Aside from needing a can of formula and colored pencils for Caroline’s school, there has been no other money spent this week. So I veer from my “reporting on money not spent” to reflect a bit more on adoption.
Our girl Desta has been with us for almost four months. It seems so much longer than that. In those almost four months, she’s gained 10 lbs (YES!), grown at least 2 inches, talks nonstop, battled and won chicken pox (and for those who think it’s just an innocent childhood disease, think again my friends!), sleeps through the night, naps at least once a day and is a happy, wonderfully joyful little girl.
And each night, when I put her to bed, I breathe a prayer into her ear. (She is FINALLY cuddling with me at night…it makes this mama’s heart sing!) I pray for her heart, that God would protect it from the pain that she experienced before she was placed in our arms. I pray that she will know how WANTED she was, before we even knew her. I pray for peace for her in her dreams. I pray for the woman she will become; that she will be a strong, confident woman who LOVES God and desires to help others.
As I look at her throughout the day, I am so abundantly blessed to have this beautiful little girl in our lives. Our lives have CHANGED and she is such JOYFUL blessing. I never imagined the immense blessing that adoption has brought to our family. I am not oblivious to the ups and downs the future brings. But I also realize those hills come with my biological children as well. It’s called growing up and figuring out who we are meant to be.
But today, this day, I am resting in the joy of being a mommy to three.
PS. If you want to read another mom’s thoughts on adoption, go here. This post has made me pause and think today!
I was born in Jos, Nigeria many years ago. I spent the next nineteen years living in Liberia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Hello!
I just love your blog. We are also adopting from Ethiopia and you have really inspired me to cut back. I am considering joining you on your juourney this month!