Turning Pink
An American & Australian Memoir by Sherrie Gavin
INTRODUCTION
It was a bright February morning in Brisbane, Australia. The end of summer painted my fruit trees with lemons, blood oranges, and key limes, creating a luscious burst of happy colours against the shamrock-green leaf-covered boughs. The scent of lemon myrtle from the trees that lined the side of the house made the air smell alive. I had walked the dog, washed the dishes, and was about to settle into the day’s tasks when the phone rang.
“I shouldn’t have called. But... Oh, no...” The voice at the other end was familiar, and I knew it was Robin. “But... I just... I shouldn’t have called...” she continued speaking in her typical, breathy way, but with an edge of anxiety. For her to sound so rattled was uncommon, concerning me.
“But I just... I’m too old. I think. I don’t know. I hoped...” she said, sighing.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Oh! Yes. But... Oh, I’m not sure I should have called...” Puzzled by her uneasiness, I remained quiet, not sure what to think or say. “I just know of this family,” she finally explained. “And they are looking for a home for two girls. I think they are only little, about two and three years old.”
My back stiffened and I instantly distanced myself. For the last decade, many of
my sweet yet ignorant friends would tell me of rumours and miraculous stories they had “heard” about children being “put up” for adoption. I was very surprised that Robin, someone I had commiserated with about this, would call me with what sounded like the adoption version of a “get rich quick” scheme.
I took a breath. Bruce was away on a business trip, and it was nice to hear a friend’s voice, so I reconsidered my “no thanks” reflex, and tabled my snarky, “we prefer to obey the state laws regarding adoption” responses. I finally said, “Of course we’re interested, but the laws for adoption—”
“I know,” she interrupted, then firmly said, “I know.” After a pause, she continued, “The Lord works miracles. I don’t know how it will work. But He works miracles.”
I hesitated, then threw my heart into the wind. “You’re right. Can’t hurt to think about it. Tell me more.”
EARLY REVIEWS
“Turning Pink is an astounding story of faith, miracles, heartache and joy as God moves in the details of our lives. With brutal honesty, Sherrie Gavin addresses the challenges of womanhood, of motherhood and of the miracle of our families and the love which binds us together. Miracles still happen today! A must read!”
—Cory Jensen, author of Understanding Your Endowment and Completing Your Endowment
“Have a box of tissues close at hand when you read Sherrie Gavin’s heartfelt memoir of fierce and thoughtful motherhood. If your life has ever been touched by adoption (and whose hasn’t?), you’re going to love this riveting chronicle of becoming parents by choice, through all the trials and the triumphs.”
—Jana Riess, author of Flunking Sainthood; senior columnist for Religion News Service
“Sherrie Gavin’s remarkable story of infertility and adoptive motherhood is both fragile and fierce; both holy and harrowing. Her instinctive goodness and humility radiate from every scene. If she weren’t on the other side of the globe with her beloved spouse and girls, I would hug her to bits.”
—Linda Hoffman Kimball, boardmember of Dialogue and Segullah