[hippiemom]

I was 22, and the single mom already of a 7 month old. I was on the Patch for BC. And then, what do you know, I find out I'm pregnant again. I was terrified. I was confused. And I was sad. I knew from the beginning that this little one just wasn't mine. She belonged to someone else. And right around my 6th month, I called Catholic Social Services in Michigan where I lived. I met Stephanie, a case worker, and the most amazing girl. She sincerely cared about what I was going through. She brought 3 scrapbooks and profiles of hopeful couples. I looked through two, and was starting to get disapointed. Then, I picked up the 3rd one. The minute I got to the 2nd page, I knew, KNEW that this was the family. From the deer hunting, to the fishing, to their personalities, I knew. This was the family for my baby girl. They drove down two hours that night to meet me. I walked into the room, nervous, unsure of what to say to these people. No matter how nice they seemed, what COULD they be thinking of me, this single mom of one already? And then somehow, before I knew it, we had ended up talking so long, that our mediators figured we were fine on our own, and left us. We went out to eat that night, and from that point on, it was set. Abby was to be theirs. I picked out her name, Abigail Hope, and they loved it. Even knowing that her middle name was partially chosen to match her big sister's (Madeline Grace) they were fine. I soon found out, that Pam and Bruce were amazing, and wouldn't let me walk away from this. They were determined to have me in Abby's life, which I despeartely wanted, and needed. I ended up having Abby six weeks early, and she came into the world weighing 3.10. Everyday, they would pick me up to go see her, and so I could drop off the milk I had been pumping, so that this little one could have good nourishment. They brought her to my place first on the day she was released. Abby will be 3 in February, 2008, and I have yet to have a week go by almost that I haven't talked to Mom (Pam). Bruce walked me down the aisle at my wedding, and Pam escorted both of my gorgeous little girls down the aisle, Maddy as my flower girl, and little Abby as our ring bearer. They set up their RV as our "honeymoon suite" and we stayed there for a week after the wedding. I see Abby whenever I need or want to, and both girls know and love each other as the sisters they are. I know that our story is rare, but I also know that if it wasn't this way, it just wouldn't be our story. There are so many more details involved, but everyday, I know more and more that we were all destined for our lives to meet this way. Abby will never be a mistake, no matter how painful it is sometimes. And I will be in debt all of my life for the two people who gave my child the family she deserved.