The Gipson Family Story

After Candace and I had four wonderful children we knew our family was still incomplete. We knew from the birth of our first child that we would adopt. I had fixed in my mind exactly how the adoption was going to work. However, during the years of waiting we talked about different types of adoption. Yet nothing prepared us for what happened to us.
After going through LDS Family Services and waiting, and being told more than once we were a match only to have it fall through, we looked at different ways to bring our child home. We learned about Nathan from Adopt America Network. We sent in a profile and waited. We heard nothing. For several months we heard nothing. Then out of the blue the birthmother’s case worker asked for more information about us. Then nothing. We knew the birthmother’s due date was in late August and we kept hoping that no news was good news. Then the case worker told us that the birthmother wanted to talk to us on the phone. We talked and had a good conversation. She talked about how she envisioned placement. Still there was no commitment on her part to choose us as the family to raise her son. Three weeks later Nathan was born. His birthmother had chosen us. Our prayers had been answered.
A long month later after father’s rites were terminated we met the birthmother and Nathan for the first time. Having been in the delivery room with each of my other children I was worried that the bond wouldn’t be the same. But it is amazing how love works. It was amazing for me to see his birthmother and Candace interact and hold Nathan together. Then it was my turn to hold him. It was amazing. Six months later we were in the temple sealing him to our family.
About a year after Nathan was home we again started looking for ways to bring another child into our family. We took foster classes and became licensed foster parents. Yet nothing happened and we continued to wait. As all parents who look into adoption know waiting is hard. The lessons the Lord wants us to learn vary but He had lessons to teach our family through this adoption. We again asked our friend with Adopt America Network for profiles. She would email children and sibling groups. At the end of each email she would have a child with special needs. I am embarrassed to say I was afraid of such an adoption. I had never imagined my family with a child with special needs. Candace instantly wanted to look into special needs adoption. I was more hesitant. Then one sleepless night spending the night in prayer the Lord softened my heart. The prompting was to move forward. We went to a friend’s house who has adopted 16 children all of who have special needs to some degree. We asked her what it would mean to bring a child with special needs into our home. We left there knowing that was the route we were going to go with our next adoption.
The next day Candace met me at work to tell me of a little boy who was born with spina bifida the week before. We prayed right there in my office and felt like this little boy would be ours. We again went through all the paper work and waiting. A long month later we found ourselves in the hospital meeting our son Jayden. The joy of finally seeing our son was overwhelming.
This month of December we will finalize his adoption and on December 23 we will seal him to us. It is amazing how the Lord teaches us with the birth of each of our children.