Teachers Saving Children^® of Pennsylvania Inc.

The next day, however, we received a call informing us that we had to pick up the baby immediately! (We discovered later that the birth mother had checked herself out and the hospital would not keep the baby another night.) More excitement abounded!

We were concerned about our biological daughters, Jessica and Rachel, and the way this was unfolding so quickly and with little preparation time. However, they had been part of the process from the beginning, and we wanted to share the momentous occasion of meeting their newborn brother as a family. We hastily packed our van with the help of grandma and grandpa and some friends who had arrived in the middle of this event planning. Then, we set off. For how long? Where would we stay? Did we know how to get there? More questions than answers assailed us, but we rested in the knowledge that God had planned this trip for us.

During the trip, we drove through snow, ice, and rain, continually asking God for guidance. A small, still voice answered my silent pleas for protection and help with, “I will,” until finally we arrived in Newark, NJ. As we drove through the city, we saw people roaming the streets among the police cars. As we passed the bars and lights and masses of people, my heart was filled with compassion for the people, including our son’s birth mother, who lived there.

When we parked in the hospital’s parking garage, we laughed at the posted warning: “Do not leave items in plain sight in your vehicle. We are not responsible for theft.” With our van piled high with hastily packed items in full view, we said another prayer for our belongings and went to find our social worker, Lauren. We were informed by Lauren that the girls could not go to the nursery area, so Keith remained with them while I headed to the nursery. As we walked by the nursery, I slowed down to look at every African-American child we passed. Finally, at the last tiny bundle the nurse stopped and there he was, so small and sleeping peacefully – our son. The nurse picked him up and handed him to me. Wow! It appeared that the nurses were interested in my reaction, but the joy and elation I felt must have been evident on my face because they left me alone with him until the doctor arrived to check him over and release him from the hospital.

When I inquired about the baby’s feeding schedule, a nurse responded by offering me a rocking chair and a bottle. There I sat, a little dumbstruck and quite nervous! This was the start of mothering a newborn again. As I quietly rocked and fed Joshua, the halls came alive with shouts of, “I’m gong to see my brudder. I’m going to see my brudder!” I recognized Rachel’s voice; then saw our daughters’ radiant faces popping up and down trying to see in the nursery window. Their excitement was so contagious that the nurses came to see what the hubbub was about, smiling happily with the girls. Jessica and Rachel had been allowed to come up to the nursery floor with Keith so we could complete the necessary paperwork for the adoption agency.

After we finished the lengthy process of signing papers, the social worker told me that Jessica said to her, “I got my wish! I asked God for a brother and I got one!” God used a small child to make this small point, allowing me to share how we had prayed for this child and how the girls had specifically asked for a brother.

After joyful goodbyes from the nursery staff, we walked outside. It was dark and cold and we had many questions in mind, especially the question of where we would stay and for how long. We knew we had to stay in New Jersey until we were given permission to leave with Joshua. A friend of our pastor had said he might be able to help us with a place to stay, but we discovered that he could not. However, he gave us money to pay for a hotel. Wow! Here was another way in which God made this journey manageable. With the knowledge of being in God’s care, we set off to look for a hotel. The hotel staff became another blessing when they ordered a pizza for our hungry family. Incidentally, the money that we had been given was just enough to pay for the room and the pizza!

At about 10:00 p.m. when we checked into the hotel, Joshua awoke and drank his first bottle with his new family. We finally got to sleep after everyone held Joshua and pictures were taken. When Joshua woke up at 2:00 a.m. to be fed, Jessica also awakened and asked to feed her new brother, which she did. What a joy to have us all in the same room, taking care of the newest member of our family. To know that God had chosen him for our family was an overwhelming thought.

The next day we contacted my aunt who lives in that area, and she arranged our staying in a friend’s apartment at no cost, which was another answer to prayer. My parents arrived on Sunday with open hearts and arms to meet their new grandson, and Mom stayed with me while Keith returned to work. The time we spent in the small apartment gave us time to get to know Joshua, and to learn about his personality and his needs. This created a close bond between his sisters and him as they helped with all aspects of his care.

With a winter storm due to arrive later in the week, we prayed that we would be able to leave by Thursday, realizing that this would be nothing less than a miracle. The courts were not in session on Monday, a holiday, and the process typically took ten days. God granted the miracle! When our social worker called to relate, in amazement, that the paperwork had gone through and that we could leave, I was again able to tell her how we prayed and how God had answered.

Joshua’s adoption was finalized on December 2nd in New Jersey, and in that situation God again worked out all details quickly and miraculously. What a joy to hear the judge say that Joshua William Lindsay was our son, “Just like he had been born to you.” I felt that in my own heart, but to hear a court official say that made it so much dearer.

As I write this, I think about all that Joshua has accomplished and how much he has learned as we have become a family. The color of his skin does not matter. Keith and I see only a son and his sisters see only a brother. Our family has embarked on a new era of growth and change, and we are grateful for what the Lord has done for us by giving us the miracle of Joshua and leading every step of the way.

Adoption as a choice? Yes! Go for it! It is the greatest adventure any family can have!

Teachers Saving Children^® provides and promotes fascinating, accurate information on human development through its display. Passers-by are influenced by the sight of large, colorful photo-posters of prenatal children during various stages of their mother’s pregnancy and by videos that show babies moving in utero. Science and health educators, especially, show interest in the exhibit materials for use in their classrooms.

Approved brochures are age-appropriate, positive, colorful, and scientifically accurate. In addition, to reach out to exhibit visitors who show special interest, Teachers Saving Children^® distributes free-of-charge videos, CDs, and books that encourage a respect for human life.

The annual exhibit expense is over $1500 for the space rental and miscellaneous fees. Materials, such as brochures, videos and books, are purchased for distribution as the funds are available. Please prayerfully consider a contribution to defray expenses for the next “Wonder of Life” exhibit that is set for June 30 – July 2, 2006 in Orlando, Florida. Checks should be made payable to Teachers Saving Children, Inc. Please carefully designate and mail all donations to Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. – National, PO Box 125, Damascus OH 44619-0125.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Robin Ross (Executive Director), York County	717-292-2021
Patricia Brock, Elk County	814-832-6976
Linda Burroughs, Warren County	814-757-5077
John Dunkle, Berks County	610-796-0627
Julie Myers, York County	unpublished
Jeff Remington, Lebanon County	717-838-7538
Patricia Yamrick, Indiana County	724-349-7489