God's Timing Worked Wonders.

One of the best pieces of news I’ve heard all year is that Dennis Glazener is a grandfather! His daughter, Sharon Butler, and her husband, Eric, welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Lena into their family through adoption. I recently had the joy of meeting little Lena, and let me tell you, she’s a delight. I asked Sharon if she’d share how Lena came into their lives. What she told me is nothing short of a God story, and I’m

excited for you to hear it too.

Sharon and Eric’s adoption journey kicked off in late 2019, but like so many things, it hit a pause when COVID arrived. “By early 2022, we were emerging from the ‘fog’ of the pandemic,” Sharon shared, “and realizing we’d lost nearly two years in our adoption process.” Ready to move forward, they teamed up with Amy, an adoption consultant and adoptive mom herself, who guided them to an agency in Arizona in September 2024. There, a counselor named Jackie had been praying for just the right parents. When she spotted Eric's signature red mohawk, she felt a spark. "She thought it could be a connector," Sharon said with a smile, and that we'd be great parents."

Not long after, an expectant mom—sporting bright red hair just like Eric’s—chose to place her soon-to-be-born daughter for adoption. Jackie

had a hunch Sharon and Eric were the perfect match, and in October, the couple flew to Arizona to meet her. “We were all a little nervous at first,”

Sharon admitted, “but God blessed us with easy conversation and a surprising comfort with each other.” They clicked over their love for nature, animals, and even the name Lena—a family name meaning “ray of light,” which struck a chord with the expectant mom who was often called the same by her friends.

Lena’s arrival came sooner than expected when her birth mom faced pre-eclampsia. “We got the call late on a Friday night,” Sharon recalled, “and hopped on a 5:45 AM flight from North Carolina to Arizona.” They raced to the hospital, where Sharon waited anxiously for Lena’s delivery. “Moments later, two doctors and two nurses rolled out with Lena in a bassinet and said, ‘Congrats, Mom!’ I was stunned—it suddenly felt so real,” she shared. Weighing in at a tiny but mighty 5 pounds, 5 ounces, Lena was calmed by Sharon’s touch—a moment Sharon calls Adoption

wasn’t without its hurdles, from emotional vulnerability to financial risks and logistical challenges like interstate clearance. Yet, Sharon sees God’s hand in every step. “God’s been in the details in ways we couldn’t have imagined,” she said. “We truly believe this birth mom was meant to be

part of our story, and Lena was meant to be our daughter.” From coincidences—like the birth mom’s late grandmother sharing Sharon’s name—to the grace-filled connection they've built with Lena's birth family, it's a bond that feels divinely ordained.

At first, the birth mom wasn’t sure about an open adoption, but after Lena’s birth, she warmed to the idea of staying connected. “We keep in touch through emails with her and her mother, sending monthly photo and video updates,” Sharon said, adding that they’re planning visits every other year. This openness stems from their heartfelt belief that “it’s in Lena’s best interest to know her family of origin,” a conviction they credit to God softening their hearts. God’s timing worked wonders in practical ways too. Eric’s extended paternity leave and Sharon's maternity leave lined up beautifully, giving them nearly four months to bond with Lena. "We were able to spend three weeks in Arizona and have that precious time together as a new family, free from distractions," Sharon said with gratitude.

Looking back, Sharon sees God’s love reflected in their story. “We welcomed Lena into our family with the same delight God has when He welcomes us as His children through Jesus, like it says in Galatians 1,” she said. “Two years ago, I wouldn’t have believed this is where we’d be, but God worked it all out in the most spectacular way.” And the greatest gift of all? “We delight so much in Lena,” Sharon beamed. “We knew parenthood would be powerful, but we underestimated how deeply we’d love her—and her birth family too. We still marvel at how God showed up in every part of this journey.”

Meeting Lena, their little ray of light, was a treat for me, and soon you’ll get the chance too! Sharon and Eric will share their story with our congregation on Sunday, May 18. And here’s a bonus: after church, we’re hosting a BBQ lunch with Pitmasters David and Jonathan

Grubbs firing up the grill. More details are coming, but mark your calendars for May 18. Join us as we worship, celebrate, and give thanks for all God’s doing in the Glazener/ Butler family and our Bethel Church family. May God bless Dennis, Sharon, Eric, and especially little Lena—and may He bless Bethel Baptist Church too! Amen.

Todd