Adoption "Wisdom"

I received an e-mail from one of our grant organizations yesterday, asking me to share some adoption "wisdom" ... one of their suggestions was to share what we "wish we had known then." I'll share mine with you, and I hope some of the adoptive moms who occasionally read this will post their own comments as well!

I WISH THAT SOMEONE ...

I wish that someone had prepared us for the probability of experiencing a failed match before the "right" child came to us, and how to handle those heart-wrenching emotions.

I wish that someone had explained the importance of knowing and understanding the different adoption laws between states.

I wish that someone had shared a birthparent's perspective with us, so that we would have known better how to empathize and minister to our children's birthparents at placement and beyond.

I wish that someone had told me sooner about the wonderful blessing of joining a support group of adoptive moms!

I AM SO THANKFUL THAT SOMEONE ...

I am so thankful that someone took the time to educate us about the ins and outs of adoption prior to taking that first step.

I am so thankful that someone sat beside me and cried with me when our adoption plans fell through.

I am so thankful that someone prayed with us and gave to us to make our adoption dreams a reality.

I am so thankful that Someone had a better and perfect plan for our lives as parents than we could ever have imagined!