This is the story of when our sweet baby girl joined our family. Two weeks prior to her birth, we asked our family and friends to (again) join us in a special fast. On Thursday, July 15, 2010, we received a phone call from our agent letting us know that we had been selected…and that the birth mother was in labor in Kansas. We were in Salt Lake City at the time for a work conference for Todd. After letting his boss know we were leaving, we quickly packed and started the drive home. We found out she was born, and was a girl, when we were driving through Wyoming.
We pondered what her name should be, and Todd received an impression and asked me, “What do you think of Savannah?” I loved it, and it felt right! We made a stop in Denver to buy some baby girl clothes -- an experience I had longed for for several years.
We got home at 4:00am, completely exhausted, and fell into bed for a few hours. That morning we went to meet Savannah’s amazing birth mother and her beautiful baby. We fell in love with both of them instantly. It was a wonderful day together, laughing, sharing stories, and caring for Savannah.
Friday was signing day for Savannah’s birth mother. It was very stormy and I felt very nervous. The experience of the failed placement six months prior was coming back into full clarity in my mind and heart. Much of the day was spent visiting and then anxiously waiting through the paperwork process. At the end of the day, she signed. We couldn’t feel more grateful.
Saturday was the day we would all be discharged. After several hours of waiting on paperwork, we were all finally ready to leave. We buckled Savannah in her carseat, and her birth mother carried her out. After Savannah was secured in our car, her birth mother gave her a kiss. We were all crying. I didn’t know how hard this part would be: leaving the hospital. I felt deep guilt, I felt sad for the birth mother. I felt very thankful and I couldn’t believe it had really happened. All those years of trying to have children, then enduring through a the adoption roller coaster, now it was over in one moment.
On Sunday, July 18, 2010, I recorded: “It is surreal. Emotional. Joyful. Exciting. Crazy. Scary. Frightening. And a little sad (just that feeling of sadness and a little guilt for Imma). It is emotionally taxing, with all the different feelings - and I don’t think it has really hit me yet...One of the sweetest moments is just seeing how much Todd loves her, he is very sweet and gentle and calls her darling, baby, and sweetie. She is going to be a daddy’s girl! I love watching him hold her - a moment I have been waiting for!”
A few weeks later, on September 13, we were able to take her to the courthouse, where the judge declared Savannah as being ours legally. And then on September 25, we, along with a host of family and friends, traveled to the St. Louis temple to seal this darling daughter of God to our family. At the very end of my journal, I record, “Even miracles take a little time.”
As we look for the Lord’s hand in this whole experience: how He brought Savannah’s birth mother from Tanzania to Kansas, how He brought us from Utah, how He guided her to the adoption agency, how He led us down the adoption path. We know there are no coincidences. We waited and waited for this gift of a child, and we knew it would only come through the Lord’s hand and in His way and time. Jesus Christ is the giver of perfect gifts, because not only is He preparing the right gifts for us, but He is working out all the details to bring about those gifts at the most perfect time.
We pondered what her name should be, and Todd received an impression and asked me, “What do you think of Savannah?” I loved it, and it felt right! We made a stop in Denver to buy some baby girl clothes -- an experience I had longed for for several years.
We got home at 4:00am, completely exhausted, and fell into bed for a few hours. That morning we went to meet Savannah’s amazing birth mother and her beautiful baby. We fell in love with both of them instantly. It was a wonderful day together, laughing, sharing stories, and caring for Savannah.
Friday was signing day for Savannah’s birth mother. It was very stormy and I felt very nervous. The experience of the failed placement six months prior was coming back into full clarity in my mind and heart. Much of the day was spent visiting and then anxiously waiting through the paperwork process. At the end of the day, she signed. We couldn’t feel more grateful.
Saturday was the day we would all be discharged. After several hours of waiting on paperwork, we were all finally ready to leave. We buckled Savannah in her carseat, and her birth mother carried her out. After Savannah was secured in our car, her birth mother gave her a kiss. We were all crying. I didn’t know how hard this part would be: leaving the hospital. I felt deep guilt, I felt sad for the birth mother. I felt very thankful and I couldn’t believe it had really happened. All those years of trying to have children, then enduring through a the adoption roller coaster, now it was over in one moment.
On Sunday, July 18, 2010, I recorded: “It is surreal. Emotional. Joyful. Exciting. Crazy. Scary. Frightening. And a little sad (just that feeling of sadness and a little guilt for Imma). It is emotionally taxing, with all the different feelings - and I don’t think it has really hit me yet...One of the sweetest moments is just seeing how much Todd loves her, he is very sweet and gentle and calls her darling, baby, and sweetie. She is going to be a daddy’s girl! I love watching him hold her - a moment I have been waiting for!”
A few weeks later, on September 13, we were able to take her to the courthouse, where the judge declared Savannah as being ours legally. And then on September 25, we, along with a host of family and friends, traveled to the St. Louis temple to seal this darling daughter of God to our family. At the very end of my journal, I record, “Even miracles take a little time.”
As we look for the Lord’s hand in this whole experience: how He brought Savannah’s birth mother from Tanzania to Kansas, how He brought us from Utah, how He guided her to the adoption agency, how He led us down the adoption path. We know there are no coincidences. We waited and waited for this gift of a child, and we knew it would only come through the Lord’s hand and in His way and time. Jesus Christ is the giver of perfect gifts, because not only is He preparing the right gifts for us, but He is working out all the details to bring about those gifts at the most perfect time.
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