Managing Memories

I am reading an excellant book by Mark Batterson, called "Soul Print." In chapter 2 Mark talks about the importance of Lifesymbols in remembering important things from our past and how God was faithful in and through each experience. At one point he mentions...

"One of my earliest and strongest memories is the first time I rode a bike. Part of the reason the memory is so strong is because I've heard my parents tell the story so many times. And that is one of the jobs of parents. They manage their children's memories by the stories they tell, the keepsakes they save, and the pictures they take."

This made me stop to think about the memories I am helping to manage for all my children, but especially Micah's. We made him a memory book of "his story" of becoming part of our family and he loves to read it all the time. He even makes up "memories" of when he was a baby in India. However, I started to wonder if that was enough.

This month is National Adoption Awareness Month, and we recently had an Adoption Awareness Sunday at our church. We invited speaker and author, Ted Kluck, to come and speak. He is the author of the book, "Hello, I Love You," and it is the story of their adoption journey to their two boys from the Ukraine. Part of the book was bits and pieces of the journal letters he wrote to his first son during his adoption process. Their family had an extremely difficult adoption experience, but throughout the story was woven threads of joy and beauty in the process that he wanted to remember so that he could share these things with his sons as they got older.

Of course I was reminded of my time in India as we traveled to bring Micah home. Our process was extremely smooth, but I had a very difficult time in the country and came back with some very negative feelings and little desire to go back. I was reminded by our dear caseworker that I needed to give it time, but I also needed to remember the good things about our time there and maybe even write them down. This would enable me to begin to look on my sons birth country with fondness and maybe even love as we shared the memories together as he grows and wants to know more of his story.

This was a fantastic idea, and as the years begin to pass by since Micah's adoption experience, I find myself remembering more and more the good things over the difficult. I am taking the task seriously to manage Micah's memories and I hope that as he grows, the memories will fill him with joy and thanksgiving!

Choices

Last night as I watched the news and heard about Steve Jobs passing away, I was saddened. I am not a "techy" person and do not understand any of it, but my husband is a Mac and I-phone user, so I am familiar with the contributions that Apple has made to our generation. :)

What I did take away from the stories I heard last night was one in particular that made my heart smile. Steve Jobs was born to an unwed college student who chose to place him up for adoption instead of choosing abortion for her son. Maybe a seemingly insignigicant choice to her at the time, or maybe one that she agonized over. Whatever the case, she chose life, and that son literally changed our world and the way we communicate today!

Just goes to show that EVERY choice that we make is significant! We might never see the results, or know the people it has affected, either negatively or poitively, but it has affected something or someone. Last night I was reminded that choosing to do things God's way just makes sense!

The Road Less Traveled

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I heard a comparison today between Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken," and the scripture in Matthew 7:13-14, which compares 2 gates. In the poem, the author chooses the path less traveled by and says that his choice made all the difference. In Matthew, Christ says, "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it." The question was then asked of the comparison..."What path in your life have you followed that my have been the "path less traveled by?"

Now, neither the poem nor the scripture is speaking about adoption specifically, but that is the first thing that came to my mind. Adoption is definitely the path less traveled by, and unfortunately, there are few who seem to enter this gate and experience the life and blessing that adoption brings. Adoption is a huge step of faith, and I am beginning to think that FAITH is the road less traveled by. It surely leads to LIFE, and without making the decision to step out in faith, we miss so much of God's blessing in our lives. I am sorry to say, there are not very many times I have stepped out in faith to follow where I feel God leading. It is easier to step out if you feel like it all works on paper, or if it is within your control, etc. But, by hesitating, or choosing the clearer path, we miss seeing and experiencing the MIRACLES of God! In our journey through life, I wish these experiences were the norm instead of just occasional occurances!

What would life be like if we all "took the road less traveled by?" I think it would make "all the difference!"

Children's Books

My friend and fellow Dillon adoption mom, Nancy, recently posted about a couple of adoption related children's books that she likes. They were "Bringing Asha Home" and "You're Not My Real Mother!" I am always looking for great children's books on adoption and India, so I am excited to check them out. Her post also gave me the idea to share a couple of the adoption and India related children's books that I have come across this year and added to my kids little library.

1. "God Found Us You," by Lisa Tawn Bergren - A sweet, sweet book about an adoptive mom's wait for her little one to come home!
2. "Shaoey and Dot," by Mary Beth Chapman - A cute story about a chinese adoption.
3. "A Family for Jamie," by Suzanne Bloom - A great story about a couple wanting to start a family and how adoption brings that to pass!
4. "I is for India," by Prodeepta Das - Not an adoption story, but a great children's book that uses the alphabet to tell about India, it's people, and customs. It has beautiful pictures!

