we grieved our loss.  I still think about those girls (especially with Christmas coming up), but I know God's plan is the best one for us, no matter how difficult it might be at times.  He has never failed us.  He sent us the perfect little one in our son L only a few months later.  He was the child who was always meant to be in our family!

So my favorite gift of 2014 was a "divine smack" as I call it.  A little push to strengthen my trust in God, my faith, and my marriage.

We may be celebrating one First Christmas this year instead of two,
but we couldn't be any more in love with the little one God blessed us with!

What are your favorite gifts of faith and family that you've received at Christmastime?


Merry Christmas to you and your family!  May you be richly blessed with love and joy in celebrating the Birth of Christ!

             

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