Adoption Is Not The Easy Way Out

I recently encountered the concept of "resolving" infertility. In my understanding, this resolution can be through eventually bearing children, through adoption, or through deciding to live a childless life. Basically, resolving infertility is moving on.

To some people, adoption seems like the easy way out. Let me assure you: adoption is many things, but easy is not one of them. The costs seem insurmountable, the paperwork endless, and the emotional risks just scary. Adoption means putting your heart on the line.

As we prepare to begin the process, new fears are surfacing. This weekend, we learned that our friends are going through a failed adoption. Is that in our future? We know that adoption is complicated and risky, but seeing one fall through made the risk more real. We have said that we don't feel strong enough for foster care. After so many years of longing for a child, we cannot imagine having one only to have him or her returned to a bad situation. A failed adoption must feel the same way.

Life involves risk. Period. Infertility treatments have risks. Adoption has risks. So, we press on. After hearing the sad news this weekend, I was encouraged by Psalm 94:18-19.

Yes, adoption is risky; however, many adoptions are successful. When I see families like the one in this video, I get so excited to see what God has for us. Our family is a blank slate right now. We are confident that it will not stay that way, and we pray that God gives us strength and wisdom on the journey. 

This post is linked up with: Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop, Monday's Musings, Winsome Wednesday,  Word Filled Wednesday, and A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

I recently came across a great idea in the blogosphere. On Thursdays, the ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter share something from each of four categories: Pretty, Funny, Happy, and Real. Then, they give others the opportunity to share as well. Great idea, right? I'm going to try it.

{Pretty}

My new shoes. I have a very hard time spending money. Not to mention, I have very little idea of what is in style these days. As a result, my closet is hurting. With the help of a friend, I found these cute flats at my typical store (Ross) and actually bought them. They will be perfect for an upcoming trip.

{Happy}

We close on our first house in three weeks. Isn't it lovely?

{Funny}

This conversation happened in our house recently. Yes, we were two childless adults eating hotdogs, macaroni and cheese, and jello for dinner. Feel free to judge us. 

Me [after retrieving a bouncy piece of hotdog from the carpet]: "Here, this furry one is for you."
Husband: "What do I look like, a gerbil?"
Me: "Why would a gerbil want a furry hot dog?"
Husband: "A gerbil is a furry hot dog."

Laughter ensued. 

{Real}

Due to the house closing, moving is in our near future. This move will be our seventh in six years of marriage. Although I should be an expert, the thought of packing and unpacking is still less than lovely. The excitement definitely outweighs the dread, though. 

What is pretty, happy, funny, and real in your life?

This post is linked-up on Lovely Thursday and {pretty, happy, funny, real}. 

Gotcha Day Will Come

When we first started TTC, I would often calculate nine months from the date: "If we got pregnant this month, we could bring home a baby around ___." For a while now, I have felt that conceiving and bringing home a baby was unlikely and even impossible.

Adoption has changed my mindset. Bringing home a baby no longer seems unlikely. I am now confident that we will some day bring home our baby. We still don't know who or how, but I feel certain that the day will come.

Today, I have been imagining our "Gotcha Day," the day we bring home our child. I shared this video once before, when adoption seemed far in the future. We were still focused on infertility. Now, I watch it with eagerness for our own day.

*Thanks to Lisa from Amateur Nester for hosting the Infertility Link Up.