My favorite book of all is the one we made for Micah. It's called "Micah's Story" and we had it printed right after we brought him home. You can make them at Shutterfly or Snapfish very easily and inexpensively. Micah's book starts off with pics of our family before adoption. Then we have pictures of David and me at the airport leaving for India. This is followed by pictures of Micah at different ages in the orphanage taken by other families and then the ones we took once we arrived. Then there are a few pictures of the city, traffic, us out shopping, at the hotel, etc., followed by pictures of us with Micah getting on the plane to come home. Finally we end with a photo of our entire family together at last at our home airport! Micah LOVES his book and wants to read it all the time! I am hoping to be able to make my other children books of their story too someday. I hope that they grow up to feel that each of us has our own unique story and that God has chosen to intertwine our stories into a beautiful book that will bring Him glory!

New Friends!

Yeah! Today we got to meet some new friends...Amy, Clint and Simeon! They came to town for a little get-away and we got to meet for the first time! Of course, I feel like I've know them forever! It was so amazing seeing Micah and Simeon together, knowing that just 2 short years ago, they were sharing a crib in the same orphanage in India! God is so good! Simeon is such a little social bug and he made fast friends with my girls right away. Micah had tons of questions about Simeon before we met, and after meeting pronounced, "I like Simeon!" I thank God for the friendships He has brought into our lives through adoption!

The Sound of Music

My family loves to watch musicals, and one of our favorites is The Sound of Music! Today a quote from that movie has been running through my head..."When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window!"

Ever since Micah's adoption, I have thought in my heart that I would like to adopt again. I would like for Micah to have a sister from his birth country! My husband...not quite so sure. Actually, in the beginning he would say, "Woman you are crazy!" :) Now when I mention it, he just smiles and says, "One thing at a time, please!" I think God and I are wearing him down. LOL

With all that has happened in our lives over the last 2 years, it has definitely not been the right time. Still, during this walk through our valley, I have begun to look at different adoption websites and their "waiting children" a little more closely. To be honest, I have actually made inquiries about 2 specific little girls at different times. The door was closed right away on one and just today, I heard that the door is probably being closed on the other. Although I feel a sadness, there is also a sense of peace.

How is this possible? It is strange, but when we began our adoption with Micah, we had a list of three "musts" that we took to our adoption agency. One country was a fit, but right away God began closing the doors. So, I decided to compromise on our "musts" and choose another county that fit 2 out of the 3. That very next morning, before I could even call our caseworker, she e-mailed me and told me that the country I was looking at the night before had just closed it's doors. I just said, "Praise the Lord!" Her response was, "What? That is not usually the response that we get when we give bad news." I told her, "Our prayer from the beginning has been that God would lead. That He would open doors and close doors where we did not belong. He has just slammed this door in our face, so I know that He is answering our prayers in a personal way and that He is taking part in this adoption process!" Today I kind of feel the same way. I must admit that my heart was getting attached to this little girl, but it seems God is closing this door.

Once again I hear a faint "sound of music" as I sense God acting on our behalf in ways that I yet cannot see. So, I will just be patient, enjoy my children, and watch closely for that open window!

Mother's Day 2011!

I am a very proud mommy of 4 children! Nothing for me has ever been more exhausting or more rewarding! :) God has blessed me with 4 amazing little personalities!

1. Hallie - My tender-hearted middle-schooler who loves school and LOVES to read!
2. Emma - My emotional fashionista who loves school and LOVES sports!
3. Nathan - My little man who is growing up too quickly, who LOVES Scooby Doo, spies, and super heros!
4. Micah - My baby boy who keeps me hopping 24 hours a day and who LOVES chocolate!

This week one of my favorite radio stations was airing programs on adoption, moms, etc. On one of the programs about adoption, the speaker said something that really struck me. We often hear people say, "These are our children..., and this is our adopted son/daughter..." Now, as an adoptive mother, and for those other adoptive moms out there, we know that there is no difference in how we feel about our children, no matter how they got to us. I often forget that Micah was even adopted. He might as well have been born into our family, and in a way, I believe He was. When God created Micah in his mother's womb, He knew that Micah would come to join our family, and I believe he was created for that purpose!

The speaker on this program, did not like the concept of saying, "this is my "adopted" son/daughter," as if that somehow defined who they are. He reminded the audience that "adopted" is a legal event that happened at one point in the past. After that, we are all just children! As believers, we have been adopted by God, at the point of our salvation, but after that, we are considered just "children of God, and joint heirs with Jesus!" Romans 8:15-17 God does not see us any differently than His own son after that! Such an act of undeserved mercy and grace!

So, today I reflect on God's grace and I thank Him for loaning me my children, whether by birth or adoption, to raise for a time, for His glory!