[amomof3]

For those of you with a strong faith in God... I know you will appreciate this story the most. I wanted to share this story with all of you, no matter what your faith, to inspire you and give you hope! (I've changed some names for privacy purposes!)

Last Sunday night (June 22nd) I got a message on my answering machine from my girlfriend Karen, who has been discussing adoption with me since my husband and I adopted our daughter Megan. She and her husband recently were in the process of being certified as foster/adopt parents. They tragically had lost a baby just this past December to a miscarriage that totally destroyed Karen's remaining ovary and any chance of getting pregnant again.

Karen is a Christian woman involved in a Woman's Prison Ministry where she met Diana... a 20 year old woman... last year in prison that she connected with both spiritually and emotionally. They became fast friends. Karen helped Diana get back on her feet after Diana got out of jail, and then they parted ways.

Karen's stepfather was diagnosed with cancer months ago, and was in the hospital living out his last few days (this was 1-1/2 weeks ago). Karen was there every day with her mom and step-dad. Last Sunday afternoon Karen got on the elevator at the hospital, and there was Diana!! They were so happy to see one another and hugged and chatted, and when Karen said, "What are you doing here Diana?," Diana burst into tears and told her that she just delivered a beautiful healthy baby boy on Friday and was so distraught because she loved this baby so much but knew she couldn't keep him. She said she wanted to contact Karen and have her help her, but she misplaced her contact info and didn't know how to get a hold of her!

So, since Karen was dealing with the impending death of her step-dad, and having this situation with Diana come into her life so fast and urgent, she couldn't think straight and told Diana that she would have her friend Mary Lisa call her and I would take care of everything for her! So on Monday, I called Diana at home (she brought the baby home that Sunday night), and Diana explained how much she wanted Karen to have Isaiah... a name Karen also chose for the baby she miscarried last year!!! Diana never knew about Karen's miscarriage or Karen's desire to adopt!! She just wanted Isaiah to go to someone she trusted. So, I spoke at length to Karen, and she and her husband John were thrilled at the possibility of adopting this baby!!

So I picked up Diana and baby Isaiah at her house that same afternoon (what a beautiful baby!!), and brought them to Karen and John's home!! Thank God I had my camera!! It was one of the most beautiful moments I've ever witnessed!! When we first got there, Karen whispered to me with tears in her eyes, "My step-dad just died." And you could see the pain and joy on her face when Diana handed Isaiah to her and she held her baby boy for the first time! One life gone, another just starting. It was so surreal. In the midst of such heartache, the Lord blessed her with such joy. It was amazing.

I brought Diana home that night after hours at Karen and John's, and she is such a wonderful bmom. So loving and wonderful and only wanting what is best for her baby. (Isaiah's birthfather is out of the picture.)

The very next day, I brought Karen and Diana and Isaiah to Karen's attorney so Diana could sign all necessary papers to start the adoption process. Both Karen and Diana were relieved that the ball was rolling in the right direction. The attorney assured them that Social Services could no longer touch Isaiah, and he's safe with Karen and John.

Karen told me later that the due date for the baby she miscarried was 2 weeks prior to Isaiah's birth!! And, here's something else... her step-father came to accept the Lord into his heart a month prior to his death. And what scriptures did Karen and John use and witness to him that allowed this man to come to know the Lord?! Scriptures from the book of Isaiah!!!!! How awesome is that?!

When someone writes about a child who is meant to be yours, I truly believe that with my whole heart! And, this is a perfect example!

Yesterday I found a card in Hallmark that was perfect for Karen and John. It had a beautiful saying on it, with a scripture to follow: Isaiah 40:11... He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.

God bless you all on your adoption journey!
Mary Lisa

www.adoptionprayers.homestead.com

[faith_amom]

What a great story!! Thanks for sharing it. You made me cry.

- Faith

[Judilyn]

Thanks for sharing, I was blessed by it. I love to hear "God Stories" as I call them. Our God is so awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Judilyn

[Pblair]

Our God is definitely and Awesome God and he has a plan for us all! What a blessing for your friend and for you to be a part of!
Pat

[bellazmama]

WOW!

That story gave me goosebumps ALL OVER!!!!!

God is definitely the very best daddy to us all!

Sarah

[VirginiaStegall]

Mary Lisa:
What a wonderful answer to prayer. God is so good! He knows what we need.
Sometimes I feel a bit guilty spending so much time on this computer looking but, after reading your great news, I know it was meant to be. It is nice to read such good news after reading so many sad endings.
I pray God will Bless the new family and also the birth mom.

[Skye Hardwick]

What a wonderful, touching story. I'm the proud mom to an "Isaiah" too!

Take care -

Skye

[jamie3]

Isn't God's timing so very perfec and just mind boggeling?! Give them both this verse. It reminds me of them.

[AnnaE]

Thanks for sharing...a wonderful miracle story. AnnaE

[paperchasingmom]

God is so good...He does know exactly what we need and when we need it.....the hard part sometimes is believing this, for the journey can be so difficult....

My heart jumps for joy for the new adoptive parents for just when they needed joy the most, (during the death of her stepfather) God provided the best joy ever! A son!!!

Blessings to all!

Melody

[ddbruglio]

What a great story. One more example of how God works for us. If we can only open our heart and our lives to him he will always be there for us.

[rnnurse2be]

Wow, isnt our God just incredible? The story couldnt be more perfect...

A very lucky boy, who will grow up is a special family with ties that run way back...

Thanks for sharing.

[CocoCapo]

I have a story regarding our first adoption in which God worked very clearly!
In 1996 my husband and I decided we were ready to adopt a little girl. We had a biological son, Dominic, who was 3 years old at the time, and we wanted to add a daughter to our family by adoption. We waited and prayed and waited some more but we weren't being chosen for a child. After 2 years of waiting I was becoming very frustrated. One night I was lying in bed reading my Bible silently to myself with my son Dominic playing beside me. I came upon a scripture that spoke to my heart but I wasn't sure if it was of God or not. All of a sudden Dominic blurted out "that's it!". I replied "What did you say?" and he again said "that's it!". I asked "Why did you say that?" and he said "I don't know". Well. that was my confirmation that this was the verse I was supposed to cling to when I became frustrated about the adoption. I will share the verse with you at the end of this story....
About 2 weeks after this incident, we received the call that we were waiting for! Social Services had a little girl that they wanted to place with us, the catch was that she also had a twin brother. They were 18 months old. We were given 2 days to think about it and make our decision. After praying and talking, we decided we should take them. It wasn't until about a week after they had moved in with us that we realized that this was definitely part of God's plan for us. The verse that God led me to on the night several weeks earlier was Isaiah 26:3-4 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength" The little girl that we wanted was named Tatiana but the brother who came with her was an unexpected, extra blessing and his name was Isaiah!

Cheryl Mom to Dominic (bio) and Jessica, Torrey, Tatiana and Isaiah (adopted)

[LotAkids]

What a great story and beautiful family you have!

[supertrev]

Mary Lisa, Thank you for that story! God is sooo good! I know he has a baby out there for me! I know he knows exactly which baby is going to be mine! How awesome!!