Ana Grace Feven Laubach...
And I was struck. Suddenly, drop you to your knees, struck, by the reality of her.
Of her life.
Of how my life has changed because of her-for the better.
How my heart has been changed-for the better, through this little life.
My mind played back the first time I saw her:
The nanny walked into the room with her and announced her Ethiopian name: Feven. It was a moment I've had only 3 other times. The mama-laying-her-eyes-on-her-child, for the first time, moment. She was a wonder. She laughed a "what took you so long" giggle? I truly thought my heart was going to burst, or I was going to explode, drop to knees, something..because how can a heart contain this joy, this wonder? I watched as she wiggled her little body across the carpet of the guest room in army crawl fashion.
I've seen the awe of the ocean in Delaware. I've gazed over Addis Ababa from Entoto Mountain.. I stood in Antigua, Gautemala, staring at a volcano.
But this-this little girl-given to love-was a wonder above all these.
When someone asks me, "Is adoption hard?" It's difficult to give a straightforward answer. Ask any adoptive mama. Because yes, it.is.hard. Some moments excruciatingly hard. But there are moments of pure joy at the wonder of it all.
Motherhood-a calling. Through adoption or biologically.
When we decided that we would adopt two babies, ages 0-12 months, at the same time, I was downright scared. It was not in my plan. One child, yes. And then another should God allow. But two at the same time, never ever was I a mama who thought it would be "cool" to have twins. At least I don't recall that now, cause well, living in reality sort of helps you to forget all the crazy, rainbows and unicorns thoughts you had.
So very thankful God saw fit to allow Jim and I to have 4 precious children. So very thankful He saw fit to have me home with them. It's been SO much harder than I expected. Being a wife and a mom is definitely a full-time job. Praising him for these lives.
