For my best friend Shara

The following is a letter that my best friend Shara and her husband, Cory, wrote for their potential birth mother. Cory and Shara have been waiting very patiently for good news from their adoption agency. Recently, they received word that their agency is undergoing "changes" and essentially lost all of the parts of their home study, which is an integral part of their application. They went from being #7 on a list to back to square one. The most amazing thing about them is that they have never gotten frustrated. They continue to wait with patience.

I thought by posting their letter, those who read my blog, or happen to come upon it, may know of someone in a situation that warrants giving their child up for adoption. Please pray for Cory and Shara. May they be blessed with an addition to complete their family.

~Chi



Dear Birthmom,
We really do not know where to begin except to say, “Thank you.” We are indefinitely grateful. We know this decision is not an easy decision for you.
Our names are Cory and Shara. We have been married for five wonderful years and are excited to see and experience the many more years of life we have together. We are true soul mates. Cory is an elementary PE teacher and Shara is a first grade teacher. We have a four year old English Bulldog named Sadie who is spoiled rotten! It has surprised us both to see how much we love Sadie, so we can only imagine that the love we will give to a child will far exceed any expectation we have ever had.
We try to live with Christ as the center of our marriage and lives. We have been so blessed by the opportunities the Lord has given us to see and experience life. We love to travel, but we are always happy just to be at home. Home is where our heart is. Our favorite places to be are anywhere with each other and family. We love the mountains and the water – whether it is the beach, lake, or the swimming pool. We are very involved in our church where we assist with the teen program on Wednesday nights and stay busy with our Couples Sunday School class. Cory loves to hunt, fish, and kayak. Shara loves to cook, decorate, scrapbook, and yes, shop. She is always looking for a bargain! Laughter, family, and friends are very important to us and our lives.
Shara describes Cory as, “strong but gentle, honest, funny, patient, a teacher, dedicated, a story teller, hardworking, loving, a provider, humble, and a Godly man. Cory loves the Lord whole heartedly and he shows it by the way he chooses to live his life. He is my husband and best friend who makes me laugh and shares in my joy and sorrow. I am a better person because of him. He is the love of my life.”
Cory describes Shara as, “caring, loving, kind, gentle, supportive, and encouraging. Her relationship with the Lord and her love for the Lord is what brings these characteristics out in her. She is my best friend and the person I turn to when times are good and bad. She makes me and everyone she is around feel very special. Her heart is a truly loving one. Shara is the one the Lord hand-picked for me. I could not have dreamed of a better partner for life; she is without a doubt my best part. I thank the Lord for her every day we have together.”
Family is a critical part in our life, it is our rock. Our families are our biggest supporters and encouragers. We spend a huge part of our free time with our family. Both sides of our families have taught us the true meaning of family. It will be our greatest accomplishment and joy to have the opportunity to be the kind of parents our parents were to us.
For the past three and a half years we have wanted nothing more than to start a family of our own. Little did we know it would take us the entire three and a half years to see that God has a different, far better plan than we could imagine. He is leading us right here to this place to meet you and this child you are so willing to give us. We can already feel our hearts pouring out with love for this child we have not even met. Even our families are bursting at the seams with love and anticipation as they too wait to meet this precious child.
We want nothing more than the opportunity to be a mom and dad. A son or daughter will be an answered prayer in a home full of love, laughter, and support. Not a day will go by that we will not think of you and the courage it took to trust us with this life. We promise to love this child unconditionally for the rest of our lives. Thank you for considering us with this precious life to raise and love.

Love,
Cory & Shara