"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." --Walter E. Disney

 

Let me set the scene for you……an obviously nervous couple is sitting together on one side of a booth at the Lonestar Steakhouse on Merritt Island, Florida.  With each opening of the front door, they lean forward to see if this is “her”, the woman who has chosen to change their lives forever.  Soon, he says to her, as he grabs her leg, “Here she is.  I can see her walking in.”  This very pregnant young woman walks straight over to them, with arms wide open and says, “I’m so glad to finally meet you guys!” and embraces them both, just like they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while.

We sat down together and immediately started talking like we had known each other our whole lives.  We visited for so long that the waiter came over twice to ask us what we wanted to order before we all were ready!  We sat there, like we were getting caught up with each other for over 3 hours!  There was no awkward silence, no weirdness, no uncomfortable moments of thinking “hmmmmm, what can we talk about now?”  Just 3 people sitting around, talking about our lives and sharing with one another that could only have been more comfortable if we were sitting in our living room instead of at a booth in a steakhouse. 

Leah is just perfect!  We could not have chosen a lovelier person to have been our birth mom.  She has a good head on her shoulders and has a plan for her life.  She is very responsible and considerate of others.   She is a kind, affectionate, funny, big hearted, sweet young lady who has found herself in an unfortunate situation.  We are just so glad that we took the time to go meet her.  I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders after we visited.  She said she felt so relieved to have been able to meet us before she was screaming in labor pain! 

Leah was able to set our hearts and minds at ease by sharing some details about her life and her plan for the delivery of this baby.  After her stepdad and sister passed away, her mother really struggled with depression, so Leah felt it was best for everyone if her mother would move in with her.  Living with Leah helped her mom deal with her grief by helping to care for Leah’s daughter, Sammi, who is 3.  Sammi doesn’t know about this baby.  Leah has chosen not to tell her about it because she doesn’t want to confuse Sammi.  Let’s face it, who remembers details from when you were 3???? 

She also shared with us that since her mother doesn’t drive, she will not be at the hospital.  We both tried really hard not to jump up and down and yell HOORAY at the revelation of this significant piece of information!!  We are just sure that Nicole’s mom was the main reason we did not get to bring Jensen home, so hearing that Leah’s mother will not even be at the hospital was great news for us!!  She will stay home and take care of Sammi, just like a regular day, so Sammi’s routine is not interrupted too much.

Leah said she REALLY wants us to be there for everything.  She even mentioned that she would like to not even go to the hospital until we get there.  I told her I didn’t think that was a good idea!  She doesn’t want any of her friends or family there and said she wants me to have the baby as soon as he is born so we can have skin to skin contact.  Then she looked right at Jon and said, “Now Daddy, you will get your time, too, but it will be all about her at first!”  I laughed so hard!!  She said she wants to be taken to another floor for her recovery and the rest of her hospital stay.  She said she does not want to hold the baby because she doesn’t want to confuse him.  She wants him to know I am his mommy from the moment he is born.  She said she doesn’t want to have any alone time with him because she knows this will be an emotional time and doesn’t want to make things harder to deal with.

We discussed names and she shared that she would like the name Daniel to be used as a second middle name.  She said she likes the name and had recently read the story of Daniel in the bible.   She said, “I just forgot what a great story it was.  God saved him twice!”  I think it’s cool that she wants him to have a name from her and we are both fine with that.  Now, we still plan on keeping the rest of his name to ourselves until the big reveal, so don’t bother asking because our lips are sealed!!

She asked if our family was excited about this baby.  I said, “Oh, my, yes they are!!!”  I told her about the quilts that my mom has made and all the “good luck today” messages we got from all of our friends and family Monday morning.  I told her that he will be so loved by so many because we aren’t the only ones who have waited for this baby.

We left the restaurant Monday afternoon feeling such peace about the situation.  We were exhausted and both took naps.  I slept so long, Jon woke me up.  Apparently, I slept for over 3 hours!!  Then we took a scenic drive and grabbed something to eat before watching the basketball game.  We both slept pretty well for not being at home and the next morning, Jon had to wake me again.  I haven’t been sleeping well for about a year now and I think it finally just caught up to me. 

While I was getting dressed, Jon went to get some coffee and breakfast.  Believe it or not, he sat next to a couple who were from Arnold, Missouri, and were celebrating their 32^nd wedding anniversary.  They visited for a while and Jon shared with them why we were in Florida.  The lady of the couple shared with Jon that she has multiple brain tumors and they were having a beach anniversary.  As he went to leave, she asked Jon if she could pray for him and he said, “Lord, yes!”  So, this complete stranger from Missouri prayed for him before we met with Leah the second time.  What a different course of events this opportunity has been for us!

Tuesday morning, I sent Leah a message that we were up and at ‘em and she said she had slept in but would love to meet us for lunch.  We did a little sight-seeing, went out to the beach, walked out into the ocean and shopped at Ron John’s Surf Shop for a bit.  We drove back out to Merritt Island and ate lunch with Leah outside, right on the water.  It was perfect!  So peaceful, warm and beautiful!!

Leah is so understanding of the delicacy of the situation.  We all fell in love with each other and she said, “I will be sad for you all to go home.  I wish we could be best friends but I know that is not possible.”  She is just so level headed and knows this is a life-long decision for all of us.  It’s not every day that you meet someone her age who is so aware of the consequences of their actions and how they impact others.  It is plain to see that she is very aware of the choices she makes and how they affect her entire family.

She mentioned on Monday when we were visiting that she didn’t like having her picture taken.  I asked her if we could take pictures on Tuesday before we went home and she agreed.  Jon and I took pictures with her and then we asked a gentleman sitting next to us if he would mind taking a picture of all 3 of us.  I showed him how to use the camera and as we were getting close for the photo, he said, “We’ll call this picture ‘3 Christian friends gathering at Applebee’s’.”  I was so amazed that a complete stranger would say that and felt so honored that he was able to see that in us.

As we went to leave, we all hugged several times.  I’ve been told that I am a good hugger and if I hug anything like Leah does, then what a treat you all have had!!  J  We left Florida feeling lighter and definitely ready for our return trip.

As we sat in the Orlando airport, I read this on my cousin’s blog yesterday as she shared her expecting news of a “paper pregnancy” as they proceed with their adoption and told her I was going to share it in mine.  I really don’t think it needs any further explanation.

“We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.

 But those who make their journey home across time & miles,

 growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,

 are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God’s very own hands.”

 -Kristi Larson

Thank you for loving us and for continuing to be a part of this journey with us!