Domestic Adoption
The Perfect Blessing
This past March, John and Tammie’s lives changed forever with the arrival of their son, John Mark—the “perfect blessing” in their lives.
While many parents are blessed through the birth of children, John and Tammie’s journey to parenthood was even more special because of the arduous road they traveled in order to become “Mom” and “Dad.”
Choosing Adoption
After trying to conceive unsuccessfully for six years, John and Tammie decided to forego their hopes of having a biological child this past winter in order to focus their dreams instead on building a family through adoption. “We were optimistic about adopting,” says Tammie, “since our friends had recent success with their adoption.” The couple signed up with an agency in their hometown in Connecticut and received notification that their home study was approved the end of February. They sent their profiles to local agencies, but after three weeks, they still hadn’t heard anything. Then, a friend who had adopted and knew that Tammie was originally from Michigan advised the couple to contact Adoption Associates, Inc. “This,” says Tammie, “is where the blessings and miracles began.”
Chosen
Tammie contacted Adoption Associates, Inc. on a Monday in mid-March and sent in all of the required paperwork. Then, on Thursday of the same week, Adoption Associates, Inc. contacted the couple to tell them that a birth mother was considering their profile and wanted the weekend to choose a family. “That was the longest weekend,” says Tammie, “but I didn’t worry.” The following Monday, the couple learned that the birth mother had not only chosen them to parent her baby, but that the baby was already born, the birth father had already terminated his rights, and the birth mother was terminating her rights on Wednesday. They could become parents that Wednesday or Thursday. “Needless to say,” says Tammie, “We dropped everything and planned on making the 11 hour trip to Michigan to get our baby.”
Preparing for Parenthood
That night, Tammie went out and bought everything she thought the baby would need. They notified their immediate family and close friends, who were all excited for them, and soon made the trip to Michigan to bring their son home. “It was great that it all happened in Michigan, because we were able to stay with my family,” says Tammie. “And when my husband had to go back to work, I had the support of my family.”
Blessed with a Son
After the birth mother had been to court and terminated her parental rights, John and Tammie received a phonecall telling them that the baby was theirs. Nancy Cannon, director of AAI’s central Michigan offices, told the couple that they could take their son home with them that Thursday, March 29, 2007. “Tears fell and joy filled our hearts,” says John. “We had been blessed with a son after only waiting one month from the approval of our home study.”
John Mark
John and Tammie named their son John Mark, and when they saw him for the first time, “We knew he was meant to be ours,” says Tammie. “We were both overwhelmed with emotion and couldn’t wait to hold him. It was amazing how much he looked like my husband and how instant the love and connection was.” On the ride home, Tammie couldn’t take her eyes off of him. “I sat in the back and just looked at him,” says Tammie. “He was so perfect.”
Before Returning Home
Before leaving to return home to Connecticut, John and Tammie met their son’s birth mother and thanked her for choosing them. “We will always have a place in our hearts for our son’s birth parents because they have blessed us with the most adorable and loving son, along with making our dream of being parents come true,” says Tammie. John and Tammie also introduced the baby to Tammie’s family in Michigan, and “Everyone was amazed how perfectly matched to us he was,” says Tammie. “They kept repeating this baby was sent from God and meant for us.”
A Family, At Last
Tammie and John say that the best part of their adoption journey was getting their son home and settled into a new routine. “It felt so good to pull up into our driveway as a family and take him into our home,” says John. John and Tammie have adjusted to parenthood and are enjoying every moment with their new son. “Our lives have changed in the most positive way, and now after four months, we feel so blessed,” says John. “John Mark has enriched and enhanced our marriage; he has brought unbelievable joy into our lives. We are so proud to be his parents and so grateful to his birth mother for choosing us.” To this, Tammie says, “He is the most adorable, happy, loving, and bright baby. He amazes us weekly with all of the new things he does. I stay at home, so we have formed a very strong bond and he knows his Mom. The smiles he gives me just melt my heart, and I love snuggle time. John has taken on the role of fatherhood well; they have a great relationship.” According to Tammie, John is also a great diaper changer. “I’m loving that,” she says.
For More Information
Families are currently needed for AAI’s African-American and biracial adoption programs. Michigan families are especially encouraged to inquire. To learn more about AAI’s African-American and biracial adoption program or about domestic adoption, please visit our domestic adoption page.
