I had no way to get a pregnancy test. In the first part of May, I found a friend who would take me to get the pregnancy test. Instead of me crying she was the one crying when I was told I was two months pregnant with you . . . The question I heard most was, "What are you going to do with the baby?" All I could say was, "I don’t know." The hardest thing at that time was having to tell my mother about you. I told her the week of Mother’s Day. The rough waters weren’t over yet, I still had to tell my brother and father. I told my brother on Mother’s Day and he told my father for me that same day. My mother took it okay. She told me my options, which were: keeping you or putting you up for adoption. Aborting you was absolutely out of the question. I wasn’t sure whether to keep you or put you up for adoption. I wanted to do what was best for you so I weighed both very carefully. Your father was very happy about you. Finally, I came to my decision to put you up for adoption. Your father had a hard time with that at first, but then he accepted it. Love Always and Forever!!!

Love,

Your birth mom, Andrea

We love our (yours and our) child so much! This child was instantly a part of our family, a part we cannot imagine being without. You gave "our" child life and we are teaching "our" child how to live it. We’re not perfect parents, but we try our best and we would die for our child. We teach the core values we were all raised with—love and respect God, your parents and those in authority, the importance of honesty and trust . . . Stand up for yourselves and others in what is right. Know how special you are, how truly great you are.

Use your talents in a good way, one that you’ll be proud of.

Because of you and the grace of God, we have our child today. She is wonderful and very special. She is cute and smart and fits in her little world. To us, she is fabulous . . . perfect in every way. We would NOT trade kids with anyone! Our child is respectful, charming, a little shy but self-assured . . . She is so fun and happy and silly. She has parents, a brother, and many extended family who simply adore her. She is loved and well cared for. Okay, she borders on spoiled.

I know openness between the birth family and adoptive family is not what either of us signed up for originally, but I’ve always been thankful for it! I was fine with our original agreement of sending letters and pictures, but once again, God had more in store for us! I remember you really wanted to meet us before you had your baby. I was so nervous and changed clothes four times before finding an adequate outfit to wear to meet you for the first time. I thought you were so sweet and very pretty and so mature . . . I knew it would be hard so I also knew how courageous you must be. We sat down at a table in the restaurant with you and your parents and the social worker and when we talked, I felt nervous, but so comfortable . . . like we had known each other all of our lives. It turned out you were nervous too (and also changed clothes four times)! We had so many things in common, it was amazing. We had some differences too. I believe on paper, we didn’t meet your qualifications for parents for your child, yet when you met us, you saw other things that you may have felt more important . . .

. . . We are so thankful for you. We’re so thankful for your decision to entrust us with your child. We’re so thankful for Christine and who she is and all the joy she has brought to our lives. Thank you. We love you for who you are and what you did!

Marc and Reigh Ellen