For when we went into the adoption process, we of course, thought mostly about a baby. We had no idea how deeply we would connect with the family and how adoption is about everyone. One might think about how much they will love the baby that comes into their lives, but what you quickly realize is how much you will love the entire family that becomes so important. Indeed, our daughter's birth family is our family and the love for them runs deep.
As our daughter grows, it is interesting to watch the relationships grow and to watch her grow into the relationships. One of her favorite things to do is to "send stickers", or send icons via text to birth mom. And recently, she's been asking to send videos. Over the past couple weeks, she sent a video of her singing Happy Birthday to her birth mother. It was magical. You could tell how happy her little heart was, as well as how much these little things mean to her birth mother. And our hearts?--full of pride and love! Pride that this little 4 year old shows so much love, that she tries to do all she knows to make hearts happy, that she is secure in her love for all. Our love for her family runs deep and we know their love for her is incredible. It is a love we will always honor, nurture, and celebrate. This is our family.
Today, as we wait to welcome another child through adoption, we are eager for so much. Eager to welcome a child, but also eager to welcome a birth family. We are eager to connect and build a relationship with the understanding that our family is growing--for we know we not only welcome a child, but also welcome a birth family. Indeed, they are our family.
