a look back... part 1

During our trip in Lubbock, our friend, Emily, gave us several pictures that she had taken while we lived there! There are too many great ones to post! So here are just a few of them that I loved...


The day after we got home from the hospital!


3 days old!


I can't believe how tiny she was!


At 2 months, she was already a silly gal... :)

a look back... part 2

More of Emily's great pictures...




(this one's framed & hanging on our mantle!)






This was taken at the end of our last meal in Lubbock with our dear friends & pastor, Jim & Emily. Leaving was so tough.

the beauty of adoption...

Today at our church, Marc preached a sermon on adoption, and it made me (Amy) take a look back and remember the AMAZING days surrounding Caroline's birth. So, here's a look back at some "never-before-seen" pictures from those days... :) Thanks for reminiscing with me...


Aaaaaahhhhh!!! I can't believe I'm getting ready to go "have" a baby this morning!!! (Megan, Caroline's birthmother, allowed us to be in the room at Caroline's birth and Marc cut the cord!) You can't even imagine how surreal this felt...


For 2 days after Caroline's birth, we enjoyed time in the hospital with Caroline, Megan, Megan's mom, Tricia, and Amy's family. It was such a special time for all of us to come together and surround this precious baby that we all love. Megan & Tricia, we miss you guys so much & can't wait to see you when we're in Texas in December!


48 hours after the birth, Megan signed her relinquishment papers and we signed our adoption paperwork. (It was extremely emotional, as you can imagine...) This is a pic of the first time we walked to the hospital's nursery to get OUR daughter.


I am in awe of God's plan. I am in awe of Megan's strength and selflessness. I am in awe that this adoption, as perfect as it was, is just a faint glimmer of our adoption as God's children. "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."- Eph. 1:4-5 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are." -1 John 3:1

giving & receiving a child in love...

Video! At last! Here is the adoption ceremony (9 1/2 minutes) at the hospital performed by Amy's dad just before we took Caroline home on Feb. 20, 2008. Sorry the video quality isn't the greatest on here, but we still thought it was worth posting!

update on megan...

Many of you have asked how Megan is doing, so I thought it was time to give a quick update. Since she & I talk almost everyday on the phone, I'm gonna do my best to relay what I hear her saying. (but Megan, forgive me if I'm way off or feel free to add any additional comments...)

Physically, Megan is slowly healing from the Bells Palsy we told you about in an earlier post. She is gradually getting "tingly" feelings in the paralyzed side of her face, which means the feeling is coming back. She was able to close her eye for the first time the other day. Yea!! (it's the little things that you take for granted, huh?)

Emotionally, Megan has told me that she is doing alot better than she thought she would be at this point. And sometimes she feels a little guilty that she is doing relatively okay, but we are praising God for giving her exactly what we had prayed for: peace and comfort. Obviously, she misses her baby ALOT and still has times of breaking down, (who wouldn't?!?) but I think it helps her to know that she is welcome to call us at any time and say, "What's she doing right now?" We are also trying to keep her stocked up with photos & this blog so that she doesn't feel like she has to lose touch on what's going on. Another thing we're all excited about is that Caroline will be baptized at our church on Sunday morning, April 27th, (Marc will be preaching a sermon on adoption and then baptizing her!) and we have invited Megan to come! She tells us she's counting down the days.... :) That will be such a sweet time for us to all be together again & a wonderful thing for Caroline in the future when she is looking at pictures, etc....

Megan and I know that not every open adoption is THIS open and THIS wonderful, but we just thank God for what He has done and what He is still doing. Because everything HAS gone so well, the 3 of us believe it is just proof that it was God's plan all along.

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart..." Jer. 1:5

lil' feet...

"sweet Caroline..."

So, the clue to guess her name was "Red Sox." And after all the guesses were in (including Babe Ruth, Coco Crisp, Manny Ramirez, Yaz, and Tessie) - the winner & ONLY person to guess her name was..... Brian Gleitz! (pictured here)

"How'd he do it?" you might ask. Here's a glimpse into Brian's brilliant mind in his own words:

"I was thinking red sox's ....
Big papa? No.
Coco? No.
Manny? Heck no.
Jack (Bauer or Shepard)? No, but might have been if baby was a boy.
Then I thought Fever Pitch, the movie, and my favorite song from that movie...
Sweet Caroline Wha wha wha
Then I remember Marc is from South Carolina
I could eliminate Jackie b/c it is taken by the Cat
Put two and two together and you get: Caroline Corbett!"

Congratulations, Brian!

pray for megan...

A few days after she came home from the hospital, Megan has come down with something called Bells Palsy, which has left the entire right side of her face paralyzed. Apparently it is a condition that is common with pregnancy as well as high stress levels, but it can take up to 6 months to fully recover. She is on medication to treat it, but she has to wear an eye patch to keep her right eye shut because it won't open and close voluntarily. (it's no fun to go out in public looking like a pirate, right?) We are thankful that she seems to be in good spirits about it all, but pray that she'll recover quickly. Also continue to pray that God would grant her comfort and peace, and give her a renewed sense of strength to continue to love and care for Brayden. We'll keep you posted...

new arrival!

