Seeing My Sister Become a Mom:
Adoption From an Aunt’s Perspective
By Blair Groce
A year ago about this time, I was sitting in the kitchen pouring a glass of tea for my sister. We were about to head out the door to go shopping when Brittany got a phone call. She stepped outside and took the call. A few minutes passed then I heard a cry coming from the back porch. It was a cry I had never heard before. My sister and I have seen each other in tears many times over the years, but seeing her this way was the most unexplainable moment.
So many things ran through my mind in those few short minutes. I had a feeling about what she was going to tell me when she got off the phone and my stomach was in knots. I knew how crushed my sister and brother-in-law had been when they found out they couldn’t have biological children. Not only did the two of them struggle with this situation, the whole family struggled. We had constant questions, “Why Brittany and Kevin, God?” Brittany and Kevin are two of the most deserving people I know, and they have so much to offer.
When they told us they were going to be adopting, I was excited, but still didn’t quite understand adoption. Like many others, the thought ran through my head, “How could a woman just give up her child?” Brit and Kev opened our eyes and hearts to adoption. They taught us how wonderful adoption is, and how it’s not “giving up a child.” Adoption is God bringing families together and giving a life to so many. Adoption is placing a child in a loving, fit home. Adoption is not easy on birth parents. To voluntarily do what they think is best for their child, means so much heartache for them.
Back to the phone call… As soon as my sister got off the phone, she reached for me and just hugged my neck. It brings tears to my eyes to think back on that day. The adoption agency, Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach, called to say that a birthmother and birthfather had been looking through Life Books at the agency. The young couple really liked what they read about Brittany and Kevin and wanted to meet them in person. I knew how hard and long my sister prayed and waited for this moment to come. Over the next several weeks our whole family was cautiously excited. Finally the baby was born and the birthparents followed through with their plan. They signed papers making it official that Slade would come into our family.
Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for bringing this miracle into Kevin and Brittany’s life – for bringing this miracle to our entire family. Adoption is absolutely unexplainable unless you have lived it yourself. I have learned that biology doesn’t matter. Little Slade is precious. He is SO loved! To me, adoption is AMAZING…Adoption is LOVE!!!
