Beyond the Box
Beyond the Box with Monica Kelsey is a powerful podcast dedicated to raising awareness, educating the public, and advocating for change in the fight against infant abandonment. Hosted by Monica Kelsey, Founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, this podcast dives deep into real stories, expert insights, and the life-saving impact of Safe Haven laws and baby box programs across the country.
Each episode features compelling conversations with firefighters, legal experts, healthcare professionals, policymakers, adoptive families, and even mothers who have used Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Together, they shed light on the challenges, victories, and ongoing efforts to provide safe, legal, and anonymous surrender options for parents in crisis.
From heartwarming rescue stories to policy discussions shaping the future, Beyond the Box is a must-listen for anyone passionate about saving lives and supporting vulnerable infants.
Beyond the Box
Episode #9: From Darkness to Purpose: A Birth Mother's Safe Haven Journey
A rare and powerful conversation unfolds as Monica Kelsey welcomes a birth mother who surrendered her baby in a Safe Haven Baby Box. With remarkable courage, this young woman shares her complete journey—from discovering she was pregnant at 16 weeks to the night she gave birth alone in her bathroom, guided only by Google searches and YouTube videos.
The raw emotion is palpable as she describes holding her newborn daughter for six hours, praying for clarity while feeling overwhelmed by circumstances that left her "treading water." Her powerful testimony reveals how she discovered Safe Haven Baby Boxes through TikTok videos just days before giving birth, and the spiritual guidance she felt leading her to make this life-altering decision.
What makes this conversation truly extraordinary is the transformation we witness. From the fear and isolation of her surrender experience to finding unexpected community among strangers who embraced her without judgment, this birth mother articulates profound truths about healing, purpose, and grace. "I surrendered," she explains, "knowing that I saved her and it saved me."
The episode takes an inspiring turn as Monica and the birth mother discuss turning pain into purpose. With newfound confidence, this young woman now hopes to lead support groups specifically for Safe Haven birth mothers—a resource that doesn't currently exist but is desperately needed. Her message to others in similar situations resonates with compassion: "You're loved and valued, and all you have to do is call someone, and the community of people that you don't even know exist will go millions of miles across the world to do whatever they can to help you."
This conversation illuminates the beauty that can emerge from darkness when judgment is replaced with understanding. For anyone who has faced impossible choices or wondered about the women behind Safe Haven surrenders, this episode offers profound insights about human resilience, divine guidance, and the healing power of purpose.
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This is Monica Kelsey from Beyond the Box. We're in the studio today with a birth mom who is going to tell her story in her words. Stick around. Welcome to Beyond the Box with Monica Kelsey. Welcome to Beyond the Box with Monica Kelsey. It's good to have you here. Welcome to Woodburn yeah, it's awesome here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're in the studio, flat country. Yeah, this is a big flat. Yeah, it is flat country, I'm not going to even kid. And the windmills that's been my favorite part, the windmills. They just add a lot to scenery. Yeah, you know, I mean you just see these big blades spinning in the air all the time and really don't know what it does for us. But you know, they say it saves us money, or saves somebody money and it's not me, probably. So it's okay. Well, thank you for coming to Woodburn.
Speaker 2:Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1:We appreciate you, yeah, for coming to Woodburn. We appreciate you, yeah, appreciate it. So a lot of people don't know who you are. No, no, and so why don't you give just a small introduction about why you're so important to Monica Kelsey?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I am a birth mother who lovingly surrendered my baby into Safe Haven Baby Box.
Speaker 1:Does that sound weird to say?
Speaker 2:Out loud yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Especially because it's like now, it's like I'm actually able to speak about it and but it's a good thing.
