The Wonder called Ian

It is pretty funny how life has changed so quickly for us. We waited and wanted this day for so long and to actually be living in it has required some time for reflecting. I think back to all of those feelings that we had as we made this decision to adopt a child from a country somewhere thousands of miles away. As we prepared homestudies and dossiers; as we were formally accepted by Gladney to adopt. I think about the waits, often long and uncertain. And about the families with whom we formed forever bonds as we shared in the anxiety and heartache of not knowing or holding our children. I remember "the call" from Natalie and how it stopped my world and my heart. How my mind would not wrap around the notion that I had a son in this world who would be mine forever. Then we waited for court and travel dates. Then the day, when I held him in my arms for the first time. The way my whole body knew right away that he belonged to me. All of the firsts together as a family and seeing the adoration in Cortney's eyes for this little being that God led us to. Nothing could prepare us for what we saw while in Ethiopia. The sweet children young and old who may never know the love and security that Ian will never live without. So many times I wanted to run back and get in the car because their situation was too much for me, a 25 year old adult woman, to accept. I hurt for them because we could not save them all. They looked at us with innocent eyes and faces and I knew that they had to understand something that I couldn't; that they may never know a real family.

I have added some pics below of my beautiful, astonishing, amazing, intelligent...son! (We have become "those people" who cannot socialize because all we talk about is our child!!) He continues to steal my heart with every smile. I can't imagine how we ever lived a moment without him. He is truly a gift from God.