Today

Today we took an important step in our adoption journey. The parental rights were terminated for our youngest child. While we are rejoicing and know that this is the next step in being able to adopt her, the flip-side of what it really means is not lost on me. What it really means is that another mother lost this little girl forever today. For the second time. I now have two of her precious gems in my care. While she is not deserving of seeing their beautiful smiles every morning or hearing their sweet little chatter at the dinner table, I am still grateful to her for the gifts that she has given me, whether willingly or by default. And so, to this biological mom, I promise to love them like crazy in her stead. I promise to do the best I can to give them a strong faith. I promise to teach them to be women and mothers. I promise to show them that hard work and integrity matter, and that valuing their own bodies is precious. I promise to show them through doing that charity and serving our neighbors is what we are called to do. I promise to paint their nails, take them shopping, and bake chocolate chip cookies with them. I promise to nurture their hurt feelings when friends are mean and to lay down the law when they test the limits of our home. I promise to try to give them all the things that she could not. And I promise to pray for her. I pray that she finds God. I pray that her life finds a path that doesn't lead to self-destruction. I pray that she finds peace with what has happened to her children, because they are going to be okay. Today was special. But is was also hard. While my heart is filled with joy and love for these children, I can't help but think of how broken their biological mother's heart must be. I pray she finds the healing Love that waits for her in Christ. Moving forward, we are grateful for today. We are grateful that it means we will get lots more todays with our precious girl. She is priceless. Beautiful. A gift.