On our Facebook page (facebook.com/adoptivefamilies), we asked readers: When did you know you were going to become a parent through adoption? Here’s what you said:

“I decided to adopt the day of my second miscarriage, after the fifth IVF cycle and seven years of trying to conceive. Nine months later, we were blessed with the love of our life and son of over five years now.” —JAMIE

“I knew I would adopt since first hearing about adoption as a small child. This was solidified when my cousin became a foster parent when I was 12 or so. Now I’ve been mom to 10 foster kids and counting!” —MIMI

“The day after having all the IVF medications shipped to my house. I was sitting on my mother-in-law’s lawn, watching the birds in the tree, when a brain dart from God hit me,’You don’t have to push a child out for him or her to be yours.'” —LEANN

“When I was 16, I read a story about orphanages in Russia. I knew then that I would adopt from that country one day. My Russian Princess has been home for five years. She and her big brother (they are birth siblings) are my greatest blessings! I also hope that I have encouraged others to adopt.” —GINA

“The day my husband came home from work, sat down at the dinner table, and said, ‘Let’s do this.’ I’ll never forget the looks on the faces of our three biological daughters, ages 17, 20, and 21 at the time. Priceless. Even more priceless was the day their first baby brother came home.” —PATRICIA

“For our first child, it was the day I cancelled my last fertility treatment because we just didn’t want to go through another round of disappointments…. For our second child, it was the day I walked into the orphanage to meet our first child.” —JENNIFER

“When I was a young girl. Honestly, I can’t ever remembering not wanting to adopt. It grew in my heart for many years. My daughter was conceived in and grew in my heart for many years, as well. I fell in love with her years before she was born onto this Earth.” —KARLA