7/25/09 Seminar

On Saturday Dan, Jake, Erin and I attended a seminar on international adoption. Jake's thoughts as we walked back to our car: "Ok, so we are adopting Kolya and Christina, who are not siblings, who have lived in an institution (orphange) all their lives, they have no idea what a family is or what parents do. Yet we are going to go tell them (through an interpretor) that we want to take them out of the only world they know, fly across the world to our home where they know no one, can speak to no one AND we want them to be happy about this!"

This is basically what we learned at the seminar - to look at the adoption from their side. Their world is very small and what we know of it is harsh but them it is their lives! Dan and I had already begun to see that international adoption is not just adding 2 kids, another Jake and Erin clone but for at least the first 6 months it will be extremely challenging. These kids will have to learn a new language, to trust exclusively strangers, to live in a foreign culture and to try to put behind them (actually it will be working through) the life they have now.

The seminar also taught us about so many possible health issues but mainly emotional issues that will come with the kids. The whole dynamics of our family will changed - Dan and I knew this but Jake and Erin are now aware of it also. I think the rose colored glasses are not only off but stomped on and thrown out.

This may all sound negative. The motto we are hearing is expect the worse, hope for the best. However God has shown us the path that He has for us and has promised never to leave us! What other path would we choose?!? Our eyes are opened wide, and we continue forward, knowing that we are in the palm of an all powerful God who only works good for His people. With great anticipation we look forward to Christina and Kolya joining our family!