Speaker 1:You know, I've I've watched you for the last couple of months. You know, we've got to know each other pretty well, we've met a few times and I have to say, you, you have this, this personality that I think is just infectious, that people just want to know you, and when people find out your story, it's just, it's like it just shows how strong you truly are and um, and so that's what I want to focus on today. I want to focus on your story, I want to focus on um. You know where you found us, where you see us. You know what you've done. Um, not what you've done, cause we, we kind of know what you, what you've done, but but the, the ins and outs, the little things that people might not know. And so let's go back to the beginning. Okay, and so when did you even hear the words safe haven, baby box?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it wasn't, honestly, long before I gave birth. I feel like it's perceived as though like the thought was like drawn out or like I had been planning this or that. Birth mothers in general like plan and some might Um, but in my case I was scrolling on Tik TOK and I found like it was on my main page and the what's in the orange bag video popped up and that's like I clicked on it and I was was like I had always known about safe haven law, but I had never known that the baby boxes were a thing. And so then I clicked on a video and the video right before that was a video of you thanking a birth mother, and so I started watching that and I was like, what is this? And talk? I just started watching video after video after video and I feel like even once I found your tick tock, like I still did not have it solid in my mind that that's what I was going to do until after I gave birth.
Speaker 1:And so you've seen us on tick tock and you're wondering what the heck is this lady talking about? You know, because a lot of people they didn't know about the box.
Speaker 2:You know, they knew the safe haven law, but they're like what is this box thing? Yeah, they had no idea. And I was like the same way and at the time of when I surrendered, I think there was only two in my state, but I don't think it was like well known and maybe, just maybe it wasn't the algorithm rather than right, I don't know. But yeah, when I when I started scrolling, I was like, oh, this is like a big deal. Like these things are everywhere.
Speaker 2:Um, and so once I like really started like researching it, I was like, okay, maybe like this, is you? I feel like handing over a surrendered baby to someone at a medical facility or a fire station Like it's so nerve wracking that like people don't want to use that in a way, but almost just like ashamed of like having to actually hand your baby over to someone. And so that is like one of the main reasons that I chose Save Haven Baby Box is because it was like I knew that someone would get to my baby immediately, get to my baby immediately, it wouldn't take long and like the education that you provided on TikTok is like truly like the main reason that I chose safe haven.
Speaker 1:So how far along were you when you found out? You were pregnant 16 weeks, 16 weeks. So when you found out, did you ignore the signs? Did you accept the signs? I was in complete denial.
Speaker 2:The entire time, until I gave birth, I was in complete denial. I feel like I was not that. I feel I was in a really, really low place mentally. I felt like the entire world was crashing down around me, like outside of it, finding out that I was pregnant, like my outside world had been just completely torn apart. And so on top of that, then I find out I'm pregnant and I'm. That was a rush of hormones on top of you know, everything else and I just I was like there's no way I can do this. I mentally cannot take one more thing, or I'm gonna. I was treading water and I knew I would drown if there was one more thing added to my plate, and that sounds so selfish in a way. But by surrendering, I know for a fact, I saved her and it saved me, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1:So you go through the pregnancy not telling anyone right and hiding it and kind of ignoring it. Yeah, Until you can't ignore it anymore. Yeah so tell me about the night that you went into labor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was at home, um, and I've said this entire time like now that I've had more time to like talk about it with people and it's become more of like a reality and the conversations have happened like. Everything that night happened the way God intended it to like. There's no doubt in my mind. Um, I went into labor at home. I was alone, which was rare um, again, another like weird thing that happened. That doesn't normally happen.
Speaker 2:Um, and I I knew that I was close um to having my baby and going into labor, but I did not know an exact day, um, and my water broke that night. So I was like, okay, this is the real deal. Like, and I had been googling like phases of labor, um, and like what to do during labor, those kinds of things, um, and so I got in the bathtub and I was like this is the real deal. Like I'm about to have a baby, you know like, and I still feel at that point, I was still in denial, like, and still had not decided that I was gonna surrender. Like, um, I feel like, even during my labor, I was just so focused on like making sure that she was safe once I had her, and healthy, and that nothing was wrong with her. I remember even Googling videos on how to suction a baby's mouth. What am I going to do if something's wrong with her?
Speaker 1:So you were Googling all this while you were in labor. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Just because I was like there's no way I can call a medical professional and tell them I'm at home about that baby.
