Friends

I would like to take tonight to thank the many friends who have seen me through this adoption journey. We all continue to travel together, even after all these years (Yes, YEARS). Some have brought babies home, some have been chosen by a birthmom and are awaiting the day their little one comes home, some of us are still waiting. And a few have placed their little ones with other families. Our bonds of friendship have been forged through pain, loss, hope, despair, and joy. Adoption has a way of doing that . . . Adoption is hard. It can be painful. But, as my sister reminded me yesterday, it's all about the love, y'all. Loving ourselves, loving each other, loving our kids. I've often said adoption is like a condensed sample of life. We need to love and support each other in our lives, even if we aren't affected by adoption. Imagine how far a little love and understanding can go in each of our families or communities! 

Anyway! Climbing down off my soap box now. Just remember . . . you're not alone . . . none of us is, if you think about it . . . not really . . . not ever.

Support

One the most amazing things about the adoption world is the people you meet who help and support you along the way. Strangers become your best friends, the ones you vent to, laugh with, cheer for. I have been blessed with a great bunch of ladies who have been my support these past several years. And you know what? I am so glad I could support them, too! I love feeling useful. I'm glad that my knowledge or insight could help someone along their adoption journey.

I think so many of us are prone to say, "No really, I've got it. I don't need help." But, have you considered how much others WANT to help? I know I rarely do. I hold people off at arm's length, even as they say, "I want to help." It wasn't until a friend interrupted my usual, "No, I'm okay," with "Mary! LET me help!" that I realized or appreciated that people don't just offer their help, support, advice, etc. to be polite. They do it because they love you and want to help. They cannot stand by and watch you go through the hardships you face without offering to watch the kids, make a meal, haul your junk to Montana from Wyoming in their horse trailrr (true story).

And so, this is a big THANK YOU! Not only to those to support me, but to those who ALLOW me to support them. Thank you for the honor of being in your lives and trusting me with your heartaches and your joys. It truly means more than you will know.