I have waited an entire year to write this.
It is the conclusion to Rylee-Joy’s adoption story. We share this with you all for one reason and on reason only, it is to give hope where hope is needed. We have struggled with infertility for over three years now and know the pain that so many others are going through or have gone through. However, we also know the ‘joy’ of adoption and how it has brought us hope and peace like no other.
We have always wanted to adopt, but just didn’t know the plans that God had for us would be to adopt first. Will we ever “birth” biological children… only God know, but we share with you today, in hopes that you will see God’s grace and perfect plan in the journey that He has blessed us with.
Grab a cup of Joe and let us unfold God’s story…
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Thursday, September 5, 2013: We received a phone call that started to prepare us for parenthood.
I received a phone call from our social worker about a sibling set that was ready to be placed for adoption. Now, there were some unique circumstances in this case that we can’t talk about, but nevertheless, they called to ask if we would want to be ‘consider’ for this sibling set.
Now, let’s stop here for a moment. In the adoption process with the County of San Bernardino, we were told that we would ONLY be called if we had been ‘selected’ as the parents for a child or sibling set, but this time we were called to see if we wanted to be ‘considered’ for this unique situation. Of course we said YES! and were told that we would know the following day (Friday) if we were or weren’t selected.
Through the evening, Hubs was being super cute. He stayed up all night researching about the different age groups because if we were selected, we would be parents that Friday!
It started to feel weird. It is hard to explain. The situation wasn’t how we expected it to feel like.
Something was… off.
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Friday, September 6, 2013: We received a phone call from our social worker saying we were NOT selected.
There were lots of emotions that hit us all at once, however, we were encouraged that since we had only been officially in the system for 4+ weeks and already had our profile viewed, that it was a good sign for us.
A good sign indeed.
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That upcoming week, we had a big camping trip that had been planned for months with over 20 adults and children (like the one we just got home from) at a beautiful campsite near Bishop, CA. It was a Wednesday thru Sunday outing in a location with NO CELL SERVICE!
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Monday September 9, 2013: Hubs took off work.
We just wanted to get away and do things that we might not be able to do for awhile if we get another ‘call’. So we hit up Disneyland and a Dodgers game.
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Tuesday, September 10, 2013: The day we will remember forever!
We received a call from our social worker saying “You have been selected to be the parents of a beautiful baby girl who was safely surrendered.†She was only days old and was currently at a foster home. We were asked to come into the Victorville office the next day (Wednesday) for a ‘presentation.’
Now see, if they had called us a day later, we would not of received this miracle phone call as we would of been camping out of cell phone service! Crazy, right?!?
It was God’s perfect timing.
When we got this call, I was minutes away from going grocery shopping for our camping trip! Needless to say, we ended up not going camping 😉
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Wednesday September 11, 2013: We had to wait until late afternoon to meet with the county officials for a formal presentation.
Being that our social worker gave us all of the information on Tuesday night over the phone, this presentation didn’t really give us more details. With a safely surrendered baby, there is very little information about the birth mother (or family for that matter) and little-to-no health information.
We were given a couple of photos of “Amber” (a name given to her by the hospital nurses), but photos didn’t do her justice!
We wanted to take her home that day, but because she was currently at a foster home, we were told that we needed to take 24 hours to decide. Blah! We knew that she was ours, but since they wouldn’t let us take her home that day, we went power shopping! Target, Baby-R-Us, Costco… you name it! And because we had an age range of newborn to 2-years-old that we were open to, we haven’t been able to purchase many things until we knew the age. Car seats, clothing, strollers, etc.
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Thursday, September 12, 2013:Â The day we first got to meet Rylee-Joy and also bring her home!
Through the entire year we had weekly visits from our social worker and became her legal guardians after 6 months. Then we waited.
And as you could tell by the lack of a changed blog design that didn’t include Rylee for 368 days, we were told that there was still certain things that we were not allowed to post, design or even say about her case. And so here in the next weeks and months, this website will change and be updated with more current looks of our family!
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Monday, September 15, 2014: Fast forward to exactly one year and three days after Rylee came home.
With loved ones with us in the court room (and some even joining us via FaceTime), we got to legally and permanently call Rylee-Joy McCormick our daughter!
(Some family and friends that have walked with us through the journey)Â
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What an incredible journey that the Lord has had us on. Excited to get to see our little RJ grow into the beautiful and brave women that God has created her to be!
Every child and every adoption is very unique and there is no norm! I love answering questions about adoption, so e-mail me away!
… and of course we had to spend the rest of the day celebrating at the happiest place on earth, AKA Disneyland!
Comments
45 responses to “{Mama Diaries} Adoption”
Such a beautiful post! Great is His faithfulness!
Those first pictures of the 3 of you made me cry! I became a mom this year and it’s just amazing.
I know that Judge. I worked for him at Rancho court a few years back. I bet that day was beautiful!
