National Adoption Month!

Have you ever celebrated adoption? 

Through the years I have observed several families be transformed by adoption.  I have seen their minds, hearts, lives, marriages, & families embrace the life adoption offers.

I still need to ask myself, 'Have I ever truly celebrated?  Have I honored adoption in a way that marks it as special?  Have I allowed the spirit of adoption to transform me?'

As my husband and I have started our walk through the adoption process, I have realized that I have much to learn about how I represent adoption & celebrate it with others.  One way that we can honor all those involved in creating a forever family is to use appropriate terms when talking about adoption issues.

I always want to honor my children's birth parents and using the terms birth mother & birth father instead of 'real' honors the relationship that they will always have with my children - this is true even if the birth parents are no longer living or we do not know who they are.  I desire to celebrate my children's beginnings!

Another way that I can honor our children & their journey through adoption is to honor their birth country.  Haiti is rich in history, art, & culture.  The people are hard working, generous, & they have persevered through many trials. 

During my first trip to Haiti, back in the summer of 1996, I fell in love.  I remember looking out the airplane window as we made our approach into Port au Prince.  WOW!  In that moment I felt at home.  Haiti and its' people are a treasure that the Lord has given to us.  When I contemplate the magnitude of this gift, I can't help but to celebrate!

How will you honor & celebrate adoption this month???