"Adoption is just as beautiful as it is painful. Another mother completely broke her heart by placing her child, and in turn mended my broken pieces, and gave me the gift of becoming a mother." - Laura, Adoptive Mom

Yet at each turn of our journey, our walls were broken down and this theoretical “open adoption” became a real woman. A real child. And, ultimately, a real extended family relationship.

"Adopting a special needs child is challenging, but well worth the results and love you receive." - Ginny, adoptive mom

"I celebrate a woman who will be forever tied to our hearts. A woman who I know sits in the middle of celebrating this little girl and holds a cup full of loss." - Sue, adoptive mom #BraveLove

"Adoption is hard. It is beautiful. It is complex with many layers. Most times I have no words to describe it. But I have gratitude." - Sue, adoptive mom

It was through a BraveLove dinner that Ashley met another birth mother for the very first time. Watch her story and discover what she's doing today and how she's encouraging birth moms so they don't have to go 15 years like she did.

"It is her who sacrificed and labored through it all. And that is the glimpse of our birth mother, a courageous woman and a true laborer of love. ” - Sue, adoptive mom

"I have a very close relationship with my first daughter’s birth mom and I have told her, “You made me a mother.” For that, I am forever grateful." - LeighAnn, adoptive mom #BraveLove

"I am Sarah, an adoptive mother. I have an open adoption with both of my children’s mothers. I am an advocate for openness." - #BraveLove

"More than anything, I wanted to honor our son’s birth mom’s sacrifice by being the the most loving mom that I could." - Adrian, birth mom and adoptive mom