Sunday, March 6, 2011

They Say That Good Things Come to Those Who Wait...

A few people have asked me why Ryan is smiling in spite of his black eye in the photos included with the previous post.

Well, I think it’s because we have some happy happy news.

On February 7, as I was driving home from a typical day at school, I got the best phone call I have ever received.

I don’t remember the exact words that the caller used.  Something like, “My name is Katie, and I am Ryan’s second cousin, and I read about you guys in Ryan’s mom’s Christmas letter, and I’m pregnant, and I want you to adopt my baby.”

I nearly drove off the road. 

After a few seconds to let her words sink in, I sputtered out an awesome and articulate reply--something like, “Oh, wow!  That is wonderful!  Thank you!”  (Inadequate, I know, but really, what can you say to the most important words you will ever hear in your entire life?)

One month later, after exchanging dozens of emails with Katie, talking on the phone to her, her mother, and her boyfriend, Drew, (who is totally supportive and awesome), and planning a trip in just a couple of weeks to meet them and go to an ultrasound with her, we are ready to announce:

We will be parents in August 2011.

The depth of our happiness cannot be expressed.  The depth of our gratitude to Katie cannot be expressed.  She is the most selfless, sweet, mature, open, amazing young woman we have ever had the privilege to know.  Really, she is.  She has invited us to be a part of her pregnancy and her life; she has sent us ultrasound videos with descriptions of what is going on in the images; she has communicated so honestly and sensitively with us, never keeping us waiting or playing with our emotions.  In fact, the first time I spoke to her on the phone, she said that she’d read our blog and seen that we’ve had a lot of adoption disappointments—so she’d waited to contact us until she was totally sure of her decision.  She and her boyfriend have talked to everyone involved, including their parents and a case worker with LDS Family Services, and they are certain that they wanted to proceed with an adoption plan.

How can years of pain be washed away by one conversation with a selfless sixteen year old girl whom I have never met but love more than words can say? 

We want to thank both Katie and Drew for the gift that they are giving us.  We cannot wait to meet you both, and we cannot wait to meet our baby in August.  

52 comments:

  1. Rachel- (and Ryan :) I have tears welling up in my eyes. I can't even tell you how happy I am for you. How amazing that you have someone so incredibly wonderful and FAMILY that wants to share this amazing baby with you. You are going to be the most wonderful, loving mother. Best wishes and I can't wait to see that baby of yours! It is truly meant to be. I am so amazing by all your strength and faith in this process. You deserve to have someone share the whole pregnancy with you. Congrats!!!!!!

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  2. Oh my goodness! I can't even finish reading the rest of your post before telling you how excited we are for you both!! You will be the best parents! Wow...and august!! That's soon! Well, you're moving here and it's baby shower time!! I'm on it! Funny thing I was on your blog because Kelly wanted me to read and see Ryans black eye! So tonight i was showing David and this post caught my eye!! Sure glad it did. Love you both! You are so deserving!!

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  3. "Hooray" and "yee-haw" are so inadequate to express my happiness! Actually, right now I'm listening to the youtube video of "My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee" that you linked to one of your posts a little while ago-- and it's so true!

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  4. I got chills the whole time I read this. I am so happy for you guys!

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  5. YES YES YES i just ate 4 brownies in celebration of the announcement!! wish you could have eaten them with me...
    i love you

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  6. Zipidee Doo Da, zipidee day, my oh my what a wonderful day . . . So thrilled for the Nielson family.

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  7. Yay!!!! So so happy for you guys! Is this even adequate? Just know we are having a dance party for you right now. :)

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  8. Thank you for announcing this! I was bursting with excitement for to long! I can't wait to meet Baby N. And i'm just thankful that I will most likely be living in Denver with you and can maybe repay you in babysitting for all the times you watched my kids! I love Katie too from all the stories you told me about her! She is such a sweetie! I love you Katie! And Rach and Ry! And Baby Nielson! Oh i'm so excited! Are you going to tell everyone what you're having in your next post?!!!

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  9. Congratulations! I am so happy for you. You will be the most amazing mother!

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  10. YAY Rach and RY (sorry bout the eye)!!!!! I could not be more thrilled tonight! Jeff and I can not wait to see you start your family and meet the new addition! xoxo Keep us posted!

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  11. My heart is SO HAPPY right now! Thank you, Katie (and her Boyfriend!)....HIP HIP HOORAY! This news makes my week! I can't wait to see pictures of this new little person in August. Are you going to find out the sex of the baby? We are THRILLED for you! Katie and you will be in our prayers! XOXOXOXO

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  12. I don't think I can put into words how excited I am for you guys!!! Congratulations!!

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  13. Oh Rachel!!!!!! I am so incredibly happy for you and Ryan!!!!! Congratulations!!!! I love that she is keeping you involved with her pregnancy and ultrasounds. Aubrey did that for us too. Birthmothers are pretty amazing!!!!!

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  14. Congratulations! Katie sounds wonderful and I thank the Lord for her for you! How exciting about your bundle of joy!

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  15. I'm so happy for you guys that I'm crying!

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  16. To join in with my own inarticulate response: Wahoooo!!! That is awesome!! I'm so, incredibly happy for you both. :)

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  17. yeah I'm crying too! I'm so happy that you guys get a baby to hold and hug and worry about and love! That's the best news EVER!!

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  18. What's the word for "yay!" times a million? Hallelujah? HALLELUJAH!!! That's how excited I am for you.

