Since coming home with our newest little blessing, we've gotten lots of smiles and nods and "We're praying for you" from friends & family. We appreciate the sentiments, and definitely appreciate the prayers!
But if you haven't walked in our shoes, you can't fully understand what we've experienced or are experiencing. We can try to explain it, but words don't do justice to the reality of it all. (I can say this because as prepared as we thought we were for each adoption, reality made us realize we weren't!)
That's why it is so refreshing and encouraging to connect with others who have experienced the day-in-day-out trials and triumphs of non-infant adoption.
That's why it is so refreshing and encouraging to connect with others who have experienced the day-in-day-out trials and triumphs of non-infant adoption.
I'm extremely thankful that we got to connect with other families while we were in Ukraine this time around. We didn't really get that the first time around. But as I've said so many times, God knows what we need, when we need it.
I'm especially thankful for the Loraine family. We met them on our first day in Ukraine back in June. We had ice cream with them the day before we left Kyiv to travel to Daniel's city. And we had dinner with them twice before coming home. They saw our pre-Daniel excitement, and our post-Daniel exhaustion. They know us in a way that few do!
So it was great to get to talk to Erin this past weekend. We chatted for probably an hour & a half, and could have gone on for hours longer I'm sure. We compared stories and kept it real. Erin is such an encouragement to me - someone I can be honest with about our struggles, and someone who will truly celebrate with me in our victories, however big or small. I pray that I do the same for her!
God knows what - and who - we need, at exactly the right time. I'm so thankful for our special adoption friends!
I'm especially thankful for the Loraine family. We met them on our first day in Ukraine back in June. We had ice cream with them the day before we left Kyiv to travel to Daniel's city. And we had dinner with them twice before coming home. They saw our pre-Daniel excitement, and our post-Daniel exhaustion. They know us in a way that few do!
So it was great to get to talk to Erin this past weekend. We chatted for probably an hour & a half, and could have gone on for hours longer I'm sure. We compared stories and kept it real. Erin is such an encouragement to me - someone I can be honest with about our struggles, and someone who will truly celebrate with me in our victories, however big or small. I pray that I do the same for her!
God knows what - and who - we need, at exactly the right time. I'm so thankful for our special adoption friends!
Larry & Erin, we thank God for both of you!!
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3
4 comments:
You made me cry :)! We love you too. Your friendship is one of the most wonderful blessings that came from our time in Ukraine. We can't wait to see you all again!
Well said. Although we are not "in your shoes" we are probably walking a similar path. Totally exhausting but rewarding ; ) Did I mention exhausting? LOL Paula
We came home with an older child within a few days of you guys. I have enjoyed reading your blog, and I was not "happy," but "comforted" to see your recent post about how tough bonding and attaching can really be - it sounded very familiar. This one also hit the sweet spot perfectly...on a lot of levels. Thanks for keeping it 'real!' I wish more adoptive families shared the real struggles, because so many blogs are all wine and roses - but there's no such thing as a non-infant adoption that doesn't include some sort of struggle...it's just the nature of the beast!
I think of your family often! I pray everyone is starting to adjust and bonding is getting better. I just wanted you to know that reading adoption blogs (like yours) gives me encouragement that even though the first weeks (or months) might be difficult...it is still doable. We are excited to meet our son, but nervous at the same time. Thank you for your prayers!! :)
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