Please contact us at jolin4utopia@yahoo.com if you have any questions
A Peek at the Past
Every adoption is different, but this is one of our adoption stories.
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| Joy was 16 when she gave birth to Gabriel, her 2 month premature miracle. This picture was taken at the NICU, both her and I drove down there together, she got to give Gabe his first bath, it was the neatest thing to watch. Even though she had not yet signed the adoption paperwork, she gave Kevin and I permission to see Gabe whenever we wanted. I would take care of my family during the day and at night, I would go and be with Gabe. Gabriel was in the hospital for one very long month. |
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| Placement day, the day we got to take Gabriel home. It was one of my favorite days of all time. I was so nervous, and excited, I wanted Joy to feel comfortable, to know that I love her just as much as I love her son and to express my gratitude for allowing us to raise her sweet little miracle. Joy was tender with her son, and I happily and thankfully watched Joy enjoying Gabe, it was one of my sweetest memories.... |
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| Behind the scenes were her Mom and Dad, her best friend Millie and Joy's lawyer, the kids were playing with Grandpa and Millie, while my Mom and Dad cooed over Gabriel. |
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| Gracie with Gabe's birth Mom. This is the perfect picture of what adoption is for us. It is families united for the love of a child. Not only that but it is the love of many children and families. |
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| Grandpa (Joy's Dad) LOVES Christmas, I knew it would mean the world to him if he got to hand Gabriel to Santa. Grandpa danced with Gabe and loved the whole idea. |
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| Gabe was fascinated. |
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| Joy would call us when she was ready to visit Gabe. A few times she wanted to show off her little cutie, I would go with her to her friends house and other times she would bring over her friends to our house. One time we went to see Gabe's birth father, his friend had just woken up and had not buttoned his pants. As we were visiting with each other his pants fell strait down...what is worse is that he did not seem to notice. Joy was so embarrassed, It was so funny, it was so hard to not laugh. I was so nervous because I was meeting Gabe's birth father for the first time, how could I laugh. I have made up for it since and chuckle every time I think about it. lol |
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| Isaac loved sitting on Joys lap when she was pregnant with her baby, but now that the baby turned into Gabee, he still enjoys her lap. |
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| A visit at our house. Gabe often says that he "wuves his birf Mom Joy". |
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| Joy has since had a baby, which she is raising. We got to visit them when she first came home from the hospital. I stayed with her for many hours because she needed help getting the "nursing thing" down. It was neat to be able to help her. |
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| I was happy to give her daughter her first haircut and I also got to take her one year photo's..... |
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| Gabe was loving his time with his birth Mom and she with him, since she has moved, every visit has become more precious. |
Adoption and our Kids
In order to involve the children in the adoption process, we have an adoption piggy bank that contains all of our loose change. Sometimes they will find coins when they are going about their day, excitedly they run to me to put the coin in the piggy bank. You should see their smiles and their enthusiasm because they feel that the coin they are holding is helping bring home a much anticipated brother or sister.
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| Caleb and Gracie singing a song. |
Yesterday Caleb (pictured with the microphone) found a toy that requires coins to play it, he brought me the whole bag and smiled.... I knew he wanted to put it in the piggy bank..... I wanted to make sure he understood that he could not play with the game if he put all the coins in the adoption piggy bank..... He said to me..."Mom what is more important, playing the game or adopting someone who needs to be adopted?". It stopped me right in my track and it was all that I do to not cry.
Adoption is near and dear to our hearts, Kevin and I were watching a movie the other night, it was about this talented young girl named Anna, who lived in an orphanage in Paris. She had a beautiful voice and was singing to her prospective parents, they fell in love with her and adopted her. I looked over at Kevin and he was unsuccessfully trying to hold back the tears as much as I was.
The Legacy of an Adoption
Once there were two expectant mothers.
One carried and cared for you beneath her beating heart.
She became your Birthmother.
Once there were two expectant mothers.
One carried and cared for you beneath her beating heart.
She became your Birthmother.
The other carried the hope of you within her,
She became your Mom.
As the days passed, and you grew bigger and stronger,
Your Birthmother knew that she could not give you
all you needed after your birth.
Meanwhile, your Mom was ready and waiting for you.
One day your Birthmom and your Mom found each other.
They looked into each other's eyes and saw a friend.
Your Birthmom saw the life your Mom and Dad could give you.
So now you have two families, One by birth, the other by adoption.
She became your Mom.
As the days passed, and you grew bigger and stronger,
Your Birthmother knew that she could not give you
all you needed after your birth.
Meanwhile, your Mom was ready and waiting for you.
One day your Birthmom and your Mom found each other.
They looked into each other's eyes and saw a friend.
Your Birthmom saw the life your Mom and Dad could give you.
So now you have two families, One by birth, the other by adoption.
Two different lives, shaped to make your one...
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.
Two different kinds of families.
Two different kinds of love
Both a part of you
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.
Two different kinds of families.
Two different kinds of love
Both a part of you
