Adoption 101

My education in adoption has been unconventional, I think. No books can prepare you for the things you'll face, the feelings you'll go through. No required educational seminars can prepare you for the process of adoption. A process which is firmly set in jello.

Most of you know of our journey to adopt Emmett - our son waiting for us in South Korea. We've never met Emmett. All we know of Emmett is from a 5 page report we received when South Korea matched us with him. He isn't called Emmett in South Korea, rather he's called by his Korean name (duh - that makes sense). He likes to play and run and jump (don't know many 2+ yr olds who like that, do you?). This is what I know of my 2yr and 10 month old son. There are chapters of his life I will never know. Years of his development which will forever be a mystery to me. And yet, God has given me such a peace with all that is happening. God has proven over and over that Emmett is our son - not just our son - but the son God chose for us. How cool is that??

Today we worked on getting Emmett's room finally in order. There's still work to be done (finish installing that darn door!). But his bed is made, his toys in line, his clothes folded and put away. This makes it real - I'm bringing home a son. Spending all this time in his room today - I remembered several years ago talking to a woman about adoption. I remember her saying "I could never love a child that wasn't mine". And I remember my shock at hearing that. I have to praise her for her honesty, though. Maybe she just knew it wasn't for her. Maybe it wasn't the right time to talk about adoption for her. Now, years later as I face the onset of my own experience with adoption, her words came back to me. I have no high hopes that at our first meeting I will fall madly in love with Emmett. I have no aspirations for a love-at-first-site, slow motion cheesy music moment that some Lifetime Movie would try to depict. But I do love Emmett, even now - having only his picture to look at. Only knowing that he likes to play. I can feel my heart loving, worrying over, and looking out for, him. I'm sure this is God's education in adoption. God's way of teaching me to love someone I so barely know. And who better to teach this life-long class? (wow- life long - *gasp*)

I suppose I just wish for a syllabus!

That's all the ramblings for now...