I received an email from a new friend from the adoption-world who essentially said don’t celebrate too much, this is really just the beginning of all the paperwork. Other than immersing ourselves in conversation, study and prayer on parenting, we haven’t discussed much what the post-adoption work will entail. I mean, we’ve picked out the theme music we want to use for the video we create of when we get our girls. Does that count? I think I’m in denial that my administrative muscles really won’t get much rest, given that we have to re-adopt the girls in the United States when we return. For now I’ll just pretend we don’t have to do that.
Just saw this today and thought it was fitting:
For those of you who’ve been thinking about adoption, don’t fret. There is definitely a grace God gives to plow forward. This has truly almost felt easy. I have a feeling that, much like what I hear from mothers who’ve gone through labor more than once, I’ll forget when it’s all over all the work we went through to get here.
So, Nate, get ready … I might be asking you in a year “can we adopt 2 more?”
(However, I have a hunch that “Mr. Nate”, who has won the favor of every 8-and-under I know, might beat me to the punch.)
Hey Hagertys!
Thanks for letting us take this journey with you. I wasn’t sure if we’d ever told you that Aaron was one of 15 children, 11 adopted from different parts of South America, some of whom are biological siblings and some of whom are still truly orphans (the adopted children are now aged 19-32). Aaron’s older brother has adopted two little girls from China in the last few years, so it has been interesting for us to get to see the beginning of the process as well as appreciate Aaron’s experience growing up in a multiracial family. If you’d ever like to hear our perspective on some long term adoption experiences (the teen years!) let us know.
Christie Belardo Vaudo and Corey Vaudo (from UVA) adopted a little boy from Kazikstan and blogged their experience: http://www.vaudosinkaz.blogspot.com . Our own parenting adventure is on http://www.ukhills.blogspot.com . It’s a little more on the goofy side, but if it makes you feel better, I too have a waiting to be filed file! And I can’t believe 11:20 pm is the middle of the night for you.
We’ll keep you in our prayers-God will give you the grace and grow you so much every day as you pursue Him and your girls!
I chuckled at your cartoon and I added it to my blog.
http://adventuresinellisland.blogspot.com
We received our referral and now we are just waiting to travel and pick up our Ethiopian little prince! Hopefully we will see you on the 12th.