July 19, 2014

  • Celebrate!

    When Dean and I realized that we were unable to conceive, it was a hard truth to embrace. We both came from homes were children were valued, anticipated and loved and we eagerly awaited pregnancy, birth and parenthood. We grew weary of the hope followed by disappointment cycle we found ourselves in and gradually grew to accept the thought that we would grow old together without children. Even though the desire for children never dissipated, we developed a contentment with our new normal.

    About the time that we stopped praying for a child, the Lord opened the doors for two! The eight months that we spent in the adoption process were the most exciting time since we had planned our wedding. We thought the phone would never ring letting us know that we could go get Jeremy and Justin. We spent about two years getting used to being parents and then we began to think about adopting again. We pursued three different possible adoptions and each time the Lord closed the door. The feeling of disappointment was there again.

    When Jeremy and Justin were seven we opened our home for foster children. We were open to the idea of fostering to adopt, but didn't have our hearts set on it - until we fell in love with our first placement. He went home after four weeks and we missed him, but immediately began thinking about the next child. To make a long story short, we are no longer foster parents, but we are in the middle of an adoption process for one of those foster children that we grew to love.

    Yesterday we celebrated Adoption Day. We chose as the official date the day that Jeremy and Justin's adoption decrees were signed in Haiti thirteen years ago. We began with a breakfast of crepes followed by some chores - can't get away from the unexciting even in the middle of festivities. Once the mundane had been taken care of, we packed a lunch and headed to the pool.

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    Four hours at the pool were followed by supper preparations. For some reason, grilling seems like a celebratory activity. We grilled corn on the cob, zucchini and chicken but before we could eat, I had to have a picture of who we were celebrating.

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    It didn't take long for the food to disappear, but before we had dessert, we had to stop for gifts. All of the boys had been wanting a watch, so that is what they received. Do you know how long it took to properly set three watches? I still can't get Joseph's off of military time.

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    Ice cream is reserved for special occasions and this was definitely an occasion. Between all the toppings everyone had a nice bowl full before we ended the day with a family movie. (I saw most of it.)

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    Reflecting on the last thirteen years has given me opportunity to realize that the pain of infertility has been healed. We grieved, but our sorrow has helped us to deeply appreciate the blessings that the Lord gave us.

Comments (3)

  • Thanks for sharing this, Mary! Your boys always look so happy on the pictures you post. Hope the process goes quick for the adoption of third son.

  • I cannot tell you how happy this makes me, and how very glad I am that the Lord has knit your family together in such a beautiful way!

    Your post has me sitting here all choked up. God is SO very good!

  • Delightful to read and see the pictures. I have a niece and her husband who are going through the process of adoption for a second time. They would understand your pain and joys.

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