falling in love with adoption

It's been a long journey.  I would say it started stirring in my heart on a trip to Africa two years ago.  But it wasn't until we did foster care that I realized it was real.  Then the two precious kids that spent the Summer in my home, eating with us, living our lives with us - left.  We were expecting it, it wasn't surprising.  But that's when we realized forever is what we want.

Forever.  That's what adoption is.  God promised us forever.  We follow His lead and adopt a child forever.  I'll be honest - it's not for everyone.  I don't think everyone should go out and adopt a child.  But all I know is - adoption is for me.  I've watched some of our best friends walk through an airport gate with a baby in their arms or holding kids' hands and I think to myself, "I want that to be me someday!".

When you walk through this opportunity, it's hard not to fall in love with it.  It's hard.  It tests you.  Somedays it feels completely defeating.  But others, it is rewarding.  Other days, you look into the eyes of an adopted child and you remember how blessed you are.

Blessed.  That's what adoption is to me.  It's the hardest thing I have ever done thus far in my life, but boy, is it rewarding.  There are good days and bad days.  Hard days and easy days.  Sometimes it feels like just when it's starting to be easy, it falls apart a little bit.  But you get back up again and you keep going.  Because that's what God does for us.  He keeps going until He has our hearts.  Never stopping.  Never getting weary.  The perfect example.

Adoption takes so much patience.  Sometimes it feels like it's taking everything inside of you.  Sometimes it feels like you can't go any further.  But then there's that one rewarding day that gets you through until the next one.  And you remember that you are in love with adoption.  You remember that it is for you.  You remember that God called you to it.  So you do it.  Everyday.

Tomorrow is a new day.

xo,
emma