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  19. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you and Ryan. You guys will be great parents!

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  20. A little while ago my really good friend from Utah called me and told me she's been wanting to tell me something for a long time. She said that her nephew and his girlfriend were pregnant and they wanting you guys to adopt their baby. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't know if it was certain...now that I know it is congratulations! It's such a small world and it's so ironic how another person's challenge can bring a blessing to someone else.

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  21. Hooray!! SOO happy to read this! Congrats!

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  22. We are so happy for you! And we both think Katie and her family are amazing for doing this. We can't wait to hear if your baby is a boy or a girl and all the other baby news.

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  23. Joy cometh in the morning! You just had to wait a little longer. I am so happy for you! Keep us updated with all of the things that are going on as you go through "gestation"!

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  24. Oh Rachel! I am so happy for you guys. Seriously the best news ever! How wonderful to have it be family too. She sounds like a great girl. I can't wait to see this little one!

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  25. Wow! What a sweet wonderful smart girl, to realize at such a young age the amazing thing she is giving her baby. You guys area great pick.

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  26. Rachel and Ryan! What great news. You both are going to be great parents. This little baby is so lucky! We cant wait to hear more! Love you both!

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  27. Let me add my congratulations! What wonderful news! I know that's such an understatement, but I'm really excited for you guys.

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  28. I, just like I'm sure everyone else was crying when I read this. Sooo happy for you guys! You both will be the best parents.

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  29. Oh my goodness oh my goodness oh my goodness!!!!!! Totally crying. Beyond-beyond happy for you! The wait is finally over! You will be the best parents. No doubt about it. Trav and I still talk about willing our kids to you if anything were to happen to us :) We love you that much. Time to celebrate!!! I haven't read all the other comments, but a baby shower is in order! I don't want to step on any toes of other girls who would want to throw it, but I certainly want to help. Congrats you guys.

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  30. I cannot even express how happy I am for you. What a thrilling day. Remember... "joy cometh in the morning." Congrats you two.

    It's good to know that good still comes to those who wait... It gives me hope! :)

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  31. Lots of tears here too! Sooooo happy for you guys! I too would love to help with that baby shower!!! Can't wait to know what it is!

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  32. HALLELUJAH!!! Rachel, this is the fruition of so many prayers--I'm certain more than you know. I have been sincerely hoping and praying that your recent silence regarding your adoption journey was because there was something wonderful in the works. I'm glad you didn't drive off the road when you heard the news; I'm glad Ryan is looking on the bright side despite a nasty black eye; I'm THRILLED for your baby and love this child already; I'm excited that you'll be in Denver--near family--and that you'll have a little bit of time to "nest" and make a cheerful home for this little angel. Please keep us posted on baby's gender so we'll all know what color gifts to send.
    Much love!

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  33. Holy 34 comments already! Yowzah! Congratulations!! I'm so excited for you guys! Can't wait to hear all the updates!

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  34. Holy cow!!! I'm SOOOOOOO excited for you guys!! You're going to be the best parents ever!!

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  35. I want to know if it's a boy or girl too! :)

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  36. Rachel and Ryan- yay! We are so excited for you guys! That is going to be one lucky little baby to have you as parents. I'm so glad that Katie found you!

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  37. Definitely the BEST news EVER!! Your wait is almost over. I am so so excited!! Enjoy your trip and getting to say hi to your little one for the first time! :) :) How many weeks is she??

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  38. Yay! :-) So glad to hear the good news! Congrats and we hope Ryan is healing well after his weekend incident.

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  39. How exciting! That IS the most wonderful news ever! I hope time flies by and you are holding your new baby very soon!!

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  40. holy cow!!!!! I am so excitedfor you!!!!! And I am so hoping you get a sweet baby girl!!!! girls are so much fun! Congratulations!!!! I want to send ya a gift, so when you find out what your having, let me know!!!!! I hope you ok with my little homemade brup cloths! CONGRATULATIONs a hundred fold!!!!!!!

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  41. Yeah!! We are so excited for you guys:) Congrats.

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  42. Yay!!!! I'm sooooooo happy for you guys! Congratulations! So are you going to find out the sex or let it be a surprise?

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  43. YOu've got me bawling my eyes out here at the desk. I am so grateful and thankful for you guys. You have been so blessed to have Katie find you and make the adult choice, the best choice for her child here. I can't help but worry and want to protect you both, even though I don't know you, but all we can do is pray that her heart continues to go in the right direction! I promise I will!

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  44. YAY!!! Congratulations! You don't know me, but I am a friend of Amy's and linked to your blog through hers. But even though we are complete strangers, I am SOO super excited and happy for you guys!

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  45. So So Excited for you!!! What wonderful news. We are so so happy for you guys. Let us know when you will be in Denver we would love to catch up and Ivy would love to see you too!

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  46. Hooray!!! I am so happy for you guys! You will be such an incredible mother, I wish I was half as prepared as you are.

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  47. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to be an auntie again! Can't wait to hear about your meeting with Katie. She is so cute. That baby is so lucky to have you guys.

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  48. I have to admit that your sweet post left me more than a little teary. I am so very very happy for you! I am excited to hear more of the story!

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  49. I'm am crying...CRYING tears of joy. This feeling is all to real for me and I am so happy for you! I know exactly what you mean when you say one conversation makes everything feel better. Katie is one amazing women. I heart her to the fullest.

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  50. Congrats!! I am so happy for you guys!

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