Speaker 1:Why couldn't you tell someone?
Speaker 2:I mean, what was your fear? Like the reality of like knowing that I was just so far deep into a hole mentally, like people were gonna be like oh, you're fine, like you're tough, you can handle it, like there's nothing wrong, you know, like I just felt so alone and like I had nobody to turn to. And if that's one thing like I could go back and tell myself is like you have a world of people out there that you don't even know exists and would do anything in the world for you.
Speaker 2:All you have to do is pick up the phone you know, and I had like scrolling back on safe haven's tiktok, like I didn't know there was a hotline now I do, but I didn't then and like knowing that, it's almost like I wish I would have just called him and like can somebody just talk to me, you know? Or like is there somebody that I can talk to that will give me some kind of advice? To not necessarily tell me what to do or what decision to make, but like give me some kind of advice or help, or you know, like you're okay and it's okay, that kind of thing. Um, but once I had her at home, I just I had googled everything, like how to cut the umbilical cord, how to tie it off, like all those things. Google is pretty much the only reason I knew what to do that night um.
Speaker 1:So you give birth to her and you clean her up after watching YouTube videos. Do you cradle her, do you love her?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I had, I had clothes at home and so I had cleaned her up, like and knowing, like watching videos and things like that, like I kind of already knew what to do, and I think that's like something that I've circled back on when people ask me that question. I was, like it is a mother's instinct to know what to do, like we all had home acting in high school too.
Speaker 2:I mean, you had to carry this baby around, you know, and change the diaper and stuff like that in high school you know to to get ready for the world, and that was 35 years ago for me and I'm sure they're still doing it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I, I like I had all the things that she needed, like to be able to make sure, you know, like and I knew like this is just so crazy to even talk about, but like she cried, so I knew that she had plenty of oxygen, like those were like things that like they were saying like, oh, if they're crying they're okay, like you know, if there's she wasn't blue, like there was just so many things that worked out so perfectly, like she was healthy and just God had his hand on me that night and that is like the only explanation I can give people. And some people are like, oh, that's so cliche, but like I would not have made on me that night, and that is like the only explanation I can give people. And some people are like, oh, that's so cliche, but like I would not have made it through that night without God's hand on her and I it's amazing how that works.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, so how long did you hold her before you left with her?
Speaker 2:Yeah, six hours, six hours Almost to the exact hour.
Speaker 1:Six hours.
Speaker 2:And you just loved on her.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yep, I got in my bed, I was like because I still like didn't know, like, if I was bleeding or like I was still trying to figure out what I was going to do for myself.
Speaker 2:And so I laid in my bed and I was like I cried a lot in that six hours, um, and I prayed a lot because I was like I just need God to give me the clarity of, like, what to do, and I don't think that's something that I've probably talked about enough is like how much I depended on an answer from God that night, you know, and he truly gave me, like, the clarity and wisdom I needed to be able to make the decision to like keep her safe. And yeah, I did Six hours I laid around and I was like I don't know what I'm going to do, but I feel like he's telling me to do this and there's just no reason. I found this like a week before the the TikTok page, like I found this a week before I'm having a baby and now, like I feel like God's telling me that that's what I need to do and so you got in your car and you packed her up and you drove to a box.
Speaker 2:I did Yep, and even once I on my drive there, I had constantly felt like I need to turn around and I feel like that was just my self-guilt kicking in Well.
Speaker 1:I don't think it. I mean, I think it's just normal.
Speaker 2:I think anybody that is making such a big decision I think it's just reality is to second guess yourself, yeah, and but I knew in my gut like I like circle back to, like I, I couldn't, I couldn't give her what she needed at that time. You know, I think about like now and I've, if I could go back and tell myself one thing, it was like it's what you're doing is okay, like you just need help and it's okay, and what you're doing is not shameful and how you feel is valued and it's okay to be heard and you're loved. You know, and driving down there, I did, did I've had so much self guilt but it's like you said, I think that's just like human nature. Um, because even once I got down there like there's this main highway that is close to the box and I drove that highway for an hour before I even turned down the road where the fire station was. And even once I got to the fire station, there's a road that has houses across the street and then the fire station.
