Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Happiest Place on Earth


Welcome to Day 30 of Our Adoption Adventure. To read from the beginning click here. If you liked this series please subscribe by email or Bloglovin. Thanks!
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“I have four children. Two are adopted. I forget which two.”
Bob Constantine

         Fifteen years have past since that tumultuous summer we adopted our twins. We also have two biological children. When asked, I always say there is absolutely no difference between our bio kids and our adopted kids. We love them all the same.
         We don’t ever think about them being adopted. They are all just our kids. We are a family and we are crazy about each other.
         Sometimes I think people believe adoption is the second best option. That only after you couldn’t have bio kids should you try to adopt. God builds families all kinds of ways. Today, we have so many blended types of families, stepfamilies, half siblings, and foster families. There is not a best way.
         As women, we do our sisters a disservice when we are in groups and talk about our birthing stories. I have been guilty of this many times. I think we can rejoice in the birth of all of our children, while still being sensitive to those without at birth story.
         But when the goal is to have a family, to love and raise children, the birthing story is the least important part. It is like going to Disneyland. It doesn’t matter if we fly or drive to Disneyland; the important part is that we arrive. It is Disneyland, the happiest place on earth! Sure, flying is faster and easier. But, the memories and adventure of a road trip are great too. Our family would never miss out on Disneyland because we couldn’t fly there. We would find a way to drive.
It's not always Disneyland, but home is the happiest place on earth.
        
           Someone once said, “I could never love somebody else’s child.” What if Jesus’ earthly father or Moses’ mother had that attitude? Once those children come home, they are our children. God predestined them before creation to be our children. We couldn’t love anyone without God giving us love. (1 John 4:7 “Let us love one another, for love comes from God.”)
         Our adoption journey had a few rough spots, but it has been worth every one of them. Our family was not complete without our twins and God faithfully worked everything out to bring them to our family. Truth be told, home is the happiest place on earth.
         If you long to have children to love and raise, don’t view adoption as second best. The Bible says,
 “Children (adopted or biological) are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from him. Blessed are those who have many children.”           Psalm 127:3,5.
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*** Join me here tomorrow for the last day in this series, Day 31, for an update on how the birth mother and the twins are doing. ***


14 comments:

  1. We sound so similar in our philosophies about our children. Our 4 look nothing like us and we forget they're adopted often, as do friends and family. As for the quote: "Someone once said, “I could never love somebody else’s child.”" I'm not loving someone else's child. I'm lovin' the children God blessed me with in this life. "My" children :) I happen to share some of their story with their birthfamilies, but that doesn't make them any less "mine." I do admit, sometimes I get a little twinge when I hear birth stories, (especially from those that seem to think it's some kind of right of passage, or equate more children with being more "Christian"), but I can also rejoice with them in their stories too. And those with birth stories don't have amazing adoption stories either :) GREAT family picture!

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    1. I agree. The birth part is smallest part of having children. The blessings is loving them and having them in our families. Thanks so much for reading! Always great to talk to another adoptive mom.

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  2. I think we all have a "birth story." They just aren't all the same. A dear woman at my church shared at our MOPS group about her journey to motherhood, which involved adopting three children in 3 years (two of them bio half siblings) from the Ukraine, all of them school age. I especially loved how she talked about the moment her son came bounding into the room to meet them for the first time. (They had to choose to adopt him before even meeting him in person). She said it was her delivery room.
    She is a labor and delivery nurse and talked about all the wonderful years she spent helping other people create their birth stories. This was hers.

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    1. That's a great story! How wonderful for that nurse to share it. And it is so true. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Thank you for sharing your perspective on motherhood and how we arrive there. What a gift all children are!

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  4. Thank you for sharing your encouraging post.
    Blessings to you and your family.

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  5. Great post and oh so very true. Ioved this Iine wrote: "God builds families all kinds of ways."

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  6. I so love your heart on this! I was adopted by my grandparents. You can read more about my story on my blog if you'd like, but I just want to say I never felt less loved or out of place. I loved them both as I would have if I were raised by my bio parents. Our Pastors here at my church have an AMAZING adoption story. Anna is truly a miracle and had she not ended up in the care of our Pastors she would have died in an orphanage of cancer. His love is so amazing. We have two boys of our own and one day plan to adopt as well! Adoption, orphans, and are very close to my heart!!!

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    1. That's great! Thanks for sharing those two stories. God is definitely in the miracle business when it comes to adoption, and putting families together. I love hearing from adults who have be adopted. God bless you on your journey!

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  7. A beautiful post. I love reading adoption stories even though I have no plans of my own. My heart celebrates whenever I hear of a child gaining a loving family. Love your perspective and a good reminder to watch how I speak around other mothers and people who don't yet have children.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by! I love hearing adoption stories too and love for kids to get a forever family.

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