As women,

we love ‘love,’ don’t we? Well, it didn’t turn out to be love at all. Even though things were said, within a month I knew that I was carrying a baby. I found out I was pregnant. I was alone.”

Dolores vulnerably shared for the first time publicly what her unplanned pregnancy journey was like. The room was silent, respecting her authenticity and painful memories.

“I struggled with all kinds of emotions — including confusion, fear and hurt. There were certain things that remained constant. One of them was that God loved me. He wasn’t going to leave me. And abortion was not an option for me.”

Fortunately, Dolores sought community. She found a good church, met her doctor at the church, as well as a lawyer that would help through termination of rights, and friends who would walk beside her. Pregnancy as a single woman is hard, and carrying the stigma as well as the baby in the mid-1980s was a big deal.

Hurtful words many of us have said at one point or another did not sway Dolores from making an adoption plan for her child. It is common to hear, “I could never give away my baby,” or, “I couldn’t handle wondering about my baby the rest of my life.” Two sentiments that are uninformed about the great care a woman takes in making her adoption plan and the understanding of what adoption openness can look like.

“I found a lot of women would love me, care for me, encourage me, but with all this going on, none of them could make the decisions for me.” When Dolores shared this with a room full of people at the Growing Forever Families fundraiser for Christian Adoption Services, each attendee could quietly reflect on what kind of support they have offered to a woman in an unexpected pregnancy. How are we serving women besides just voting “anti-abortion” or condemning abortion clinics?

“It was never about not wanting to raise her. It was always about wanting her to have the best life. I mournfully placed her in Jesus’ hands.” Dolores went on to introduce the couple she placed her daughter with in a semi-open adoption. In the banquet hall at the Holiday Inn, a community of supporters looked on as a photo appeared of Dolores meeting her now-adult daughter. Their story was still unfolding, and they graciously invited us to be part of it, hoping to encourage more adoption advocates.

It was always about wanting her to have the best life.

Each spring, Christian Adoption Services invites our Fargo community to hear these personal stories of local adoption. Attending and listening to someone’s journey opens the door to truth about the joys and pains of the adoption process. Those who attend have a chance to reflect on our influence within our circles to encourage life and support a mom.

WILL YOU ATTEND GROWING FOREVER FAMILIES ON APRIL 27?

Be part of the community in support of life. christianadoptionservices.org/gff