She was born on Christmas Eve to a brave mother who decided to give her child a different life. She was a mother of two and her husband was in jail. She needed help and knew that she could not support this baby.
That special day is when two stories collided.
Jeff and I have been on the journey to adopt since beginning paperwork in June of 2009. We found an agency in Georgia that we had an instant connection with called Covenant Care. I have wanted to adopt my entire life, but Jeff took a little time to investigate the process and then wholeheartedly jumped into this new adventure.
We believe adoption is a beautiful picture of humanity supporting one another in difficult times, it’s about women having an option to choose life for their child, and it’s about a multi-ethnic world that chooses love over skin color. The great injustice is that millions of orphans in our world are in need of a place to call home and a family to care for their needs. A great misunderstanding in the adoption story is who is the hero. Let me be clear, the hero in this story is not me, I am the person that has simply been blessed.
Jada Rae has joined our family today because of an amazing birth mother that made the most difficult decision anyone could ever make and we are forever grateful. She chose us, we said yes, and in 4 days became parents. Our lives have drastically changed and we pray that we might raise a strong woman who will one day change the world. It all begins with making those tough decisions, and we hope to remind her always of her loving and strong birth mother that first made a difficult decision.
Jada Rae – may you be strong and courageous, not defined by any boundaries or boxes, always believing, always questioning, always loving others, so that one day this world may be a better place because of your imprint.
So wonderful! This gave me chills. Congratulations!
Comment by Kelly McNees — February 3, 2010 @ 1:09 pm
This picture is INCREDIBLE!!! And Andre I love your heart.
Comment by Joanna — February 3, 2010 @ 1:21 pm
This is beautiful. Thank you, Andre!
Comment by Jera Krager — February 3, 2010 @ 1:35 pm
Jada’s birth mother is a hero. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story!
Comment by Megin — February 3, 2010 @ 2:12 pm
Wow! This brought tears to my eyes! I keep thinking of that wonderful birth-mother also, praying for her comfort, thanking God for her and her amazing gift of love to Jada and to us!
There’s one more hero in this story….Jesus gave His life so that we could be adopted into His family! This fact has taken on a whole new meaning for me! May Jada experience TWO adoptions.
Love you, honey!
Mom
Comment by Sandy Ten Hoeve — February 3, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
andre, it is so awesome to watch Him in your life with all the journeys. I am so glad for His blessing to you and of you. In all confidence, I believe there is a mighty, powerful,full of His glory story to be written in Jada Rae’s life and family
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Comment by anne — February 3, 2010 @ 6:36 pm
Welcome to the great adventure. Our two boys have been a great blessing to us, they’re now 7 & 8. We’re celebrating Deb’s birthday today and this is more icing on the cake.
Comment by Roger Varland — February 3, 2010 @ 6:46 pm
So proud of you my sweet friend! Am updating my pictures and was reminded just last week of our memories together – beach trip, mountain trip, and who can forget THE SHINDIG Vegas style baby – and then literally – the “babies” arrived!! Life is so full and God is so good! These amazing birth moms are certainly the unsung heros and I plan on changing that! We’ve received blessings far beyond any words will ever adequately express! I’m so proud of you and thankful for my Andre and precious Jada! Jada and Josie – just go together – meant to be lifelong friends! I love you my precious friend!
Comment by Stacy Coleman — February 4, 2010 @ 9:29 am
What an amazing post, Andre. I can’t wait to meet Jada Rae! I’m a little jealous that my mom and sister got to meet her before me. How did that happen?
Comment by Joseph Mole — February 9, 2010 @ 4:39 pm
Thanks for posting the picture and story! I’m so proud to be her Grandma! She, you, and her birth mother have already made this world a better place! She looks ready for whatever God has planned for her life!
Comment by Judy Shinabarger — February 12, 2010 @ 5:45 pm
This is so wonderful. Jada Rae is a blessing to you and you are a blessing to others!
Comment by Jessica — February 18, 2010 @ 1:37 pm