​Our Journey to Parenthood blog segment reprinted with author's permission. The views expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the views of Christian Adoption Services. ​

To my 12 remaining embryos,
​
The day we learned there were 14 of you we instantly knew our story of hope wasn’t just for us. You have been frozen now for almost 3 years.  Sometimes my infertility feels like a distant memory and other times the pain and anguish of an empty womb floods my heart like it was just yesterday.  My body went through a lot just in hopes that God would give me one of you. So when the Doctor called to tell us there were 14 of you, we were in shock.

I have been thinking about you a lot lately.

I don’t really know if we will be going back for another round of IVF.  Your siblings are triplets and it is kind of a lot right now. And if we decided to have another baby and had the opportunity to bring one of you into this world, it wouldn’t be for a few more years and we know we could only take one of you.  I wish we could take all of you, but I know deep in my heart that God didn’t make you so I could keep all of you just for myself....

However, the truth is, as much as I call you mine, or even one day hers,  you are God’s perfectly made little snowflakes. And I have to trust in what God told me in the very beginning: “You are hope, hope for many.”  Deep in my heart I know that your Mama will love you like I love you.   And even though it is hard for me to fully comprehend that right now, I know, one day, He will prepare my heart for her to be your Mom, but I will always be connected to you. I will be apart of you. I will always be loving you.

Sincerely,
Your first Mom.
​
@thefortintrio
Facebook

CAS conducts home studies for families in MN & ND pursuing embryo adoption. If you are interested in learning more about this process, please check out these other resources:

• Personal Story of Embryo Adoption from a family we home studied.  
• Snowflake Embryo Adoption information - partner organization.
• National Embryo Donation Center information - partner organization.

CAS birth mom, Hope, made an adoption plan for her daughter in the early 2000's and continues to correspond with her and visits the adoptive family annually. Semi-open adoptions like Hope's are not as rare as they once were, and birth parents have influence over the type of relationship they want to have in their adoption plan. We are inspired by her and birth moms who lean on God and see his His hand in their story. Their honesty and vulnerability in sharing their adoption plan continues to change the stigma that birth moms do not "want" the child they place for adoption. 

If you missed Part One of Hope's video, check out this link!

We need YOU to help build forever families & change the conversation by supporting adoption education in the community. One-time or recurring gifts of $75 bring our adoption presentation to a local school or community group or purchasing the Hope bracelet is a great way to share about the life-affirming choice of adoption and all proceeds go to the ministry of building forever families.