Adoption Day Approaches
We have an upcoming visit to the courthouse scheduled. The day has been taken off; celebrations have been planned. Excitement is rising.
There is nothing that can match the day you meet your child. A day calmer and more profound than the day you see their picture for the first time, and yet, so exciting, so crazy. However, Adoption Day comes close.
As we've announced it and told people, this is the day that we will officially be a family, so many people say, but you have been since May. Which is true, and yet... Well, adoption has it's hoops, and you jump and you jump. This is the day you stop jumping. It's like a wedding day. Sure you were a couple and you loved, supported, and cherished each other, but then you promise to, in front of people, forever. I'm not overly religious, but at our wedding they said, "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." And that is what Adoption Day means to me as well. You can say, "they wouldn't have. Nothing would happen. It was always going to be this way." But waiting for adoption doesn't make that as convincing. On Adoption Day, there will be no more thinking about what the next hoop is. The next hoop is just life. A mighty big hoop.
As for me on my wedding day, our philosopher's name and family will grow that day. His life will gain a little more stability, though he may not understand it. We do, however. I hope someday, maybe by the time he's 80, he'll look back on this day and smile. Even if it's only to think, "how could life throw me into this crazy family?"
Talk about crazy, I've been thinking about the past year for a few weeks now. Our agency had it's yearly get together in October. A noisy fun affair with parents just starting out, parents waiting whose little ones will be there next year, and three of the four new arrivals. Such a stark contrast to the quiet affair last year. Last year we were all waiting. At different points in the process. A couple of us feeling so close, and yet so far away.
If I close my eyes, I can remember how I felt that day. I can't, however, match it to the person who lives in my skin today. I can't match the two of us driving down to that meeting with the three that drove this time, even though it was the same car and location.
I keep using the word Epic. It's been an epic year to be sure. Our little philosopher has grown so much in the few short months he's been home. Learned so much. A whole different kid.
Many international programs the adoption takes place in the child's country of birth. Then they fly home, cross a line on the floor and become US citizens. Our program is not like that. I'm biased, and I can appreciate the ease of the other way, but the timing of this adoption day could not be better for us. After months of gaining ground, trust, and understanding, gaining our footing again, the last few weeks have seen it all come together. Which is nowhere near being whatever it is we will be as we go along, but it is a place where we can stop and think, yes, we are a family.
I'm ready to make it official and celebrate like the crazy family we are.