November is National Adoption Awareness Month.  Both of our boys came to us through adoption.  It is a beautiful and heart wrenching process.  There is joy and sorrow every step of the journey.

Our journey started in February 2006.  I went as a chaperone to Jamaica for a high school missions trip.  The last day we were at a children’s home.  We were not there very long, but we were there long enough for God to change my life completely.  He opened my eyes and heart to the world of adoption.  I left that children’s home transformed.  I knew God was asking us to adopt, but Kevin did not feel the same way.  It would take 5 years for Kevin to be ready.  It was difficult and yet amazing to watch his heart change toward the idea.

In November 2011 we took the first steps to becoming adoptive parents and it would be another 3 years before our first son came home and another 3 until our second was home.  It took from 2006-2017 for our family to be complete (at least for now).  Eleven years of waiting and tears, wondering if we were doing the right thing.

Last night as I read to my boys before bed I was so grateful to be together.  They can drive me crazy in the course of a day, but in that moment there was peace.  We are a family.  Love (and a lot of legal papers) made us a family.

Kevin and I fully believe that every child deserves a home, but we also believe not everyone is called to have foster or adoptive children in their home.  However, everyone can do something to help vulnerable children in their community.  So, this November, if you have ever thought about adoption or foster care, take the next step in your journey.  Talk to someone, go to an informational meeting, take a foster family dinner, sign up to babysit, look into local organizations that work with vulnerable children, take a class, or pray.  I’d love to know what you decide to do or let me know if you need more ideas.  I’d be happy to help.  I will be sharing more about our adoption story as the month goes on.