Had a conversation last week with a director of the agency we are looking at. Perhaps the most profound conversation that I've had with anyone in my life. I'm reminded of how much I don't know about the adoption process, children in waiting, how to integrate new people into a family, , the effects on my existing family, etc. During our conversation, I came to the realize the weight of personal and family engagement into this process, which most certainly will not drive itself. It won't be anyone else's responsibility to lead my family through this financially, emotionally, spiritually, and administratively.
Yeah, I can do that. I choose yes.
Imagine children who live day to day without the deep emotional contact provided by a mother and father. They have lived their lives without knowing what family means...what sitting at the dinner table with your siblings and parents means...what going to the park to play on the swing with dad means...what running through the back yard with the dog means...what it means for mom to read a bedtime story...to know that there are people with them to support them in everything they do...to celebrate their successes...to help them learn from their failures...there are so many things that these children are missing out on.
So, our next step is to start our home study...a particularly expensive, invasive, and time-consuming analysis of our physical, financial, psychological, and parental fitness to adopt. One of the areas that Michelle and I have been relying on faith is the availability of funds. Amazingly, the night that we filled out our application to the agency, we actually found the funds to go toward our home study (which ain't cheap). It was literally as if the money was there waiting for this time.
I look forward to the end of the process and the new beginning in our family, but am cautious not to rely on my own thoughts of what our family will be like. Even after the adoption, Michelle and I understand that it will be tough to integrate our family, but in the life of a child, it is sooooo worth it. Family is the most sacred organization in existence and all children deserve to have one.
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Yeah! I didn't know anything was official! How exciting for you guys. It's a long road - but after meeting our little Tess girl this past week, I can see that it will be worth it in the end. What agency are you looking at? My good friend's sister is a missionary in Tiwan. She has wonderful connections with orphanages there. My friend, Carrie, just told me it would go quickly and they are much better on cost. If you want, I can give her your number. She has four kids - two boys & two girls - and she homeschools, too. So excited for you! ~Angela
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