Britton's Adoption Journey: November 2009

One year ago today, we had the honor of taking you away from a life lived in an orphanage, to a life lived in a family ... our family. One year ago today, I rocked you to sleep for the first time. One year ago today, I placed you in a bed right next to me. One year ago today, I woke up through the night to check on you and make sure you were okay. One year ago today, you officially became ours.

One year ago, you were drinking formula from a bottle and eating just bread and spaghetti. Today you drink from sippy cups filled with milk, juice and water and feast on pizza and M&M's. One year ago today, you only knew children who, just like you, were left alone. Today you know the love of two sisters and one brother. One year ago today, your needs had only been met by people getting paid to respond to them (and a blessed few who I believe truly loved you). Today you get your deepest needs met by parents who love, cherish and adore you. One year ago today you were quiet, lethargic, and sad. Today you love to talk and laugh (and make others laugh) and sing and dance and be the center of attention.

We've had quite the year ! You've grown so much. You've changed so much. You've learned more than I have in the last 10 years combined, I'm sure. We've learned so much about each other. We've learned how to comfort you. You've learned how to let us love you. We've had sleepless nights, and tear-filled days. You've learned to talk, and I'm learning to listen. You've learned to walk, and I'm learning to keep up. You learned to sleep securely all the night through ...huge ! You've come to realize that when I leave, I WILL BE BACK. You've come to realize that babysitters and Sunday School are fun, and that I WILL BE BACK.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of the life you had. Not a day goes by that I don't think of your birth Mom and what she sacrificed for you. Not a day goes by that I am in awe of you and the difference you have made in our life. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for his work in your life - for His trusting us with your life.

I pray you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father. I pray you grow to know the fullness of your adoption not in us as sinful broken parents ... but in the One who created you, who knit you together in your mother's womb, who hems you in, who graciously and sovereignly placed you in our family.

Ephesians 1:3-8

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

One year ago today, you changed our lives ... you changed my life. I will never be the same. Some may say that you are lucky or blessed to have been brought into a family. Maybe. I know for sure though, that I am blessed that you are in our family. You are a part of me. I loved you before I met you. My life is better because you are in it. My heart is fuller because it loves you. To say that I'm glad we "gotcha" wouldn't even describe it. I'm so excited to see what year two, three, four, etc.... will bring ! I love you, my son.

One year ago today ....