Beauty from ashes...

I have some friends that only paint adoption with puppies and rainbows, and I have some friends that only share the ugly truths for the purpose of education... {I feel like I've been that girl lately because we happen to be in a tough stage.} 

It's both.

It is gritty and tough, no doubt. At the same time... there is something beautiful about two little girls born to different mothers on opposite sides of the world choosing to be sisters. Not just living in the same space parented by the same adults, but choosing to love unconditionally, choosing to share life and hearts and germs and favorite things.

While it could be sad, there is something precious about seeing a 7-year-old boy enjoy his first Thanksgiving dinner. (Did he ever...)

Our kids used to fight over sitting in this one particular seat at the dinner table- for no logical reason- so we made every seat have a purpose and they rotate clockwise every night. (is that normal? does that sort of silliness happen in your house?? can other families just sit down and eat??) One of them is the Prayer Seat; whoever is in that seat blesses our dinner. Roman was fascinated at first, trying to figure it all out.

For one, why are we closing our eyes when I'm hungry and there is food in front of me? Two, who in the world are they talking to??

He still doesn't actually have the answers, but he loves the Prayer Seat regardless.
For weeks, when his turn came around, I would say something simple and he would repeat me. This week, he said No help please. And then he went down the list of all the things he was thankful for: Thank you so much my Mama, my Baba, my brudda, my sistahs, my bed, my food, professional football, college football, Roman's football and the men (Amen). 

He really is that grateful for all these things he didn't have before. And that's beautiful.

Don't get me wrong, he is already spoiled rotten. It was an accident, I swear. At first, we would let him pick out things here and there because the boy had NOTHING that belonged to him. Not a lot of things, just a little. Then he caught the allowance bug, but as sure as he had a buck or two in his "bank", he needed to buy something. We don't allow access to their banks after Thanksgiving (they can earn, but not spend- no need) and now he pouts that he can't buy what he wants at the store. But... Christmas is a'comin and he has NO IDEA.

We have been trying to explain Christmas, both in the good Christian way and also in the very realistic "You are about to get a crap-ton of presents." way.  It is his first Christmas in a sense and it's all.so.magical.

We put up the trees together, but I decorated the rest of the house Monday while they were at school. His face LIT UP when he saw. He hugged my neck and whispered, "Thank you for my beautiful home.  Roman's house so pretty." no less than 12 times.


That's adoption, too.

I love that Brynn saved her allowance for her school's angel tree.  I love that Layla is making homemade gifts for each sibling, just because. I love that Cale wants to buy Pokemon cards for his sister (and LOVE that he was actually excited to draw her name),  I love that Roman squeals with delight when he finds Carly (our elf)- who is not naughty because she's tired, but she moves around while they're at school. I love that Anna Gray tattles on herself with a smile. That's not adoption, that's just sweet kids.

I love every inch of them. It's always loud, it's always busy, it's always messy. Sometimes it's sad and painful and overwhelmingly hard. Sometimes it's precious and considerate and overwhelmingly easy.

  I love this bunch no matter how they got here.