For National Adoption Month, APO would like to honor those involved in the adoption journey by sharing some beautiful stories, starting with this one from Ashley:
“Over 15 years ago, my husband and I went on a blind date that would lay the foundation for a 3-year relationship in high school, followed by us going our separate ways for a few years, and then reuniting in 2016. We decided that after having gone our separate ways, we had really remained best friends all along and that spark we lit on our first date was never truly extinguished. We were married last year on September 22, 2018. I found out that my husband was adopted when we dated in high school, but I didn’t hear it from him. Our families were close friends, and I overheard something about him being adopted in a casual conversation. When I asked him about it, he confirmed that he was adopted. I remember being moved to tears. My husband’s family suffered the loss of his sister at a very young age due to a heart defect and decided to adopt my husband after that. My husband’s sister is now a pediatric cardiologist to honor her sister’s legacy. Without God’s hand, my in-laws would not have gotten the call to come pick up a precious baby boy, perfect in every way and truly meant to grow up in this new family. Without God’s hand, my in-laws would not have had the courage to pursue adoption after the unimaginable loss of a child. Without God’s hand, the birth mother of my husband would not have had the courage and love to know that she could not give my husband the life he deserved, and yet chose to respect his life such that maybe someone else would be able to give him that life. Without God’s hand, my husband would not have made his way into my life, and I would not have found my soul mate, the true light in my darkness, a man who knows no stranger and knows me better than I know myself. I love adoption because it brought me my husband, and our story is forever written in the palm of God’s hand.”