Speaker 2:I sat across from this fire station forever and just sobbed because I was like, is this truly what I need to do? You know, like, is this, is this going to? You know, is this going to solve the problem? I don't know, but she will be safe and she will be loved and she will be cared for. And I couldn't give her that at that time and I will always love her, you know, but I couldn't, mentally I couldn't, and I just don't feel like there's another explanation. People are like, well, why did you do it? And I think God gave her to me because someone else needed her.
Speaker 1:So do you feel like Christ spoke to you that night? I mean looking back on it now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I truly do, and I think, you know, like I've said this entire time, like he would never have given me anything that I couldn't handle, and I think that he knew that I couldn't take on one more thing.
Speaker 2:That's why, you know, he led me, or I found Safe Haven because I couldn't take on another thing and someone could love her and give her the things that she needed at that time, and safe haven gave me the opportunity to give that to someone. So, but even once I, you know, I placed her in the box, it still was a Like, is this the right thing to do? I still. I sat across the road back in my car for probably another 30 minutes. I watched the rescue leave with her and head to the hospital and I drove home and even after I was like I just need to go back, you know, but then I kind of not that I became at peace with the situation, but, like, shortly, probably a week after, like, I started seeing like more things on Safe Haven on my TikTok and your video came up about thanking the birth mother, and it was the video about it, about you yeah about thanking the birth mother and it was the video about it.
Speaker 1:About you, yeah so what was going through your mind when you were watching that?
Speaker 2:oh, I just started sobbing because I was like. You know, this is like has finally become a reality to someone other than just me. You know like I was in denial for so long and we didn't know who you were.
Speaker 1:No, no, we had no idea who you were.
Speaker 2:No, not until January of this year. Yeah, and so hearing the things that you said like it just gave me a sense of peace, like she is loved, she is cared for, like she was meant to be in that box that night, she is already in the arms of the person she's meant to be with, and that just gave me a sense of peace and like a sense of hope that I knew that that's what was meant to happen so you walk up to the box, does the orange bag fall out?
Speaker 1:yeah, it hit my feet.
Speaker 2:I had seen the video about what's in the orange bag and as soon as I opened the, yeah, it hit my feet. I I had seen the video about what's in the orange bag and as soon as I opened the box, it hit my feet and, um, I I remember picking up the orange bag after I'd shut the door and taking it to my car and I did not feel anything out on the paper and for so long that was like a thought in my mind, like I need to fill this out. Even like, months, months after, like I need to fill this out. You know, like they want to know, you know if what happened or this and that.
Speaker 2:Or you know somebody needs to know that she comes from whatever you know, somebody needs to know that she, she comes from, whatever you know. Like, and now that I've had the opportunity to talk with you or even other adoptive parents like that was the first thing they asked me was like we just want to know where she comes from, or we want to know what he looks like, or where he gets this from, or if he has health concerns. Like, and I think that's one thing I regret is not filling out the paper in the orange bag. If, like I could go back, I would have.
Speaker 1:And so, um, talking to those adoptive families, I mean, well, did that bring you some peace? I you were in such a I mean you had a smile on your face watching those kids run around that I have not seen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, at all.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think, um, it almost was like it gave me reassurance.
Speaker 2:You know, like I did the right thing just because I feel like a lot of the families, especially the ones that we saw, like I feel like any of them though, like just being around them, like that's where those children were meant to be, like those were the families that were supposed to love them and they love and cherish those kids like nothing I've ever seen, and it was like a sense of peace just came over me and just being able to talk with them. You know, like I know that they have so many questions and like so many wonders of tons of different things, but like just being able to know that they love and care about birth moms too, just as much. It's like that's the one thing I wish I could tell birth mom is like they love and care about you too, like they will never not love you and care about you. They, you know, and, like you said, those none of them were the baby that I surrendered, but they still loved me and cared about me, just like I was their own, and they did yeah.
