The other night we (Donnie's parents, sister, brother-in-law, Donnie and I) were sitting at the table having pie and ice cream (I know AGAIN with the eating thing!). I commented that the Four Seas' ice cream containers on the table were instrumental in Bug becoming part of our family.
During the adoption process, we had to prepare a scrapbook of our lives--or as I like to call it "the biggest marketing piece of my life"--to share with birth mothers. Our contact at the agency said that it's often surprising the connections that are made through the introductory letter and photos shared. You never know what's going to strike a chord with someone. (Translation: no pressure!)
We made our book and the agency shared it with various birth mothers. Some of the women chose other families and some chose to raise the child on their own. No one picked us. We kept asking if the agency received feedback on our book. "Do we need to change anything? Should we update the letter? Are there too many/too few photos? Should we include more family? Is the Hawaiian party photo too much?" The questions could go on forever. We were told when the match was right the connection would be made and there was simply no way of knowing what it will be. Be patient--the right baby is going to find you. (Yeah, sure, okay...)
When we received the call that a birth mother had selected us we found that among other common denominators there was a mutual love for Cape Cod. She had many happy memories of time spent on The Cape and in our scrapbook there was ONE photo of Donnie, my father-in-law and brother-in-law finishing off ice cream from Four Seas' containers and a one sentence reference to our fun times on The Cape.
It's not as though I needed another reason to love Four Seas (cantaloupe ice cream, remember?!) but I certainly look at those pint and quart containers much differently now! AND great news: we found out their ice cream has no egg in it so Bug was able to enjoy ice cream with us as well!
We had this ornament before we had Bug and no surprise that it's one of the first that goes on our tree every year.
Ice cream bringing people together! Now that's cool...ha ha! Or, okay, now that's sweeet...haha! Oy.
ReplyDeleteI'll stop.
Sounds like you all are having a great time!!!
That is a great story. I love that you have an ornament made for it. Very sweet.
ReplyDeleteI am addicted to ice cream!! Not cheap stuff. Hand made local ice cream - Jenni's and Graeters. YUMMY!!! I can see why the young mother picked you. I would have too!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a fabulous story! It was meant to be! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the ornament. :)
Those are wonderful memories! The beginning of something very special for you. :)
ReplyDeleteawww. very cool. hey - do you follow Exile on Mom Street or From 0-3 in 90 days? They're also adoptive families... awesome moms and great blogs!
ReplyDeleteWow that is such a beautiful story!
ReplyDeleteWonderful story! I love ice cream!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful! Love "the biggest marketing piece of my life." I had the honor of writing a letter of recommendation for friends when they adopted their daughter. No pressure!
ReplyDeleteI am working on just such a marketing piece again. Gah!
ReplyDeleteIt really is true about the right baby finding you, though, isn't it?
Such a wonderful thing to pull people together.
ReplyDeleteOh what a great memory and tradition!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, what a great story!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is such a fantastic story! You should print this page and save it for your son.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such a special moment.
aw that's so sweet! and you're right, i would look at those cartons so differently too... and look how perfectly things worked out!! i'm so happy for your family!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story!! Thanks for sharing it with us!! I have a good friend who has adopted two children, and it is always interesting to me to find out what it was from the letter or scrapbook, that clicked with the birthmom. Beautiful, and I love the ornament!:-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! Sounds like you're having a wonderful time on vacation :) Nothing like homemade ice cream.
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