(Continued from Newsletter Edition #46)
I began my journey into the prolife movement in November of 1972, when I had just turned 11 (go ahead, do the math; I’ll wait). My Dad enlisted my help (I felt so grown up!) to go door-to-door distributing flyers to “Vote No on Proposal B” (which would have legalized some abortions in Michigan). Proposal B was defeated, and that time together with my father remains one of my most cherished memories of my Dad; he died a few years later.
In high school and college I researched abortion, figuring I must be missing something. How could anyone support the killing of babies? My search only reinforced my belief that if anyone honestly examines this issue, the only logical conclusion is that preborn individuals are human and alive. Defending them is a clear civil rights obligation.
When I met Andy, who would become my husband, we discussed our desire for a large family early in our relationship. God, however, had other plans. After we married, we discovered our family would be formed through adoption. Our prolife views were only reinforced as we heard people discuss abortion so casually as we longed to welcome any of those sweet babies into our lives.
We decided to pursue open adoption (which was rather new at the time), and met our 1st daughter’s birthmother. We visited our baby in foster care for several weeks, before we were cleared for that precious day when we brought her home.
Two years later, we became licensed as foster parents so we could accept our next child, a boy, right from the hospital. That came with the risk that the birthmother could change her mind before all the legalities were finalized. She did. After having him in our home and hearts for two weeks (and after some fleeting thoughts of fleeing to Canada), we were forced to relinquish our precious (only) son.
A few months later, a young woman who had become pregnant at 14 chose us to parent her expected baby girl. Being close to her younger sister, she liked the idea of her baby having a sister. We were overjoyed, once again.
A year later, that same young woman called us. Her sister was now pregnant, and she wondered if we would consider adopting her baby as well. She called us a few weeks later to let us know the sad news: their parents had convinced her sister to have an abortion. Our baby was lost to the culture of death.
Then, one year later, our case worker called. Our 2nd daughter’s birthmother, now just 17, had gone into the agency, asking if they thought we might be interested in adopting another baby. They asked how far along she was, and if she’d had any prenatal care. She had not. She’d kept the entire pregnancy secret – wearing “Spanx” and loose clothes, afraid her parents would try to talk her into an abortion as they had her sister. The case worker sent her to a doctor, who sent her to the hospital. Our youngest, perfectly beautiful, healthy daughter was born the next day.
And our family, with blessings and losses, was complete. For a time. My husband died several years ago from cancer (it should be illegal), when our two youngest were still teenagers. Our girls are all grown now and moved to different towns. My oldest is a mother herself. My grandson, Andrew, is now four. She had suggested for some time that I consider moving closer. When she became pregnant again, I knew that as a working Mom, she could certainly use the help. I decided to accept her invitation. My granddaughter, Felicity, just turned one (see Nov. Newsletter cover).
Prior to moving to Spring Lake, one of the very 1st things I did was check to make sure there was a prolife group in the area. That is how I found Tri-Cities Right to Life (and started appearing in car parades).
And I have since become a foster-parent again, in a way. I am currently raising a 4-month old Papillion puppy to be a service dog for Paws with a Cause. If all goes well, after a year he will go into training to be a Hearing Assistance dog.
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RELATED: An established married couple recently reached out to us saying that they are interested in adopting. If you know of a birth-mom who would consider an open (or even closed) adoption, please let us know so we can put her in contact with them. Thank you!