Stifling "the talk"

Sometimes; people can be unintentionally cruel.

They can resonate a certain persona of "excitement" when you tell them your (to you) amazing news! Sometimes, they will even jump up and down with you, cry, and seem truly joyous....

Only to leave your presence and tell others how crazy they think you are....and how they are certain you are ruining your life, your kids lives, and the life of the child you plan to adopt.

Yup, we have gotten that....

BUT, we understand.

We understand that it is only natural for people in our lives who care about us to be concerned on a level that they may fear to express to us face to face....

Because as much as I would LOVE to say that us adopting should be no different than me being pregnant....the simple truth is....that it is different.

We aren't going to spend months picking out cute baby clothes, having baby showers, or watch my belly grow a perfect new life....

The REALITY is that we are going to spend months buried in paperwork, financially terrified, attending doctors appointments, being evaluated to make sure we aren't clinically insane, wait, wait and then wait some more, and then FINALLY make it onto a plane where we will then have to take multiple trips, attend court, and THEN by the grace of God we will be allowed to be the parents to our precious little girl.....but even then we will be consumed with doctors appointments, post institutionalized trauma, stress on our other children etc.... (truly the list could go on and on)....

Bottom line....

It IS different. And it would be foolish of me to sit here and pretend otherwise.

I say all of this because I want everyone to know that we understand you.

We ARE listening.

Your opinion DOES matter (to an extent)...

But we also want everyone to know that at the end of the day we go to sleep KNOWING that we are walking in the Lords will.

Your "joyful" fronts don't fool us....are you really happy for us?...sure, at least, you REALLY want to be....but we also know you are scared for us....we know you worry....we know you will try to trust us but will fall short sometimes....

And it's okay....

Just know that when you have those moments of doubt....remember, that we are trusting God.

The bible has already called us to care for orphans....so He HAS already called....that much is clear....now he just needs us to be his hands and feet...

We aren't perfect...we WILL stumble....

But we love you anyway....

So, do we really need to "stifle the talk"?

No.

We just need to support one another, be open and honest, and talk MORE....not less....