[Jennylynne]

After months of reading the stories on adoption.com (both the good and the bad) I finally have one to post myself! Both my younger sister and I were adopted (different moms) and after having children of our own we decided to search for our birthmothers - together! We contacted an investigator here in SC and sent her all of our non-identifying information. Within just a few months she had completed both of our searches!

My sister found out that her birthmother had an unpublished phone number, so she had no choice but to make contact via letter (short of showing up on her doorstep and that didn't seem to be a good idea!). As she was waiting for a response to her letter my husband presented me with all of my information - on Mother's Day evening! :-) I waited almost a full week and then braved up for the most exciting call of my life.

A sweet female voice answered the phone after only two rings. "Is this Clare Foster Miller?" I asked. "This is she" she replied. "This is Amy Smith in SC...and I'm not calling to sell you anything!" I said with a giggle. She laughed and said ok. "I am calling about something personal and possibly confidential, though. Is this a good time to talk?" "Sure" came her calm reply.

I took another deep breath and then continued: "I was born on October 28, 1967" I said. "Oh wow..." came her stunned reply. "In Savannah, Georgia..." I continued. "Oh WOW..." she said, "Honey how are you?!?!" No joke! She was absolutely thrilled and the rest of our conversation is truly a blur. We chatted for about 30 minutes that first call before she said she was just so excited and said she wanted to go tell her husband and children. "OH! And you have a sister and a brother!" she said. I asked if she had told her husband about me and she said she had told him when they began dating. She had even told her children (my half brother and sister!) about me when they were young kids - so I wasn't the big family secret. Talk about a relief!

About 15 minutes after we hung up my phone rang. It was my new brother, Scott, calling and he patched in my sister - Ginny. I was so thrilled to learn that my birthmother had had another daughter and that she had named her Virginia - Ginny for short. My given name at birth had been Jennifer and she had asked that I be called Jenny. I was blown away! The following afternoon her brother, my Uncle Bob, called and we talked for over an hour. Everyone agreed God had brought us together and the joy felt by all was amazing.

I met my birthmom (I call her "Mom Clare") a week later. She and her husband made the 10 hour trip up from Florida to SC and spent the weekend with my family. We shared a quiet Saturday together, looking at mounds of photo albums, talking comfortably, eating....even taking a nap! No joke! Late in the afternoon my Mom and Dad arrived to meet her in private before the whole family was to go out to dinner together that evening. Daddy just hugged her and tears flowed down his cheeks as he thanked her for blessing them with their baby girl. Mom, meanwhile, had sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers earlier in the day with a card that said "Thank you for the most wonderful gift of my life." She and Mom Clare sat on the loveseat in my den and talked as if they had known one another forever - talk about blowing me away!

It's now been almost a month and we share regular e-mails and phone calls. My new sister and her family have just relocated back to SC and are within a two hour drive! Needless to say we'll be getting together very soon. :-) Mom Clare and her hubby will be moving to join them in the next few weeks and we all look forward to getting to know one another better over time.

I know not all search and reunions have a happy ending. I read all the heartbreaking stories of rejection and unsuccessful searches - I tried to prepare myself that my own story might not have the ending I prayed for for so many years. I share my story here to encourage you to keep looking. Prepare your heart for whatever doors may be opened to you. You never know... Someday you may have the blessing of hearing your birthmother say to you "I have dreamed of this moment forever...."

[mustang_mommy66]

I am so glad all worked out for you and your family. I am so glad you have had a great reunion.