Our Time with Baby Joseph Scott
                              
         An adoption story

                                             By
                                            Jo Scott

I was going to start this story by telling you that I met the best boy in the whole world last Thursday, but I can't, because that boy already exists.  His name is Roman, he's 7 years old and he, coincidently, is our grandson.  But I did meet an awesome little boy last Thursday just after he made his way into this world.

Ken and I opened the door to Karen's hospital room, filled with anticipation and apprehension.  I met Karen just six weeks earlier outside of Planned Parenthood abortion mill in Denver.  I was able to talk to her before she went in to the mill.  It was a difficult conversation because she was not being honest with me.  She refused to admit that she had an appointment to kill her child.  I was loving but stern with her and I was able to tell her about her options.  Karen wasn't in the mill long and on her way out stopped to talk again; that is when I found out that she is a Christian.  We talked for about ten minutes, but I could not talk her into keeping her child.  I gave her my phone number and pleaded with her to call me that night.

The night passed with no phone call from Karen.  I thought that she was using the time to harden her heart and to proceed with her plans for the abortion.  All I could do was pray.  Two days later my phone rang and the caller I.D. told me that I didn't know the caller.  I answered, "Jo, do you remember me, I'm Karen and I cannot kill my child.  I know that God does not want me to do it.  Do you think that you could help me?"

"Thank God! Karen, you've made the right decision.  Yes, I can help you.  Can you meet me tomorrow for lunch?"  At 1:30 the next day I met Karen at a restaurant near her home.  When she walked in she looked shaken and nervous.  I did my best to make her feel comfortable and we began to talk about her circumstances.  Karen told me that she is a native of Africa and has only been in this country a short time.  She found out the week before that she was pregnant and at Planned Parenthood she learned that she was thirty-two weeks along.  She was in shock.  Her body showed no signs of pregnancy and she had her cycle each month right on time.  She began to feel the baby a week earlier. She thought that she was having stomach problems, but became suspicious as the feelings persisted.  Karen was concerned that the baby might not be healthy, but we talked through all her concerns and her fears were relieved.  Then Karen told me that she wanted to put her child up for adoption.  After a long conversation about her life and the reasons why she wanted use adoption I was convinced that she was sincere and agreed to assist her with anything that she needed.  I left our meeting feeling secure in the knowledge that her child would be born.

Most women will kill their child rather than put them up for adoption because they say that they could never live with the pain of adoption. Karen is a testimony of the exact opposite as you will understand as this story unfolds.

I needed to get Karen medical care immediately, but because of my schedule I could not take her to the doctor.  I contacted another sidewalk counselor, Rachel Troyer, and she jump at the chance to help me with Karen's transportation.

Next, we needed to find a place for Karen to live.  In just a few days a family in our church welcomed her into their home.  Karen and I talked frequently.  It was astonishing to see her and realize that she was so far along; she did not show at all.

My husband Ken and I had to leave town for a week when Karen was in her thirty-seventh week. I had a gut feeling that she would go into labor when we were away and I was right.  At thirty-eight weeks and two days Karen gave birth to an awesome six pound twelve and three quarter ounce baby boy.  Ken and I left immediately for the hospital and arrived when baby Joseph Scott ______ was 5 hours old.  When Karen told me that she had named her son after me I was humbled and honored.  As I held Karen in my arms I asked her if she was still sure about her decision to put Joseph up for adoption and she assured me that her mind was made up.

Karen used an adoption agency to help her find her son's parents, but hadn't had time to see any parent profiles yet.  She called the agency office to let them know that Joseph had  arrived and asked them to deliver some profiles of Christian families that fit the  description that she had related to the agency.  After the phone call, Ken,Rachel, Karen and I began to pray that we would have the wisdom and incite to recognize the best parents for little Joe.  Ken especially prayed that he would go to parents that had been calling out to God in tears for a child.

The agency representative arrived with several "family packets" at about three thirty that afternoon and we began pouring through the letters that the families had written to the birth mom and watchingthe DVDs that were included with the letters.  No one fit the bill, Karen had asked for Christian families and not one said a word about God, so we called the agency and requested more packets, but PLEASE make them Christian.  A couple of hours later we had the second batch of letters and DVDs to consider.  By then only Karen and I were left in the room, Ken and Rachel had to leave.  I read the letter from that dad in packet number one to Karen.  It was a sweet, touching letter. This dad was unashamed of his dedication to Christ.  We liked him right away.  Then I read the mom's letter and we fell in love with her even before we saw their DVD.

The DVD cemented our conviction that this was the right family for baby Joseph.  Mom's eyes are caring and compassionate, so soft.  Dad is a real man, yet kind and loving.  We could tell that they made their own DVD, that they hadn't hired anyone to spruce them up.  We loved them at first sight and we cried together.  We thanked God for sending us just the right parents for Karen's awesome little boy.

