Adoption is an emotional roller coaster, full of highs, lows, and everything in between. Our journey to bring Gus into our lives was a whirlwind of joy, anticipation, uncertainty, and unwavering hope—all packed into a nine-month ride that changed us forever. It all began in September 2011, when after years of talking about adoption, we decided to finally take action. We submitted our adoption profile across five states, searching for the little boy who was meant to be ours.
After several adoption counseling sessions, home visits, and pages of paperwork capturing everything we had ever known about ourselves, our profile officially went “live.” At first, it didn’t feel real—until early January 2012, when suddenly, our profile landed in the hands of a soon-to-be mom in Florida.
Then, on February 12, 2012, our lives shifted. I remember exactly where I was when the phone rang. It was an agency in Arizona: a 19-year-old girl named Rae wanted to talk to us. She was expecting a baby boy in June, and during our conversation, she simply said she wanted us to have her son. We held back our tears until the call ended, finally letting them flow once the line went quiet. Excitement mixed with caution, but in that moment, our hearts knew something extraordinary was beginning.
Yet, nothing was guaranteed. Early on, we faced our first obstacle: the baby’s father was hesitant about the adoption. Months of uncertainty followed. At one point, we were advised to move on, submit our profile to other birth moms, and accept that this little boy might not be ours. But something didn’t feel right.
Sitting in chilly Minnesota, thousands of miles from Rae, we had no control over what was happening. We prayed relentlessly, laying on the nursery floor we had prepared, dreaming of a baby who didn’t yet exist. Ephesians 3:20 became our anchor: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could dare to ask or imagine according to His power at work within us.” We clung to it, trusting God’s timing even while quietly wishing for our own. Deep down, we were preparing ourselves for joy to arrive in a different form, from a different child—but our hearts had already begun to love this little boy.
Then, just as we were ready to move on, the impossible happened. The baby’s father walked into the agency and said he was ready to sign the papers—he supported the adoption. Out of the blue—or perhaps perfectly orchestrated—what had felt lost was now within reach. What a moment that was: sudden, yet undeniably right.
Over the next few months, we developed a relationship with Gus’ birth parents. Through calls and emails, a bond formed, bridging the distance between Minnesota and Arizona. By mid-June, the stage was set. We arranged to meet Rae for coffee the morning after we arrived. Waiting felt eternal, but then we saw her: petite, nine months pregnant, radiant with bravery. How do you greet someone carrying your child? How do you thank someone for the selfless act of giving life to your son in such a selfless, courageous way? Tears came unbidden, a natural response to witnessing the generosity of her heart.
June 14th arrived, and Rae was induced. The anticipation was intense. There was a 72-hour waiting period after birth during which the adoption could have been altered. Every moment was laced with fear and hope, yet all we could do was wait and pray. Then the call came: we could meet our son. Our hearts raced as we rode the elevator to the hospital, aware that our lives were about to change forever.
Walking into the room, we saw him. Gus. Our son. Rae asked if we wanted to hold him, and in that instant, every fear melted away. The love we felt the moment his tiny body rested in our arms was overwhelming. Three days later, on Father’s Day, signatures were signed, making Gus officially ours. It was a moment of perfection, the culmination of prayer, patience, and divine timing.
Saying goodbye to Rae as we left Arizona was bittersweet. Standing on the curb with our newborn, we watched her bend down, kiss him, and whisper, “I love you, Gus.” That single, selfless act captured the essence of our adoption journey: love, courage, and trust. Gus was twice loved—from Rae’s womb and from our hearts.
From the day we submitted our paperwork to the day Gus was born, exactly nine months passed. A normal pregnancy timeline, but this one grew in our hearts, not Rae’s belly. Today, Gus is nine and speaks about Miss Rae with admiration and understanding. He has a photobook documenting his adoption story, filled with pictures of his birth parents, our family, and the love surrounding him even before he was born.
On his seventh birthday, Rae visited to celebrate with us, and she came again for his eighth. Gus proudly says, “Miss Rae is my birth mom, and she loves me.” Those words are everything we hope he knows: that he is deeply, endlessly loved.
Adoption transformed our lives in ways we could never have imagined. Inspired by Rae’s bravery, we started “brave boxes,” gifts for birth parents as they leave the hospital—a small gesture to honor their courage. Each box carries a photo of our family and a note expressing our admiration, ensuring that the legacy of love and bravery continues. Gus’ story lives on in these boxes, touching lives and reminding us all of the power of selflessness, patience, and faith.
