Home for Christmas

This is an article I have been looking forward to writing for a very long time. As I type this, I am sitting in an apartment in Bogotá, Colombia, with my husband and our two sons, whom we have just adopted! We have been on the adoption journey, in general, for six years, and we have been pursuing the adoption of Carlos and Brandon, specifically, for a little over a year. It’s hard to believe that it is actually a reality now.

Describing our first in-person encounter with Carlos and Brandon is difficult to do. For 13 months we’ve been reading about them and staring at pictures of them. We did get to Skype with them three times before we came to Colombia, which was a lot of fun and was very helpful in preparing all of us to meet face-to-face. At the same time, however, there is no way to be fully prepared for this first interaction.

As Kevin and I were checking in and waiting at the front desk of the building where we were going to meet the boys, we glanced around the lobby area at all the different people. And then we caught a glimpse of Carlos and Brandon walking through the lobby with two staff members. Our eyes met for a split second; there was recognition; but then I looked away, because I knew we weren’t supposed to see each other yet. It was like a wedding day–the bride and groom not wanting to see each other until the ceremony! The security guard saw what happened and started laughing at us.

We were then taken to a small room that had been decorated with balloons and “It’s a Boy!” signs, and after a little while, the boys were brought to us! The joy I felt when I saw them was absolutely comparable to the joy I felt when each of my three biological babies were given to me. There was immediate connection and immense love.

By the time you read this, Carlos and Brandon will be home. It is a home that they have wished for and one that we have been preparing to share with them for quite some time. We pray that many, many good memories are made in this home together. Among the earliest of these memories will be our first Christmas all together. I cannot think of abetter gift to receive!

Have you and your family ever considered adoption? No, it is not for everyone. But if your heart stirs even a little bit when you read my story or other adoption stories, I urge you to take the next step in obtaining information about the process. There are many different avenues that can be taken, and as you research, you will find what works best for your family. The process is not for the faint of heart, for sure, as it lends itself to lots of uncertainty, an indefinite amount of time, mounds of tedious paperwork, and usually a fair amount of setbacks. Is it laborious and challenging? Definitely. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

I am praying that many more children will be home for Christmas this time next year. Will it be in your home?