It was a simple baby bottle, the kind you see every day, that was brought home from church as part of a Stanton Baby Bottle Drive. Its purpose was to fill with cash, check or change to help fund a ministry.

It became a tool that helped send Blair on a journey of hope that united her with a child and family from across the country.

Blair (third from the right) and baby Nora Blair pose with the new parents (holding Nora on the left) and Blair’s mother, Penny (Far right).

A few months after a Stanton BBD at her church, Blair became pregnant and was facing the decision of a lifetime – what to do with her unborn child. Abortion was really never an option, but she still had some huge decisions to make.

“I knew I was not ready to be a mother,” said Blair, 19. “I had gone to Planned Parenthood and found out I was pregnant. After that, I didn’t want to go back. They were very cold. It was unnerving.”

“I talked with my mom, she had just gotten a baby bottle from church, and she said, ‘Maybe we could go to Stanton.’”

It would be a decision that would affect more than Blair and her family. After seeing the ultrasound, her direction was clear.

“I knew I wanted to place the baby for adoption. (Stanton) reassured me they would walk me through the process.”

Stanton, and in particular, Linda Sasso, helped connect Blair with the House of Ruth Agency. She was assisted and supported during a time when she was making a life-altering decision for herself, her child and a family across the country.

“I picked a family that couldn’t have a child,” Blair said. “All along, I prayed, ‘God, please direct me to whom You want.’ Once I saw their profile, I didn’t need to look any further.”


Brandi Swindell, Elysse Barrett, Nora’s new parents, Blair, Shannon Warwick and Blair’s mother Penny shortly after baby Nora was born on August 25, 2008.

Her trip to Maine confirmed her decision. There was an instant bond with her unborn child’s soon-to-be parents. Blair was seven months pregnant and carrying a child for another couple, but she was experiencing a blessing as much as anyone.

“They were so welcoming,” she said. “I felt like they were giving me more than I was giving them.”

The experience showed her God’s love in a deeper way than ever before. Admittedly, she was transforming from a teenager to adult before everyone’s eyes. Her decision to give her child to another family was affecting more than her – it was changing three more lives.

“God’s will was perfect,” she explained. “At first, I was thinking. ‘What am I going to do?’ I wished it had never happened. Then I came (to Stanton) and that eventually led me to (this family) and I realized … this is their baby?”

“It all worked out the way I wanted it too.”

As her due date approached, Blair re-committed her life to Christ at Stanton with Nurse Shannon. From there, her relationship with Christ deepened and solidified. After being baptized in the Boise River (yes, it was cold!) on Aug. 24, 2008, Blair gave birth to Nora Blair on Aug. 25, 2008.

Nora’s new family was on hand for her birth.

“It was so cool!” Blair said. “She will have my name for the rest of her life. It’s probably the best gift you can give.”

Planned Parenthood might very well have changed that. Blair’s visit to Stanton not only helped her help others, it helped her avoid a potentially life-altering mistake.

“Abortion would have been the easy way out,” she said. “I didn’t know if people would judge me. What if I had killed her? It would be like a big grey cloud over you the rest of your life.”

“I had to grow up whether I wanted to or not. My boyfriend wanted to keep her. He really stepped up and stood by me. I had to think of the future.”


Shannon holds Baby Nora Blair during her first visit to Stanton.

Blair gets regular photos and updates from Maine and can visit Nora Blair whenever she wants.

As for her future, Blair is attending Apollo College and earning a degree in Dental Assisting and will one day be a Dental Hygienist. Her decisions opened a future for both her and her daughter.