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.

The End of an Era

Today is the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and I'm celebrating!
There's so much to be grateful for this decade [a few notable highlights]...

• Marrying the best man in the world for me
• Graduating from college with an incredible education
  
• Working at two of the best churches in America who've allowed me to do what I love most with people I love dearly
• Moving to CA...I was made for this place!!!
• Buying our first home and making it truly ours little by little
• Traveling the world, especially Africa
  
• Walking with some of the best women in the world whom I love with my whole heart
  
• And of course...Beginning our adoption journey!!!!!!!

Obviously, this decade has been filled with challenges, raw pain, and heartache [see previous postings :)], but today I choose to celebrate the goodness of the 21st century's first decade.

Happy New Year!

P.S. Today is my 100th post!!!! Thanks to those of you who've read every single one [probably just my parents and maybe Brian]. And thanks to you who've joined along the way. I'm amazed that this blog has been read over 8000 times in the past 9 months. I hope it's been helpful, humorous, and healing...

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!