9 Years Old

Jordany's 9th birthday is today! He's been so excited counting down the days, and it's finally here! I love seeing the excitement in his eyes and smile on his face. Birthdays are fun for kids and for adults too...maybe some ages are more fun than others.

I've been reflecting on Jordany and his homecoming 5 years ago. It really is a miracle that we were finally able to go get him after waiting three years. He's such a special joy in our family.

I love seeing the older kids posting pictures and birthday wishes for him on Instagram. Seeing the responses from others who are congratulating him reminds me of when we all walked down the hall of the Nashville airport into a crowd of loved ones celebrating Jordany. That was some amazing kind of love.

Also as I look at comments, I think back on all of those friends and family that made the reality of Jordany's adoption fulfilled... all of the monetary donations, the encouragement, the gifts, the love...That time was filled with a wonderful sense of community...all working toward a goal--one of the biggest ever--bringing a child home.

Adoption isn't for everyone. I don't think we, as a family, even realized that it was "for us" until Jordany was physically home. The amount of love that surrounded us as we worked toward bringing Jordany home was palpable...and those in our number who thought adoption wasn't for them, the reverse is actually the truth.

Everyone who gathered around us became part of the adoption, and because of that love, each woman, man, husband, wife, child, daughter, son, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, friend represent people who adoption actually is "for".

Like the saying goes, "It takes a Village." It does. We needed our village, and they rose to the occasion.

Now, because of all the gifts of grace and love, we have our 5th child! I continue to be amazed at our journey, and it is a journey.

What I'm especially thankful for today, is the celebration of Jordany's birth into this world on March 26, 2010. Amazing!