Gracyn Faith Gilliland

It seems like every single day on the news or in the paper you read something about a child being abused or abandoned. Children are so helpless when it comes to their own well-being. They are unable to pick their family. They are unable to pick their own home. What makes that even worse is when you talk to social workers and find out about how there is such a lack of foster homes and people willing to adopt these children who need someone. According to Shaohannah's Hope over 81.5 million people are considering adopting. Sadly very few of those who think about it actually do it.
However, I have some good news. My husband's brother and his wife are going to sign papers today (possibly tomorrow) and will bring home a baby girl!!!! One child that is not going to be stuck in the system. One more child that is going to hear things like "I love you," and "You are special,". One more child is going to have a real home.
Her life did not start out so sweet. The birth mother's family would not accept the baby because she is bi-racial. (I do not have any details about the father and his family) After she was born (Jan.4) she had to be in the hospital. The mother went home and the adoption agency could not get in touch with her when it was time for the baby to home. They placed her in a foster home. The adoption agency had found a family and was getting ready to give the baby to them when the birth mother called and said she knew who she wanted her baby to go to. She had looked at Richard and Michael's application and apparently liked them more than the other applicants. They have been praying for a baby girl to add to their family. (they already have two sons)
Too often we hear stories about foster families that are not good to the kids. Believe me, I have known people who I have wanted to rip their hair out over the way they treated the kids in their care. The lady who my new niece was sent to was not like the foster parents you hear about in the news. She has spent her time and effort making sure the baby in her care was well taken care of. She has kept a journal since getting Gracyn. Richard and Michael can actually know when her smile first appeared, the first time she slept through the night, etc. She also made pictures. How sad would it be to not have baby pictures from those first few weeks? I do not know this lady who has served as Gracyn's foster mother. I do have great respect for her.
Richard and Michael have got many challenges ahead of them. They have gotten past the toddler stages with their boys. Alex and Logan are are in the seventh and fourth grades. Now all of a sudden they are going to have to remember to pack a diaper bag, and make sure they have enough bottles and formula with them before they leave their house. In a few years they will have to memorize the kid's menu of every restaurant. They will have to know what stores have clean bathrooms. But you know what? That kind of stuff is worth when you hear "I love you, Mommy and Daddy."