Amazing. I have been hearing this word a lot in
regards to our adoption. It truly is an
amazing process. I often sit back in
wonder of all the connections that we have made and of all the amazing people
that have supported us. Above all just what amazes me the most is how God is
showing his wonderful character through it all. I am so humbled by this
adoption journey. Ryan and I have been receiving
wonderful compliments from so many people because of our decision to adopt and
we are so overjoyed and we are just really feeling the love ya know ! I do not know how else to put it. However, please do not be offended when I say
that we really are not the amazing ones you guys. We are not.
We are simply two very; extremely blessed people to be given this
opportunity and to have our hearts open to this journey. Truly, this has not been an easy
process. Truly, it has made me cranky
and short. Truly, I have complained through the midst of paperwork. Truly, I have spent idle time staring at
pictures online of orphans, just my heart wrenching for them and reading
adoption blogs, because frankly, you get a little obsessed about adoption once
you start. Truly, I have thank you cards
sitting in my closet that are not addressed and stamped yet. Oh…they will get out eventually...and believe
me when I say it is not because I am not grateful. I am almost so grateful and humbled I am
embarrassed and don’t feel any thank you would be big enough… if that makes
sense?
Why do I mention this all? I just think I simply have to. For so many
reasons. I just don’t want anyone to
think that it takes something extra special or anything extraordinary (in terms
of humans) to adopt. Take me for
example, if you know me fairly well, you know I am not organized at all….so
like me and paper work...do not mix. For
example, 2 days before my honeymoon, I lost my passport. We searched everywhere including the garbage and
every ounce of my duplex that I was moving out of. No passport.
The one thing we did not search was my giant recycling bin (one of those
huge green ones) because I just knew I hadn’t accidently thrown it in there. This
bin was so large it took a long time to fill up ( with just me and Zoe) and
thankfully, do to my persistent lack of punctuality, I was late getting it out
to the curb the Thursday prior and missed the pickup. Well as a last resort I emptied it, and their
sitting at the bottom, probably for about a month, was my passport. That’s Providence right there. Fast forward 4 years later and I am in charge
of 4 passports..and then I have to take care of our son’s visa to actually get
him home?! That is some scary stuff y’all.
No lie…I have irrational fears of myself stranded in some European
airport because I left the passports in the bathroom on the plane headed back
to the States. Also, I daily, question
how good of a mother I am. I know all
mothers beat themselves up, and I am no exception. However, this was one of my holdups in the adoption
process, thinking I had to get it all together before we got our little guy
home. Reality check. I am never going to
have it all together. However, it is this adoption process that has us going to
parenting, and adoption classes, and learning about things like “play therapy”
etc….which will help us be better parents all around.
My husband, I think he is amazing
too. Yet, you know what you guys. A year
ago adoption was nowhere on his radar.
In fact, he was a flat out “NO” if I ever mentioned it. Not in a
heartless way, he just did not think he could do it. Now he is a 110% and loves this little boy
already. Tell me who changes a sweet, strong-willed man’s heart overnight. God.
That’s who and it has been by far one of the most amazing things about this
journey. I think one of my next posts
might just be a list of all the crazy, “no way” moments we have had the past
few months in this journey. Many would
just say it is mere coincidence. Yet, I know
better, and am so glad I have had my eyes opened to the His plan going on
around me every day.
So let me tell you who the amazing
ones are. I have to start out with a
little 4 year old boy, possibly abandoned at birth due to his deformities (we
do not know this yet for sure) lots of times parents can't afford to care for children with medical issues. Literally,
alone in the world. Through his short
life he has most likely not been given all the love and attention a child with
loving parents would. He has already
gone through multiple surgeries and will need more when he gets home, probably
many more as he grows. He has seen other
children get picked as a son and over and over again it not be him. I simply can’t fathom. The fact that he has a smile on his face..ignoring
the fact that at one time that may not
have been physically easy for him do due to surgeries and his deformities..but
just the fact that he has been waiting, with a smile on his face, for someone
to call him son. He is amazing.
Amazing are the people that I have
not yet met that are taking care of Nick.
The woman that do not have enough hands to give what every child in
their care needs, but who do their best with what they are given and know. The people that go visit these orphans and bring them medicine when they are sick or
goodies on holidays and dress up in Bunny Costumes or Santa Costumes to bring a
smile to their faces. The doctor that
has performed the surgeries on Nick. The facilitators that are working in
Ukraine to get these “waiting children” on photo lists so their parents can see
them and go bring them home. The orphanage
directors who try to keep the young children in their “baby orphanages” as long
as they can so they don’t have to get shipped to a far off institution where
chance of adoption is unlikely. Also one
word, Nancy (only a special audience will understand this). These people are
amazing.
The families that have adopted
already that pave the way and recognize the need to step up and to bless as we
have been blessed. These families help guide new adoptive families with open ,
excited hearts and they are amazing. The advocates that are unable to adopt at this
time but try to help these children in small ways that move mountains. It was through an advocate’s website, that I saw
little Nick’s picture that got the ball rolling. Those families that keep going back and
adopting more children…spending thousands upon thousands of dollars to give
these kids a family, wow, you amaze me. The
people that have started non-profit organizations to fundraise for these
children that do not even have families yet. They do this to ease the financial
burdens on the families that find a waiting child and want to adopt. These
people are amazing.
The guy that owns a small pizza
place who let us have our first fundraising night! He is amazing, as well as all
the people that came and ate pizza (including a fire crew from my old
department). The family and friends who have hosted multiple garage sales for
us to fundraise . They are amazing. The people
that do not even know us that have donated money or garage sale items or bought
our “handmade” items to help our cause. Amaze-balls. The people that have emailed me simply
because they have been praying for a family for Nick. Your amazing prayers were
heard. The people that bought our
t-shirts and the chick that designed a similar t-shirt that I saw on Pinterest
and totally copied. The people that collected shoes for us. The ladies who
crocheted scarves for us to sell. Your amazing.
Business owners who have donated. The super awesome friends that have adopted
before and have been so encouraging on our path. The people that have listened to our story
and were touched. Your heart is amazing.
Some more amazing things.
Getting a random envelope in the mail with cash or a card from someone you
haven’t seen since high school with a donation. Old friends I have only kept in
contact with through facebook, donating.
Huge donations from family and friends of not only money but crafts,
photography and art to sell. ( caution
run on sentence fragments ahead) Working super hard and along with
family/friends making a bunch of crafts for a craft fair then setting up,
staying all day and selling like literally
one thing…and then at the end of the night getting in a small argument with the
person throwing the craft fair then the awesome people across from your booth take
pity and help you quickly clean up your booth while a police officer has been
assigned to make sure your leaving quick cause you broke the rules. Loosing it
and crying and hugging before mentioned people. Amazingly, hilarious now. The Ukrainian lady at one of our garage sales
who left without paying ( I didn’t notice …typical) because she got so
emotional when she found out we were adopting but then came back to pay and
gave us an extra donation and her phone number if we need anything ! Amazing.
You guys the list goes on and on and on. These are the amazing ones. Yet, the most amazing one is the one who has
orchestrated all of this. I have to give
all the glory to god on this you guys. Who else is capable of getting literally
hundreds of people together for this one little boy. Only him.
So thank you all you amazing folks out there and thank you Lord for
letting me get to be the one who gets to bring this little boy home, who soooo
many people have done amazing things to get him home. I am soo blessed yet so not worthy. Anyone can do this Lord but only through you and
with all the amazing hearts you have put in this world. So, no as you see, we are not amazing, you
guys are.