Happy Birthday Sweet Girl
Today is our daughter's 2nd birthday.
With that comes so much heartache and happiness all wrapped into one. In orphanages birthdays come and go with no celebration or acknowledgement. In fact, many of these children don't even know when their actual birth date is, which is a hard reality for both the child and the parent. Because there are so many children, caregivers are often significantly outnumbered, which means there is never enough attention to go around.
It breaks my heart to think today will just be another day for her.
She's not being doted on or dressed in bows and ruffles.
She's not being told she's beautiful or loved.
She's not eating her favorite foods or smashing a cake decorated just for her.
She's not spending the day celebrating her life surrounded by people who love her.
She's not getting rocked to sleep or snuggled when she's sad.
Instead she's sitting in an orphanage, all the way around the world, without us.
Another day without a family.
Another day without knowing her worth.
Another day without knowing her beauty.
Waiting to adopt is a marathon -- a goal at the end of the race that you know will be worth every painful moment -- but man does it take endurance to get there. For me, the hardest part of waiting is keeping my thoughts in the present and not letting myself get too far ahead. In life I want to savor every moment -- the sound of laughter, the smiles on my boys' faces, new experiences, and the list goes on. But when part of your family is 7,000 miles away, you find it easy to wish the days away to get closer to being together.
With that comes so much heartache and happiness all wrapped into one. In orphanages birthdays come and go with no celebration or acknowledgement. In fact, many of these children don't even know when their actual birth date is, which is a hard reality for both the child and the parent. Because there are so many children, caregivers are often significantly outnumbered, which means there is never enough attention to go around.
It breaks my heart to think today will just be another day for her.
She's not being doted on or dressed in bows and ruffles.
She's not being told she's beautiful or loved.
She's not eating her favorite foods or smashing a cake decorated just for her.
She's not spending the day celebrating her life surrounded by people who love her.
She's not getting rocked to sleep or snuggled when she's sad.
Instead she's sitting in an orphanage, all the way around the world, without us.
Another day without a family.
Another day without knowing her worth.
Another day without knowing her beauty.
Waiting to adopt is a marathon -- a goal at the end of the race that you know will be worth every painful moment -- but man does it take endurance to get there. For me, the hardest part of waiting is keeping my thoughts in the present and not letting myself get too far ahead. In life I want to savor every moment -- the sound of laughter, the smiles on my boys' faces, new experiences, and the list goes on. But when part of your family is 7,000 miles away, you find it easy to wish the days away to get closer to being together.
So the battle lies in staying present.
In reminding myself that God's love and protection is better than anything I could offer.
In rejoicing for the beauty right in front of me, and not letting the joy in those days slip by.
One day at a time.
Only with Jesus.
Happy Birthday, Olivia! We love you so much and can't wait to have you home <3
One day at a time.
Only with Jesus.
Happy Birthday, Olivia! We love you so much and can't wait to have you home <3
In case you need a little more understanding: Dear Friends of Waiting Adoptive Moms