Speaker 1:They did, and I think I mean when we announced who you were there yesterday and people were like oh my goodness, because it just doesn't happen. Yeah, you know, we've not had somebody as strong as you are.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Step forward and say I want to be their voice. I want to be the voice for these moms.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You've been through this, you know, you've, you've had your heartbreak, you know, and and you've done what you felt was best at the time and now you're living it. And what you felt was best at the time and now you're living it.
Speaker 2:And if you can just be just a small piece for someone else to find peace, yeah, I think that's been like the one thing that I've like come to realization with, like if I could give one birth mother the peace that I have gained in three months, I've won the battle 110%.
Speaker 1:Why do you think you've gained so much peace over the last three or four months?
Speaker 2:I think, because no one knew for a very long time and there's so much negative stigma behind Safe Haven Baby Box and birth mothers putting a baby in there, and I think, like knowing that there is so much negativity behind it, like I found so much joy and hope on the other side of things and that outweighs it by a thousand. Like for every negative thing, I hear the positive in the people and the community and those adoptive parents and their children like it outweighs that ten times over and I think that's been like the one thing that's like pushed me to say you know, like I want, I want to be that voice for those birth mothers.
Speaker 1:What's the one thing that you have?
Speaker 2:you underestimated the love I would get from the people around me in this community Strangers, complete strangers, that I've met within 10 minutes, like, have loved and cared about me and shown me that, more than people I've known my entire life, like it it's so hard to even describe because, like just yesterday, like you said at the event yesterday, like I've never had besides, like the one person in my life that has been there for me through this all and that's like my best friend.
Speaker 2:She's picked me up off the floor more times than I can count through all of this. A complete stranger hugged my neck yesterday and was like we love you and care about you and we, like you, don't know how much it means to us that you're here, you and care about you, and we, like you, don't know how much it means to us that you're here. And that was like, like I said, like such a wave of peace came over me because it's scary. Like surrendering your baby is scary, the thought of doing it is scary, the thought of what people are going to say is scary, and it's not a good place to be when you're mentally just afraid and to know that you have a world of people behind you you don't even know about. And then you finally find that community. It's like they will fight for you tenfold without batting an eye.
Speaker 1:We are your people, I know.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 1:We are your people and when we tell you we got your back, that's what we mean and I think these last couple of months, I think we've shown that to you. Oh yeah, you know there's so much that happens beyond the box. Yeah, you know, people think that we're just driving women to boxes and putting their babies in them and it's like that's the farthest thing from the truth. There's so much good that happens before a woman gets to the box or after she chooses to utilize the box that people just don't understand how much, how much we rally around these parents because we support their decision. You know, we're not telling you what to do. We've never told you what to do. We've just supported the decision that you've made and we've rallied around you to show you that there is love on the other side of the box.
Speaker 2:And I think too, like when this all first came out, like, and you messaged me like it was never, like can I help you in any like what, it was just straight up, like I love you, I care about you and I'm here for you. You don't have to answer me, but I'm here for you and all you have to do is reach out. You know, and I think that was like the turning moment and like knowing that I had a world of people behind me. And even after all this, like in the last couple months, since we've gotten to know each other, like even your team, like Jesse, will randomly text me and just are you okay? Like how are you? Like we love you and we care about you, kind of thing, and I think that just speaks volumes in itself, like because it is such a scary time, even Even after it happens, years after it happens, you still hold a lot of guilt and to know that people love and care about you, no matter what decision you felt like you had to make, they still have your back.
Speaker 1:And we do, yeah, and we do, and I hope we've shown that you have. So it's been a few years since since you surrendered in in one of our boxes and, um, how are you today?
Speaker 2:um, that's such a loaded question you didn't know.
Speaker 2:I was gonna ask you that no, um, better than I was yesterday, um, and the day before that.
Speaker 2:I feel like each day gets a little easier to like, deal with, if that's the best way to say it.