I want to tell you so much about Joseph's new mom, but because I do not want the story to identify her in anyway, I will tell you just a little.  Jess had several miscarriages and had been crying out to God for a child.  They have had more than their fair share of heartache in the past, but it has only strengthened their marriage and their relationship with the Lord.  Dad has a wonderful committed strong spirit.  He's the kind of guy that when you meet him you know him.

Karen had to spend a few days away from the baby so that the agency would be sure that she was positive about her decision, since there was no time for her to go through the usual counseling.  They usually place the baby in temporary homes during that time, but Karen didn'twant Joseph to be with strangers so it was decided Joseph would come home with Ken and I.  What an honor and absolute joy!

On the morning that Karen and Joseph were discharged from the hospital, Karen came with me to my car and through her tears said good-bye to Joseph.  It was the first time that I saw her cry.  My heart broke and I cried most of the way home.  I talked to Karen frequently over the next three days.  She steadily strengthened and was doing amazingly well.  We were excited for the family.  We knew that they would be contacted after Karen had been away from her son for three days.  On her third day away from Joseph a counselor from the agency met with Karen to determine if Joseph would be placed with the family that she selected.

All went well with the meeting and Karen was scheduled to meet with the parents the following day.  Karen requested that I be included in that meeting and they were happy to let me attend.  Early in this process Karen had re-dedicated her life to Christ.  You could see the peace that surpasses all understanding in her.  She was so excited. We knew that the family had to be beside themselves with excitement and anticipation.

It was explained to us before the meeting with, (I'll call them Jess and Wess) that meetings like ours could be tense and a little uncomfortable.  They asked us to be patient.  But somehow both of us knew that there would be no tension.

The door opened, Jess and Wess walked in and they were just as they were on the DVD.  Jess's eyes were warm and loving and Wess was all smiles.  Karen explained why I was at the meeting.  They were stunned to hear how she was determined to abort Joseph and about how our relationship had developed.

Karen had been praying that the adopting parents would have some very specific goals in mind for Joseph.  One was home schooling.  She asked Jess what kind of education she planned on providing Joe.  Jess hesitated slightly and answered, "I've been thinking about home schooling."  We were overjoyed.  Each question we asked was perfectly answered.  It was as though God took Karen's list of qualities for Joseph's parents and built them from scratch according to her list.

"Jo, do you see that I have no tears?  I am so joyful, filled with joy for me son.  Jesus has filled me with joy!"  Those were Karen's first words to me as we got into my car after our meeting with Wess and Jess.  Our drive home was joyous!  We thanked God for the peace that He gave Karen and me and for Joseph's new parents.

It was decided that Wess and Jess would come to my home to meet their son.  Ken and I were so excited for them to be with their child.  We took them immediately upstairs to his crib and watched as they held him in their arms for the first time.  They stayed two and one half hours visiting little Joseph.

We learned lots more about them and discovered that we had some things in common.  Wess asked if we ever listened to the "Bob Enyart Live" radio show.  We were stunned! Then Ken explained that Bob is our Pastor and that I fill in for him on the show sometimes when he is out of town.  We were thrilled to hear that he listens to the show and he was blown away that we were so closely connected to Bob.

The next morning I was to meet them at the adoption agency at 11:00 a.m.  Our last evening with Joseph was bitter sweet.  Ken and I loved caring for him.  We rushed to see who would get him first when he fussed.  I saw my husband love Joseph so completely when he was caring for him.  It was precious.  I loved my time with Joey. When he screamed because I couldn't get his bottle made quickly enough it made me smile.  Little Joe hates being bathed.  It is amazing just how loud a newborn can scream.  Ken went running to the furthest part of the
house.  His heart broke for Little Joe.  At three in the morning when Joey was screaming and playing "fireman" as I changed his diaper, I was delighted.  We loved our time with Joseph, but it had come to an end.  He was going to his parents in the morning and we could not be happier for them, but we knew that Joey impacted us in a way that we will never forget him or his parents.

I was at the adoption agency promptly at 11:00 a. m.  I was overwhelmed with joy.  I couldn't wait for Wess and Jess to be united with their son.  The agency provides a nice little ceremony for relinquishment.  Karen did not want to attend so I participated in her place.  We read poems and I gave Joseph a silver dollar. Unfortunately, I was unable to communicate why I was giving it to him because I was so filled with tears of joy that I could not speak.  I am going to send Wess and Jess a copy of this story via the adoption agency, so I get a second chance to explain the silver dollar.

The dollar is made of precious metal and it valuable.  It is a symbol of Joseph's value and preciousness in the eyes of the Lord.  Please tell Joseph that God loved him so much that before he was born, Jesus sent someone to give the dollar to him, to remind him of his value in the eyes of the Lord.

Ken and I will keep Joseph, his birth mom and his adoptive parents in our prayers for the rest of our lives.