Treasure in the Brokenness

Yesterday marked four months.  Four months since we brought Toby home to America.  We've been told many times by other adoptive families that the four month mark is often an important turning point in the adapting process.  It usually means the end of the "honeymoon period" - if there ever was one!  It means reaching a new normal.  We've looked forward to reaching the four month marker! Well....the transitioning process continues.  There has definitely been progress made in these past months, but often it is more like taking two steps forward and three steps back.  The days when we think, "Yes!  We are getting this!  He is really becoming part of the family!"  are often followed by days when we wonder how long it will be until things feel normal again. But overall, Toby is doing really well.  His English is exploding! He is responding to our love and attention and a family environment.  He still clings hard to many of the s...

One week ago we celebrated the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ!  It has taken me just about this entire week to process all that God did on that wonderful weekend.  I'm praying that by sharing this part of our story, someone will be encouraged. I've learned that as an adoptive mom, it is hard to know what to share with others and what information to keep to ourselves as we figure out how to adjust with this new person in our family.  We knew that adoption would not be easy.  We knew there would be challenges.  We read books to prepare ourselves - we talked to other adoptive families.  We thought we knew. But we didn't.  Not truly.  We didn't know how hard it would be.  I feel guilty even writing those words, because we have seen so many other wonderful families take on children with MUCH more severe needs (medical, emotional, mental) than we've had to handle with our Toby.  And so many of them do it with such utter grace and lo...