Meet Mary McLaughlin

In 1985 Mark and I wanted a family. We were young, healthy, responsible adults, so we were shocked to learn there was a problem. We tried everything from seeking qualified medical help to creating a mental checklist to prove our readiness to God: buying a house, paying off the car, giving up caffeine, and praying more often. But all our efforts failed to produce a baby.

A few years later, we completed paperwork for an adoption agency, including a letter and photos for expectant mothers so they could learn about us. I stressed about making sure the letter portrayed us in the best possible light. I went to even greater lengths to arrange the perfect photograph. I thought that any birth mother who saw an adorable couple aboard a yacht on the San Francisco bay would have the social worker contact us immediately! I sent the photos off and waited by the phone. I knew my efforts were about to pay off!

Painful months later, we finally received a call notifying us that a birth mother wanted to meet us. On the night of the meeting, we arrived in the city only to discover we'd left at home the address and phone number of the meeting place. We tried calling the agency, but the only number in the phone book was for a hotline that was being answered by a child whose mother was at the grocery store. We drove around aimlessly. Then after an hour, we could only sit and weep, realizing that all our efforts had failed again. 

We gave the hotline one last call before returning home. This time, a woman answered who had the information we needed. We arrived at the agency 90 minutes late, red-eyed, me with mascara running down my face, convinced that no birth mother would consider us now. 

It turned out that the birth mother had never seen our perfect photo, was not put off by our lateness or appearance, and chose us to parent her child.

When all our human efforts failed, God did not. He is faithful! 

Merry Christmas!