Happy Birthmother's Day, Karen and Liz, and all...

Many years ago, we wanted a family. For reasons only God Himself knows, it was not happening.

I was praying, though not always faithfully attending Mass at the time. I 'happened' to go one day in Sept, 1974, and the bulletin carried an announcement instructing those interested in adoption to begin immediately to send letters to an address in the Green Bay office. We had been waiting to find out when the moratorium would be removed, and I 'JUST HAPPENED' to be in Church that day.... oh, how silly we mortals can be. There is no such thing as coincidence in God's plans, but I had much to learn about that.

I took that bulletin home, showed it to dh and wrote the letter as required. Of over 500 letters, ours was the 55th picked of only 125 to be interviewed. We were put on the list, and again, they drew that order randomly after weeding that 125 down to about 100. We began our group study in July, 1975. By Nov, we found out (last of our group) that we were going to be parents within a year to a year and a half.

Things changed rapidly! On Dec 3, 1975, we found out we were first on the list for a beautiful baby girl, and could MAYBE bring her home on the 22nd of Dec, but things changed again, and we could not until Dec 29, 1975. Our beautiful baby girl... came home to us that day.

On May 19, 1978, we brought home our second beautiful daughter.

Gifts from God, and miracles, because BOTH mothers had the 'right' to legal abortion and both had chosen LIFE.

Ask either of my daughters what they think about that possibility... and which they preferred had happened.... They are VERY glad their mother's chose life. As are all adoptees!!!!!

I learned through many adoption groups that there is a special day to recognize these mothers who chose LIFE for their children. The day before Mother's Day is Birthmother's Day, this year to be celebrated on Sat, May 7, 2005.

I always wanted to tell them "Thank You SO much, Karen and Liz!!"
I have had the opportunity to do so with Karen, thank God, directly, and Liz, by letter.

To Karen, and to Liz, (who made this very hard decision twice!!!!).... Happy Birthmother's Day, and may God bless you each in a very special way, everyday.

To all birthmothers, everywhere... thank you for choosing life!

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other..
One you do not remember, the other you call mother.
Two different lives, shaped to make Your one...
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.
The first gave you life and the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love, and the second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.
One gave you a seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.
One gave you up ... that's all she could do.
The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you.
And now you ask me, through your fears,
the age old question unanswered throughout the years...
Heredity or environment .. Which are you the product of..
Neither, my darling .. neither..
just two different kinds of love.

~ Author Unknown

Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you
and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '