Today is National Adoption Day. Maybe one day it will get the attention that Talk Like a Pirate Day, Hot Sauce Day, or even No Pants Day do. Maybe one day the news will mention it. Maybe one day... Adoption is one of those things that people get kind of squirmy and look confused or constipated when you talk about it. They're all for it, yay adoption and all, but what do they really know about it? Hopefully more than those God-awful Lifetime movies portray. You know the ones. There are two types: The first - evil guy in white van sells mystery baby to several couples, absconds with the cash and there's never a baby. The poor upper-middle class families are heartbroken, but enter attorney/pastor/pregnant teenager and all is wrapped up with a little bow, just at the end of the 90 minute movie. The other type of adoption movie the one that evokes that "chunks rising in my throat" feeling is the one where mom, dad and baby are super happy until baby is about two or three and then the birth parents, suddenly, want the baby back. Lots of drama, a court battle, tears and then tied up in a neat little bow at minute 89, just in time for the credits and sappy music.
Why am I talking about D grade movies? Well, for one reason, it's my blog and I can do what I want! But the main reason is that I hope our adoption experience normalizes adoption. It's not a Lifetime movie - but I'm eager for the day that our journey is wrapped up in a little bow and we can all move forward as a family.
So, where are we currently? Let's put it this way - It takes approximately 19,885 sheets of paper to crush a human skull. Seriously, I did the math. We are about 10 sheets away. We saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but as you may know, sometimes that light is actually a train. A large train. One that says "time for an update to your homestudy." Yep - that's right. We get an all expenses due, more paperwork to fill out, homestudy update! No door number three for us. We are almost done with the second round of paperwork, a few more odds and ends to submit, and another home visit with our lovely social worker. That's the best part. She's phenomenal. Once that is done, can you guess the next step? Waiting! I'm like a pro at that part! We wait until we are chosen by a birth mom.
Birth moms are women who are making a heart wrenching decision. They are presented with the option to abort numerous times during their nine month pregnancy. Society tells them that it's the easy way. The best way. What I hope that these women know is that there is another option. It's the decision to give life. It's going to be hard, but we will raise that baby as our own and love it unconditionally. That's what my parents did with me. My mom stayed up with me night after night when I was sick, helped me with my homework, and was in the delivery room when Hannah was born. She is my mom and I am her daughter. No, she didn't give birth to me, but she gave me life and makes my life better every day. The same goes for my dad, and I want to follow their example and love our child just like they love me.
For everyone reading this - do me a favor today. Take a minute or two out of your day and pray. Pray for the birth mothers. Pray that they choose life and that they are given a peace about their decision. Pray for children in orphanages and in foster care. Pray for the social workers and agencies trying to find families for these children. Finally, pray for us and the other families going through the adoption process. Pray that we aren't crushed by the weight of the paperwork, or the weight of the stress this process can bring. Pray that one day soon, we will have our baby home.