Speaker 2:I feel like, um, I feel like it's something I'll always hold some kind of self-guilt about, um, but I feel like that's just like the nature of the beast and being a mom and, you know, feeling like you've failed in a way. As far as like yourself, I feel like I'll always hold some kind of self-guilt, but in the last three months, in the last three months, I've gained more peace about being able to openly talk about it and openly make the decision to want to help birth moms. The last three months has been better than the years before and I think that not that I've gained confidence in the situation, but knowing that there are other mothers out there just like me who feel the same way I do but are terrified, Like I want to help them and I want to love on them and care about them, because I wish I would have had that and now that I do have that like it's that's been the one thing that has put my two feet back on the ground.
Speaker 1:Is the love from the people who are your people. Yeah, and, and you know, I'm glad you said that because you know there are other parents out there, there's other moms out there that haven't told anyone. Yeah, that still no one knows, yeah, and so now here you're saying I want to help you. Yeah, you know, and you know this is our second podcast. We've already done one podcast with you and you know you were not ready to release that yet. No, and I said from the beginning if and when you're ready, we'll release it. Yeah, but if you're not, we will not. And we had it set to go, yeah, and you had second thoughts and we pulled it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we pulled it immediately and I think that in even a short amount of time, in a month's time, like I've gained so much more clarity and I truly feel like like when I came up this weekend like I was honestly like terrified. I will not lie, because I'm like these adoptive parents are probably going to be like like when I came up this weekend like I was honestly like terrified. I will not lie, because I'm like these adoptive parents are probably going to be like, oh my gosh, why is she here? You know, like I was terrified. But then when they truly just like rallied behind me and they didn't care who I was, they didn't care that I was a birth mother, they didn't care.
Speaker 1:They cared, but you were just their people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like, what I mean is like they. It didn't matter to them who I was, but they loved me regardless of who I was, and they have just given me a whole new outlook on this entire situation and the positivity that can come from it is just more than I will ever be able to like explain, because I feel like in so many ways like I've told you this so many ways you could turn the pain from the situation into a purpose. You know, and I truly feel like there was a reason that people found out, there was a reason that it came to light, there was a reason that I surrendered, you know, and I don't feel like I knew that for so long, but I know that that's, I feel like that's what's driving this entire situation. I feel like that's what's driving this entire situation.
Speaker 1:What would you say to someone that was in this situation that was?
Speaker 2:still pregnant, that was thinking about doing a safe surrender. It's okay to be scared, it's okay to not know what to do, and it's okay to not know what to do, and it's okay to feel like you don't know what you're going to do. But you're loved and you're valued, and all you have to do is call someone, and the community of people that you don't even know exist will go millions of miles across the world to do whatever they can to help you. And you know I don't want to say like you know it's. I feel like it's a double-edged sword, because if you don't want to surrender, that's okay, and if you just need some help like, that's okay too. But if you are truly like, if you truly feel like you can't go on and surrendering is what you want to do, like that's okay too. Right, and you will be okay one day and your baby is going to be loved and cared for more than you will ever think is possible, but you will also be loved and cared for too.
Speaker 1:So god's got his hand, no matter what so you know where your baby girl is and and does that bring you a little bit of peace, knowing that she's safe.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, 100%. Oh, I know she is loved and cherished and safe and protected beyond words. If that is one word that I could stamp on the situation, it would be protected. Good, because she is, and I could not have handpicked better people for her.
Speaker 1:It looks like he handpicked those people for you yeah yeah, oh see Harper, she doesn't like people crying. I know I've held it together, you've done very well. You have done very well, but now, now, harper feels your emotions. So she comes over and she just wants to love on you for a minute, Cause she's she doesn't want anybody to ever be sad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're tears of, they're tears of joy.
