A family brought together by God

Did you know my daughter's adopted? Just checking.
We are SO PROUD of not just our amazing daughter, but the amazing young woman who chose US to be her forever family. To say this adoption has been an answer to prayer is an understatement. I truly believe our adoption story shows what adoption is SUPPOSED to look like when it is Christ-centered. When His will is done, it is perfect.
I prayed for a birth mother I could love and respect. Prayer answered.
I prayed for a baby with only as many health concerns as I could handle. Prayer answered above and beyond my expectations.
I prayed the birth mother would choose a name for her baby I could live with. PRAYER ANSWERED ABOVE AND BEYOND. 
The only downside to this adoption has been knowing how much Sarah, Elizabeth's birth mother, had to suffer. To find yourself cast out from the only family you've ever known, suffer heartbreak through a broken relationship, to discover you're pregnant out of wedlock (something a "good Christian girl" should never be) and then to marry a man who instead of being a knight in shining armor became an emotional abuser. And then, after ALL THAT, you realize you can't give this baby everything she deserves. So you give her a name, choose her a family, deliver her and nurse her, and then say good-bye. Your only hope is that you chose well and that the family you gave her to will keep their promise to let her be a part of her life.
Can you imagine the pain?
So many people look at me like I'm crazy when I told them we were getting on a plane to fly all the way to California just so Sarah could spend about 5 hours with Elizabeth.
My answer is "I wish I could do more!" I get Elizabeth for a lifetime, to be her REAL Mommy. Sarah will never have that with her, no matter how many times I let her see her. The LEAST I can do is share pictures, information, and hopefully a few sweet moments when the opportunity arises.
So we did just that last weekend and it was just as awesome as I thought it would be. Even more. I got questions answered and so did Sarah. Elizabeth did well with all the traveling and attention. She is so loved and blessed to have so many in her life who love her. God is SO GOOD.
So here are just a few of some gazillion pictures taken! You might see Sarah's "new mom" Lori in them. She is a pastor's wife and took Sarah in weeks after Elizabeth was born and she was in her greatest time of need. I LOVE HER. Awesome woman and a true God send. The other stranger is Sarah's current flame, Daniel, who was super sweet and supportive.
Oh, and the good looking guy with the beard. That would be the sperm donor. :) Kidding! Jordan is a nice guy. Very smart, and considering he could easily forget Elizabeth ever happened, he has chosen instead to care, and I love him for it. He took his last finals test, and then drove through the night more than 10 hours to be at our meeting! That's something. He was equal parts comfortable and awkward around Elizabeth, but she sure looks like him! :)

So now we have a dilemma. North Carolina is a closed adoption state, which means ALL adoptions are closed unless paperwork is filed making them open prior to finalization. Back when this was brought to our attention, we begged Sarah to choose open, but she couldn't in light of her then husband's attitude about the whole thing. So six months after she was born, Elizabeth's adoption was finalized as closed, and these updates and visits are a privilege allowed by the agency as long as they are non-identifying contact.
We could work within these rules, except that they also deny ANY face to face contact between Sarah and Elizabet after she turns 3.  Needless to say, it's pretty devastating knowing this, especially for Sarah and Elizabeth. I always imagined an open adoption situation where we could meet every five years or so. Now if Elizabeth tells me she wants to see Sarah, I have to tell her no. And poor Sarah.....
So I'm asking you to pray. We're currently looking into how we can change this. It might not be possible at all. But I believe with all my heart that God put this family together, and He will make sure it's all okay. I think He is glorified by this adoption and His will will be done!