Joy

I received this quote from a friend I've never met named Andrea. We share infertility stories...

Joy is something that confronts my circumstances and occurs in spite of sadness, difficulty, or loss. It is an attitude I adopt in spite of how things go. Joy is a posture, a position; it’s the deep assurance I have, that the God who loves me is in control. Joy doesn’t happen to me one day and avoid me the next. Joy is the result of a choice, a choice I have to make every day. It’s a choice based on the knowledge that I belong to God, who is my Refuge. And nothing, not even death, can take God away from me.

Fil Anderson

Thoughts? Reflections?

Not-So-Instant Family

One of the more annoying comments people make to me is "how fast your adoption is!" OR "your family will double overnight!" I know it's very well intended, but it still annoys me. Why? Because it's been a VERY long journey for us to become a family. It's been far from instant. It's far from overnight. And it hasn't been quick at all.

So, if you've said something like that to me - don't worry about it. I'm not mad at you. If you haven't said something like that to me yet, please don't. And don't say it to another family dealing with infertility or going through adoption. While it's well intentioned, it's not helpful. Hope that's a helpful tip as you interact with others.

While that may sound bitter or edgy, I'm not that bent out of shape with those types of comments. Often, people don't really know what to say about our journey and are doing their best to engage with us. Yet, I'm primarily okay with it because not much of what's really good in life is instant: food, relationships, transformation, character building, etc...The really good things in life take time to work into something great, substantive, and life-changing.

Instant and gratification don't go well together - that's a stupid American idea. Our family isn't so instant, but it will be oh-so gratifying.

2 Months on Wait List!

Yeah! Today marks 2 months since we got on the wait list. With each passing day we are closer to becoming parents. It's also been 9 1/2 months since we started the adoption process, and I feel 9 1/2 months pregnant [but hopefully a little skinnier]!!!! :) If only I had a due date like most other mommas-to-be. That's one of the hardest parts.

But today we are celebrating that we have been waiting for 2 months. And who knows!?!?! Maybe we'll get a phone call quicker than the 6-8 months referral wait prediction we've been given. Can you send a Christmas prayer for that today? That's#1 on my Christmas list this year!