Abigail is from the book of 1st Samuel in the Holy Bible.

Her name means “Her Father’s Joy.”

Our Pastor spoke of Abigail in church a few Sundays ago. He spoke so fondly of her and called her the embodiment of wisdom.

Little did he know that our granddaughter was born on July 10th and her name is Abigail. Her Abba (Moshe: Daddy in Hebrew) and her Daddy (Kyle) had shared with me the meaning of her name earlier in the week. I thought it was so speacial and when I learned of Abigail in the Bible, it made my heart swell even more.

Abigail “Abby” was wished for.

Abby was prayed for.

Abby was yearned for.

When Kyle and Moshe began the adoption process it’s was absolutely foreign to me. I have no experience with anything adoption related. Only a few friends who have adopted children have I had any experience or knowledge.

June 16th, as I sat in a baby shower for a sweet friend, I waited on a phone call from Kyle. We knew that Kyle and Moshe had a call that day with a perspective birth family.

The end. I knew nothing else.

No names, no information, no due dates, no gender…………nothing .

As I sat at the baby shower, I had my phone sitting next to me so that I wouldn’t miss the call. Kyle had promised to call with any and all news.

Just a few days before the scheduled call, Kyle and Moshes adoption portfolio, home study and photo book had been requested from a birth family. Their baby would be born in August and it was a little girl.

My thoughts about what Kyle would say includes:

“Yeah they like us, maybe we will hear back and maybe we won’t.”

“The call went okay, I guess maybe we will hear something.”

My friend Lynn, sitting next to me at the shower, tapped me on my arm and pointed to my phone and said “Kyle is calling you.”

While I didn’t want to miss his call, I also did not want to disrupt the shower. I grabbed my phone and stepped out into the lobby of the church where the shower was being held.

I answered intending to hear the thoughts from above.

But instead I heard……

Mom, we are having a baby.

What???????????????????

They picked us Mom. I could hear tears and BIG emotion in his voice.

Before the call ended with the birth family, they said they would be moving forward with the adoption.

I cried. If you know me….big shock.

I jumped up and down and high stepped around the little church lobby trying not to be a distraction to the others inside.

It was rather hard to contain my excitement.

I would have a granddaughter.

I began planning. Planning what you ask?

I’m not sure but I always seem to have something swirling around in my head.

How about the play kitchen I would build for her?

Her nursery!!! Can I help design it?

Ruffled socks and BIG bow headbands!

Baby girl would arrive on August 7th via c-section. The birth family wanted Kyle and Moshe to be at the hospital so plans were already made for them to be in Alabama for her birth. After her birth, they would come to Florida to visit us and Moshe’s parent in New Smyrna Beach before returning to Massachusetts.

Fast forward to July 10th, 24 days after the call with the birth family and one whole month before her due date.

A phone call comes in to Steve at 4:30AM (I didn’t hear my phone ring) The birth Moms water broke and a c-section will happen early afternoon on July 10 in Alabama. Kyle and Moshe are in Massachusetts. They pack in 15 minutes and are on the road for an 18 hour drive to meet their daughter.

Abigail Dawn Dahaman-Kern

6 pounds 4 ounces

18 1/2” long

Perfect in every way.

While Abby’s adoption is open and we plan to spend much time with her birth family, it’s still a huge emotional event. One family opens up their heart to a child while another says see you soon. I can only imagine the emotions…..

September 7th was a monumental day in our family. We traveled to Alabama to witness the adoption of Abigail. We met Abbys birth family. Mark, Sarah, Hailey and Caleb (Caleb was sick -BOO) and they joined our family that day too. We sat around a lunch table and shared the love of Abby while learning about each others families. We laughed and exchanged cell phone numbers as well as photos and promised to keep in touch.

Guess what? We have. We text, we send photos and we are planning for them to spend some time with us in Ocala for Christmas!

Abby joins a family (Dahaman and Kern) full of love. Full of joy. Full of a little crazy.

Abby,

You are the luckiest girl in the whole world. Your Daddy’s love you so much and I am so grateful I get to sit in the front row and watch you grow. I can’t wait to buy you dolls or trucks, whichever you want and play kitchen or even baseball. Again…..whichever you want. Let’s braid hair and build stuff. Ok?

The attorney at the adoption said as she spoke to your Daddy’s. As of this day, “it was as if you birthed her.”

What a miracle you are.

Love,

BB