FIRST CAME LOVE, THEN CAME ADOPTION

As most of you know, adoption days No. 1 and No. 2 are right around the corner for our not-so-little family. It's quite literally a race between Baby Brother and our three girls to see whose case will close first.

And we are so stinking excited.

We likely will only have a couple weeks notice before getting an adoption date, so I'm currently preparing to CEL-E-BRATE!!! I'm going all out for their adoption party, and I don't even care if anyone thinks its overboard.

We are soooo close to officially being a family forever. Wow... I just can't wait. We never imagined this is how our foster care journey would pan out -- adopting all 4 placements we ever said "yes" to, but here we are. I am eternally grateful for God's hand in it all.

I've been thinking a lot about what adoption means for our family over the last few years -- from the day the girls' case plan changed to adoption in 2020 -- and I think I've come to the conclusion that adoption is very much like a marriage between two people.

Love with my biological son, River, came as soon as I discovered his existence inside my womb. It was inherent. He came from me. He is a part of me. He knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.

I had to grow to love my other children though. We were strangers at first. The girls, especially, had already developed their own personalities and had loved others before me. There was no biological connection there, which means we had to work to love and trust each other -- much like I had to work on building a relationship with my husband.

As the months passed, we got to know each other better. I learned more about them and their interests. They learned they could trust me to take care of their needs. Eventually I fell in love with them, and it looked a lot like falling in love with my husband did in the beginning.

I grew to love their smiles, the way they dance to their favorite songs, the twinkle in their eyes, their curiosity, that little giggle.... Slowly, they each became a part of me too.

When we sign the dotted line on their adoption days, we are saying yes to forever. It's a lifelong commitment -- for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. We are saying, "We want you. We choose you. We love you no matter what."

So yes, I am purchasing flowers, and having nice white table cloths and a caterer for our adoption party because, for our family, this is a HUGE life event.

This is the start of forever.