Thankfulness...

Well. it is November...and everywhere you look, people are sharing the things they are Thankful for-and I LOVE seeing it. But November is also National Adoption awarness month and I wanted to share a few things we are Thankful for as a family. I am Thankful for closed doors. I am thankful that God told me, "NO, You aren't ready yet" when I wanted SO much for Him to say, "Yes". I am thankful that He has taught me, my husband, and my girls that there is a broken world out there that is bigger and more complicated than we could have ever imagined. I am Thankful that we have learned to never take our children for granted. I am Thankful that we have learned that they can be taken from us at any moment, so we should love while we can and as strongly as we can. I am Thankful that God has shown us that it IS possible to love those who hurt you, and that healing IS not only possible, but it is beautiful. I am Thankful for new friends and new family thst I would not have had without this frustrating road of adoption. I am Thankful for the chance to mentor and guide others who are considering the path. I am BEYOND Thankful that God allowed our family to be a stepping stone for some amazing kiddos that have beat the odds and are currently living out God's plans for their lives. And Thankful isn't a strong enough word to describe how I feel about our girls. Adoption is such a beautiful thing... but not in the fairy tale way that people imagine. Adoption is about SO much more than adding a new family member. It is about love, desire, heartache, and growth. For us, it has been about learning that we are just a tiny blip on this big 'ol earth. It is very humbling to realize we have been chosen by God to care for our precious daughters, and for that, we will forever be THANKFUL:)