Claire is twenty-eight years old and lives in Urbandale, Iowa. She was nineteen years old when she married and moved to the countryside with her husband. Two years into their marriage they welcomed their sweet baby girl. Though, soon after she was born, Claire and her husband divorced and Claire faced post partum depression. But with the help of her family, she made a gradual recovery while living with her parents and staying home to take care of her new baby girl. 

When Claire's daughter was six months old, Claire accepted an invitation to go out on a date with another man. After one date, it led to many dates and she found herself in a new relationship that lasted for one year. After the relationship ended, Claire found out she was pregnant again. She was still working hard to finalize a parenting plan that she and her ex husband could agree on for their daughter. It became a very stressful time for Claire, and looking back at that situation, she now understands how feelings of fear and entrapment can cause women to consider abortion. Even though she had always been pro-life, she believes God had allowed her to feel the temptation, but gave her the grace to accept that it wasn't an option. 

Once the fear subsided, her motherly instincts kicked in. The love for her baby focused her heart on life-affirming options. As soon as Claire found out she was having a baby boy, she also learned that he would be born with facial and oral malformations called cleft lip and palate. 

After having the diagnosis confirmed at a perinatal center, Claire remembers a profound moment in the parking lot of the perinatal center where God spoke to her heart. He told her it was okay that she could not parent. He gave her peace, hope and reassurance. In this moment she decided to trust God and surrender her desire to parent.

Claire, then, found a wonderful adoption agency called Bethany Christian Services. They reassured her that women of all different backgrounds and ages choose adoption. Even women who already have children of their own. And even though there were many loving couples waiting to adopt, Claire took her time looking for a particular kind of family. God was preparing the biggest blessing for her in a brand new couple who was just approved to adopt, and it was an instant match!

To this day, Claire is certain that God hand-picked the perfect people that would love her and her baby, They share a very open adoption today, with a place for everyone involved, including Claire's daughter. Claire feels that open adoption has brought more love and joy into her life than she could have ever imagined. She enjoys frequent "girl nights" with her birth son's mom, as well as play dates that involve all the children. Her birth son is currently four years old, and she loves to play hockey with him in his driveway. 

Overall, Claire is amazed by how much control she had when making an adoption plan during her time as a prospective birth mom. She is very thankful for happy memories on placement day, too. The hospital nurses thought she had changed her mind to place her birth son when she discharged herself and her birth son from the hospital to go home together. Claire went home from the hospital with her birth son to have a celebration of his life that would include the birth family, his new parents and the adoption agency together! 

Claire believes God manifests his great love and power through open adoption. She feels her choice of adoption is a decision she will never regret. She has learned that God lives in our struggles and He can make an amazing turnaround from any situation.