10 Things I learned from our adoption

Thought I would share some things that I learned through adoption.  Although I will probably think of more as time goes on, these are pretty high on the list for me!

1. I have learned that God is in control of every circumstance in my life.  It has had nothing to do with my sacrifice of time, money, hearts, or tears.  It is all about Him.
2. I have learned that His grace will be sufficient. Whatever path God puts me on, I know that He will help me through the tough times and through the happy times.  
3. I feel blessed to know that one of the purposes that God gave me for my life was to show love outwardly to the fatherless.  I feel so blessed to have seen and felt God's presence in my life during the last 7 months and to feel the grace shine all around my family.
4. I never realized how much I would feel for Ezra's mother.  I love her even though I have never met her.  I know that my child will one day question things, just as I did with my own adoption when I got older.  I pray for her and for grace upon her and Ezra as they both grow older.
5. Despite how people feel about the whys of how birthparents could give a child up, I now know that it is the deepest and most committed love that they could have ever showed.  Ezra's birthmom was 14. Wow, I couldn't even image taking care of a baby at that age.  I was still playing with dolls and matchbox cars!  Her strength to do this is unbelievable.  
6. I have also come to know that love is not an emotion.  I feel love, because God first loved me.   God's love is showered upon me daily, so that I may shower love upon my children daily as well.
7. It is heart-breaking to hold a baby who cries for his mother.  Even at 3 days old, he knew her voice, her smell.  He knew nothing of me.  I showered him with love, and spent almost the first 6 weeks of his life with maybe 5 hours of sleep a week (and those were from shear exhausting and were spent while he was crying).
8. I learned that no matter what people say or do about decisions that you make after God's direction, God's plan will still be finished.  There is nothing you can do, but enjoy the ride and bask in God's grace to sustain you when others are against you.
9. I have learned that some people just don't change their ways of thinking no matter what century we are in.  I don't know how many rude looks and rude comments I have overheard because our family is mixed.  Normally it is just me and the boys out, since my husband works a lot, but  I am shocked to know how people can be so insensitive.  To those people, all I can say is, may the power of God show you that you are wrong.  May He show you that our family is a family put together and designed by Him. 
10. One thing that I have learned is adoption is a life changing process that will rock your world at every stage.  I almost don't even recognize myself anymore!  It has beautifully grown not just my family, but my heart, my dreams, and my joys.  It has been a beautiful, frustrating, heart-breaking, and miraculous journey so far.  I can't wait for what the next several years are going to bring!!

Blessings!!

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