My cousin was adopted (wow nearly 19 years ago) and God definitely
knew what he was doing there, even though we didn’t understand why my aunt had to suffer a late term loss months before. Once he joined our family, we knew it was meant to be.
I love this story so much! Congratulations!! I love the new cover photo on the page 🙂
Congratulations! I’ve loved following your blog for several years. Thank you for sharing your story.
I am overwhelmed with emotion reading this beautiful story. It is amazing how God has a plan for everyone. I’m so happy that this journey is such a blessing for you and your family. Congratulations.
Congratulations, redemption of lives is beautiful! What a story and how we can see God all over it! Thanks for sharing
Wow. This is such a wonderful and heartwarming story. Thank you for sharing this!
This is such a wonderful post. I have a lot of respect and admiration for those who adopt. Congrats1
Cried buckets reading this. I’m so happy that everything pans out well for you, Bobbi. Such an inspiring story. RJ reminds me so much of my 9mth-old girl. She’s so fortunate to have wonderful parents. Likewise, you’re so blessed with this Joy! A match made in heaven! Thank you for sharing this joyful journey with us. I look forward to more chronicles and adventures of the #mccormickclan!! Lotsa luv to Miss Rylee Joy McCormick.. Xoxo
We have two children from Detroit that joined us when they were 4 and 6; they have been home for 5 yrs now. Our two from China have been home for 2 yrs. Each journey is unique and each has its own joys and challenges. Congratulations on the permanency you now have for her! What a gift that is!
Congratulations! It’s a gorgeous story and I’m so happy for you and your family!
~Bre
So much love…your smiles say it all!!! <3 Also….I LOVE the photo in the blog heading 🙂
I cried so amazing. God brought you together. I love the pic of Rylee touching your husbands face. Also I’m wearing my I eat burpees for breakfast shirt. Love it
God is good. Your story is inspiring and is such a testament. Thank you giving me tears of ‘joy.’
I have to admit, I’m slightly obsessed with your adoption story. I have had it on my heart to adopt, even before knowing I could have children of my own. I would love to pick your brain about this. This blog post had me crying tears of JOY! She is so perfectly named. Such a true testament of God’s faithfulness. Congratulations!
Oh I cried! What a beautiful story and a beautiful family!!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful story! Crying tears of joy for you while I read this.
Tears flowing. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Just beautiful!! Congratulations–God is good!
have loved watching her grow! Doing adoption paper work this very week! We are considering adoption and fertility — but planning for one of each if possible. We shall see, so happy for you!
I am so happy for you all! What a beautiful family! Congrats x1000!
This made me tear up! Thank you for sharing your journey. God’s work is amazing. What a JOY.
Congratulations on your beautiful adoption story! I can’t wait to see how your blog transforms over the next few months.
I have to agree with Danielle on best post ever!! also, I can’t wait to see the new design. I love it so far!!
Congratulations on your beautiful adoptions story. I can’t wait to see how your blog transforms over the coming months.
Congratulations on your beautiful adoption story!! I can’t wait to see how you blog transforms over the coming months! Looking forward to it
what a beautiful story!
Awe I got all teary eyed reading this! Couldn’t be happier for you to officially finish the adoption process! Congrats!
This is so beautiful. I am so happy for your family. <3
What a wonderful story of hope! Loved reading this. Congratulations to you and your family. I love the photos of Rylee’s happy face 🙂
[…] I just don’t have time to comment. Char gave me this idea for a post. I loved this post by Bobbi on her adoption journey, it left me in tears. Also this post by Sarah on what matters most. I can totally relate to this. I […]
Lovely story that brought tears to my eyes! I wish you all the joy in the world with your little girl!
CONGRATS! What a beautiful story with an amazing ending. Or really, there is no ending, this is just the beginning. I’m so happy for you guys. Rylee is very lucky to have two amazing parents in her life. Congrats!
What a beautiful sharing. As an adoptee, you have given me a glimpse if what it may have been like for my parents the day my adoption was final — forty-seven years ago! I follow you on IG because I became smitten with your sweet RJ. Xx
Best. Post. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO EXCITED and love your story of course!
So many congratulations! What a beautiful little family – inside and out!
What a beautiful story !congratulations a hundred times over !!!!
The photo of you all in the court room where RJ is looking up at Matt really says it all, so lovely. Thanks for sharing your amazing story.
Bobbi, your story brought tears to my eyes. I’m so happy for you guys. Congratulations 🙂 xoxo
This is such an amazing story and so wonderful to see God’s work, especially with the timing of the phone call. You guys are wonderful and RJ is so beautiful – congratulations to the family of 3!!
Okay I totally cried reading this!!!! What a testimony of The Lord’s faithfulness!!! Awesome awesome awesome!
my heart is literally exploding with joy for you and your beautiful family!!
A story that was written beautifully … You radiate JOY!
Such a wonderful and beautiful story! XOXO