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

Clay spent years trying to perform to get people to pick him, because of the fact that at his earliest moment, he fundamentally perceived he wasn’t chosen. As an adoptive father, Clay found a connection point with his son on wrestling with your identity. Years later, when Clay's birth mom Priscilla reached out to pursue a relationship with him, Clay was overwhelmed. Watch to discover what happened next.

In this webisode, Jennifer Lanter from the Gladney Center for Adoption walks us through the steps for prospective adoptive parents. She specifically addresses the BIG hurdles for a lot of families pursuing domestic infant adoption — like the expense and the wait time. She also shares her personal experience going through the adoption process as an adoptive mom.

"That’s the paradox that is adoption. On one side, it is beautiful and celebrated and the new baby is welcomed with open arms. On the other, there is a grief over the loss that extends to your entire family. " - Ashley, adoptive mom #BraveLove

"We both desired an open adoption but what that looked like I don't think either of us knew. We both had hopes but could they be a reality?" - Emily, adoptive mom #BraveLove

Adoption is beautiful but is it also painful. The process that her birth mom went through was not without thought. Each time we had to have another paper signed, my heart ached for her and what she must be processing. Our joy was causing her immense suffering and loss. Something that I won’t forget.