Adoption reflections

I am really excited about being a mom. I'm so excited to love on this little person wholeheartedly. I love that my life will be centered around Josh and Katelyn, Brandon & Ashley, church and kids in our community. That's the right place for me to be. God has been so faithful to giving me great opportunities...for weaving everything together in just the right time. Adoption was not the way I originally thought we'd grow our familiy, but now, looking back at Josh and my different life experiences and the way this has all come together, I can't imagine our first child coming to us in any other way. Even though I'm not the one who carried this child in my womb, there is no way I could love her any more than I already do.

The thing that is overwhelming is that in order for us to be given the greatest gift we could ever imagine, someone else has to experience great loss. I continue to pray for this woman, or this couple who have had to give up their child due to their countries laws (one-child policy) or China's cultural stigma about unwed mothers. If our baby were born in a different time and place it may be that she would stay with her birth mother. That is a bit hard to swallow...that in an ideal world there wouldn't be children in orphanages. So because of the brokenness of our world, we are given a child. That makes me that much more determined to love fully, invest much, thank God daily, cherish the time we have with Katelyn...because she is not ours, but is being entrusted to our care. Wow, that's humbling.

One thing that's pretty cool is that I feel like so many people around us have a vested interest in all of this. People ask all the time if we've heard anything (not really)...how's the adoption coming along (waiting, waiting)....when will we get a referral (early December or early January) when do we get to bring the baby home (2 months after referral)....how old will she be(most likely 7-10 months at referral and 9-12 months when we travel)...... It's taken so long, but there are many who have trudged through it all with us. That really has been a gift. So now y'all have to be as excited to help love her, teach her things (good things), babysit. :)

The other thing that's REALLY cool is that we get to spend 2 weeks in China. I have such a bug to go somewhere new and this is really getting me pumped up. a few days in Beijing (in the north), a few days in Guangzhou (in the south) and 4-5 days in the province that Katelyn is from (which is most likely somewhere in between Beijing and Guangzhou). This will be Josh's first time out of the country and I'm super excited to share it with him for such a great occasion as to bring our baby home.

We only have 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 months until we see her face...like 60-90 days. Isn't that crazy??? This might all actually be real after all. WHOO HOO!!! Bring it! (Please, because I can't stand to read any more books about adoption, China or parenting...although I just got the Super Baby Food book and I'm excited about that....the food processor is ready to go!!!)