Every thing that is ever put into your path has a reason. Every person you come in contact with has a story. And as Beth Moore says, "If you are in it then it is crucial to your walk!" I always try to remember this when I feel stuck in a circumstance or situation. We knew there would be a chance I would end up away from the family for a while when the twins were born, but I never imagined it would be for so long. Today is day 11. Wow! I was homesick at 3. I have had many long days and nights when I have missed my family at home so much, but then I hold a baby and snuggle them tight and praise God I am here. The other day I passed a little girl that reminded me of Shelby, she was crying for her mama in the waiting room....it broke my heart and I went back to my room and cried.
So here are a few things that have happened that help me stay still as I wait on God's timing....
1. A 3lb. baby girl was born last week and as the transport team walked in to take her to another hospital the driver stopped and stared at Micah. He told me how when his son was born he almost died and his wife as well. All he had was his baby to hold while he waited to see if his wife would make it for 6 days! (She did :) Micah's size reminded him of that week and brought back a lot of memories. He started to tear up and then he said, "Anyway, you look great for having them a week ago, WOW!" When I informed him that I was not the birthmother, but adopted mother he instantly started crying. He told me how he was adopted and he wondered if he and his wife should adopt, because they couldn't have anymore children naturally. I shared with him the process and how we found out about the twins. He left with something exciting to think about.
2. Our 2nd night in the NICU a nurse was asking me questions about the twins, the adoption, and our story. I shared with her how God had miraculously opened the door to the twins and how we were able to push the usually long and difficult adoption process through in just a few weeks. She started to cry and shared with me that her job was a hard one. Many of the babies that come into the NICU do not have such a happy ending. There are many babies that come in drug addicted or with unstable families. She said some days it is hard for her to come to work, but that our story is one she will cherish to get her through the difficult times for many years to come.
3. A teen mom was here for our first week. I listened to her struggle, cry, and verbally beat herself up. She was trying to nurse and pump for her preemie, she was in intense pain and about to give up. I suggested to the nurses to call their lactation specialist in to talk to her. It helped and she was able to nurse almost exclusively before she left. She also poured her heart out to nurses about how she loved the birthfather, but he was not interested in being around for them. The day before she went home I went to the store and bought her a baby gift for her daughter and left it on her bed with a prayer from Micah and Mariah. (We) told her to seek the Lord for strength and direction and prayed for her and her baby to be blessed all the days of their lives. She came in very touched and told the nurses to thank me.
4. The nurses have become my friends. Several have shared with me their struggles with adult children. One was adopted and let me ask her a million questions about how to talk about it with the twins someday. One is in the process of adopting her grandchildren and we talked about the challenges of that. Another asked me parenting advice for the kids we have in common by age or gender. The younger single nurses hang on my every word when I talk about marriage or relationships. There is another nurse here that we have spent many nights talking about my miscarriages. She said it has helped her to see how those who have lost babies might be feeling and she now knows better how to talk to them.
5. The biggest place I have seen the twins make an impact is how people view adoption. When I came in here there were many who had a critical view of the process especially the birthmother. Some have seen more clearly through the eyes of the adopted parents, siblings, and the birth family the love that it takes to open your heart to God's plan for His children. They can see a different perspective than they have before. By being "stuck" here, I have been given the opportunity to share with many that birthmoms are hero's because they chose to give their babies life!
I guess it isn't all about me getting my babies home, but about completing the work God wants to do through our family.
So, what should you do when you feel stuck????? Whatever it is God is calling you to do.