Caroline Elizabeth Corbett was born at 11:48am on February 18th in Arlington, TX. She weighed 8 lbs 9 oz & was 20" long. She was EXTREMELY alert her first hour, and here she is just minutes after her birth! She was awfully quiet when she was born, and when the nurses seemed to be getting a little nervous about that, she let out the cutest little tiger "roar!!!" Then, almost in perfect rhythm, came 6 more! She had everyone in the room laughing, and one of the nurses said, "I've never heard anything like that!"


loved before she was born...


proud Daddy...


she's finally here! we are so excited!

pics from day 2...

some favorites from day 1...

This girl had better get used to flashing lights & cameras! In her first hour of birth, there were 5 cameras on her!!


Only Megan & Amy could go into the nursery, so Marc is looking on lovingly through the glass after Caroline had just gotten her first bath...


My eyes had never seen anything so beautiful...

unexpected joy in open adoption...

When we decided that adoption was God's calling for us, we never realized that not only would He bring us a precious child to love, but a dear friend in Megan, her birthmother. Here we are after stuffing ourselves with mexican food the day before Megan was going to be induced!


wow-- thank you, Megan, for letting us be apart of such an amazing moment.


Giving Megan a gift basket full of goodies, including a special bracelet that I'm helping her put on here...

homecoming!

When we pulled into Lubbock, our RUF students welcomed us home!




They printed & framed some of our favorite pics & left flowers, too...

giving & receiving a child in love...

Here is the text of the service that Amy's dad performed before we all left the hospital on Wednesday:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, who formed us in your own image, we thank you for your compassion and understanding in times of sadness and letting go. In the midst of our pain and joy we gather today to declare your Sovereignty over our emotions and to give you thanks for this wonderful gift of life. We thank you for Megan who brought her into the world, and for Marc and Amy who will bring her to adulthood. And at this precipitous moment we can only thank you for your presence which binds us together in love. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 139

Reflection by Dr. Dave Barnett

"Two Great Acts of Love" by Dr. David K. Barnett
On the Occasion of an Adoption

We stand in the presence of two great acts
Of love and faith this awesome day;
One family practices self-sacrificing love
Of relinquishment for the sake of the beloved;
The other accepts the responsibility of covenant love,
To provide and care for, sight unseen,
Faith at the ready with a sense of destiny.

Two loves, united in one common experience
Of holy providence,
God shows His love,
By relinquishing his Son
To offer us the unconditional covenant of adoption.

We stand in the presence of two anxious families;
One letting go, tiptoeing on the verge of grief;
Another taking in, treading softly scores of sleepless nights,
Immersed in lifetime changes.

Kylie is Celtic for beautiful; (fyi: Megan named her Kylie for the first 2 days)
And that is what Megan has given her.
Caroline means strong and full-grown
And that is what Marc and Amy will give.

Two sides of God’s great love gather baby-side;
Easy birth, the hard labor now begins.
God watches, not from above,
But in these two great loves
Met in God’s own child.

(Megan is holding the baby in her arms at this point...)

Blessing of the Child
Lord God, Father of us all, send forth your abundant blessing on our precious baby girl, made in your image, known by you in the womb, and destined for your love and grace. We acknowledge
that she belongs ultimately to you, and each of these families has been faithful to your call and will continue to seek your will. We bless Kylie Maleah and we bless You for the miracle she truly is. Now watch over and protect her forever and ever. Amen.

Blessing of the Mother
Dear God, we look to you at this turning point in the lives of those gathered here, especially Megan as she has placed Kylie in the loving watch-care of another family. You, who know the hearts of all, know the anxiety and pain she feels today. Give her strength and courage; the strength of love like your very own to let go, the courage to live through the moments of doubt and sadness, knowing she has made the right and best decision as you have given her to know your will. Finally, Heavenly Father, help us realize that none of us truly owns our children; they are gifts from you. To some you give the privilege of conceiving and giving birth to a child, and to some you give the privilege of raising a child. Give Megan your peace and comfort her at this time with the knowledge of your unfailing love and ever-present grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Megan passes the baby to us here...)

For the Adopting Parents
Father of the fatherless, you give your children a home in which to dwell; and like a loving mother you gather us into your household. We give you thanks for Caroline Elizabeth who has come to bless Marc & Amy and their extended family. We thank you for the great love you have placed in their hearts for her. By the power of your Holy Spirit continue to fill Marc and Amy with trust, understanding and affection; and, through the unforgettable events of this day, enable us better to know the mystery that we are all your children by adoption; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Final Blessing