Speaker 1:Oh she's like are you done? You know we talked about this before when we interviewed you for the first podcast, and then we decided to stop the release of it. Yeah, I would love for you to run that part of this ministry. I would love for you to run the part of the ministry that every safe haven organization doesn't have. We don't have a birth mom support group for surrendered infants. There's so many support groups out there for babies who have been adopted that mothers have placed them for adoption, but there's no support groups out there for mothers who have surrendered in our boxes or surrendered under Safe Haven, and I think it's a different kind of need.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like it's needed. I've said this to you before, but if I would have just had somebody who had been in my same situation, if I knew that that person was out there and I could call them and feel no judgment or feel like all they would do was support me, like I wish I would have had that and I truly think, like, like I've told you, I feel like this is the reason, like it came to light, because I there's not anything for mothers like that and just as much as you know, like you said, adoptive parents have support groups and you children who go through adoption or those things have. Those people, like those birth mothers, deserve that too.
Speaker 1:They do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think too, like, and being in the situation and being those birth mothers, like you don't feel like you deserve that, but you do, like you deserve somebody to be there for you and you deserve a space for yourself does it bring you a little bit of peace talking about it oh yeah, it's so therapeutic. It is like I don't have to pay for therapy.
Speaker 1:Just come to monica kills kelsey's shop on going beyond the box once a week it is.
Speaker 2:It is very therapeutic to talk about and I feel like every time I talk about it it gives me a little bit more strength than what I had before and gives me a little bit of peace and a little bit more hope, and it's just building every single day.
Speaker 1:Well, I think you're more confident today than the first day I met you.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:I think your story is now your purpose, oh 100%. I think you have a story to tell and I've always said that when people take their pain and they take their story and they put those two things together, purpose comes out of it and it's making something better for someone else, which is exactly why I started safe haven baby boxes. You know, I see that for you I think too.
Speaker 2:Like you, you finally realized that your pain is the reason. You know like god didn't give me any more than I could have handled.
Speaker 1:And you were handling a lot.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he met me where I was at and gave me the answer, and now he's using that to give me a purpose and a testimony that is going to change so many lives, and it already has. It's changed my life, you know, and I've already, in a short amount of time, like met so many people who I never had in my corner before, and I don't have a huge group of, you know, people that I can turn to, and god has given me that in a very short amount of time and it's only bigger from here you know I told you earlier, wouldn't it be amazing if you and I could speak at conferences together?
Speaker 1:oh yeah, you know.
Speaker 2:You know it's full circle and I think that's like the one thing that I've like learned to appreciate is like, from beginning to end, like you had the surrender side of it and you had the adoptive parent side of it, you know, and you got to see those kids with their adoptive parents and how they're flourishing, but now you get the side of it that's not always looked at as purposeful.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:I think I think it's given definitely a good new outlook on things.
Speaker 1:Well, we're proud of you. We're proud of you for telling us your story, we're proud of you for contacting us and, and we're proud of you for keeping your and, and we're proud of you for keeping your daughter safe.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, uh, I said that in the video to you then. Yeah, and I'll continue to say that to you today. Yeah, do you still listen to that video? Yep.
Speaker 2:Yeah, pretty often I feel like, uh it, it gave me the confidence I needed in a time when I didn't have any. If that's one thing that birth mothers need to hear in a time like that, it's that video, because every birth mother, every single one, you post a new video and it's tailored to them. It's never the same thing, it's never scripted, it's never the same words of. You know what people think it's, you know it's tailored to that person and those videos are meant for those moms, and I hope that every single birth mother has seen every single video that is geared towards them, because it gives you a sense of peace. It truly does.
Speaker 1:I hope so.
Speaker 2:You're doing good. You're doing a good thing.
Speaker 1:I should tell you the same thing. Yeah Well, thank you for coming on Beyond the Box. I've grown to fall in love with you, girl, and I can't wait to see what Christ has in store for us. I'm sure it is going to be epic and huge.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I'm ready to sit back and grab some popcorn and watch it grow.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:This is Monica Kelsey from Beyond the Box. You heard it today from a birth mom's own words the impact that Safe Haven Baby Boxes is having across this country. You would like to support us? You can go to our website at shbborg and make a donation today. God bless you guys. We'll see you soon.