Adoptive Parent Panel

Paul:
Monday we attended a workshop and the panel of speakers had 4 new parents who adopted and one gentleman whose adoption fell through (a very sad story). The great thing was that all these couples, who held babies in their arms, previously had the same struggles that Elisabeth and I deal with. They had moments of doubt, some lost hope, and yet in the end they became parents by receiving a gift they had waited so long for. Their blessing had come and their suffering ended. I was filled with excitement while at the same time Elisabeth was filled with fear and trepidation (this is consistent with all our meetings, we leave on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum). We ask for your continued prayers as we struggle through this time of waiting.

Elisabeth:
I asked Paul to write the above to let everyone know about the panel. I will just add that the reason for my fear is the reality of the fact that it could still be 3 years before we are so blessed with a child. This reality made me feel like we jumped the gun on registering, starting this site, sharing the fact we are adopting, etc. The other thing is that 3 of the 4 couples found out about their babies just days before they brought them home, again to reiterate that we really could get the call at any time. The unpredictability of adoption is terrifying!

i walked the line

Tonight, I did it. With "gun" in hand and friend at my side...i walked the aisles of Babies R Us. Paul and I have gone back and forth about the registry. Since we don't or won't know what we will need and when we will need it....it took a long time to decide...it is okay...we WILL have a baby!

We tried to do Babies R Us once before but failed miserably. After that attempt we perused the internet and established the first inklings of a registry. Tonight (bru take 2) has been on the calendar for weeks. With Paul out of town it was the perfect time for a girls night. It was wonderful to have a supportive, loving friend to lead me in to this vast abyss of crazy baby world and help me know what I will need and not need. Jen is so practical that Paul put his trust in her as a stand in. She did great and when she called later to make sure she wasn't too practical, I assured her that I still registered for a few things I wanted (over needing). :)

There is certainly no manual on how to do this the adoption way...but, it is a worry out of the way so that when the time comes - we can expend all our energy fussing over the gift that God has in store.

I don't want to think about it...I just want a baby!

I want to be a mommy! With all the excitement of the homestudy now over - and just waiting to start the waiting, the ebb has gone out and I feel it may be forever until we have a child. Of course the tide will come in again and I will freak out that it could be any day now.

One of my buds from the www is currently visiting her soon-to-be son in another country. The pictures of her and her husband holding their baby...well, it makes me wistful. So close, but yet, so far. As I type this a song on the radio is singing "hold on."