I tell you because....

There are times in the world of blog where I have followed a family's journey throughout the first stages of their adoption. As they trudge through the mountains of paperwork, I am there. Once the homestudy is finished, I breathe a sigh of relief too. When they receive an unexpected delay, I mourn with them. Upon accepting a referral, I rejoice along side. Through the highs and the lows of the tedious process, I watch, learn, take it all in. When it's time to finally travel, my heart flutters for them. It's like we're going on an airplane!

Then, sometimes, something happens. ((Poof!)) They've vanished.

Sure they may come back from their trip to show pictures of their new little cutie pie, say that he doesn't like green beans, or how crazy he is about his new bed, or they went to the zoo and weren't those hippos somethin else?, or that he took his 10,000 vaccination shots like a pro. And it leaves me wanting. More.

I want to say, but wait! What happened to us going through this together? You opened up your whole life throughout the preliminary process and now that the show is ON, you're gone! Hello? Anyone? Are you there? Tap, tap, tap? You can't leave me hanging like this!

My inquiring mind is curious. I want to know, how did it feel when you first saw them? After that when they returned home with you? How about when life is back to "normal" and the fanfare is finished and it is quiet and you're left alone with the daily grind to love on children you hardly know who don't speak your language or smell like you or like your food? What is that like? Is it what you expected? Different? Easy? If so, how? Challenging? If so, how? Are you regretful that you spent your life savings to bring home a child who has turned your world upside down? Seriously, there is much to ponder. This is a complex, complex situation you've embarked upon.

Teach me! I will learn!

That's what I would like to say to them. I do understand why they don't always choose to share.

It can be rough stuff. Maybe they are surprised, taken aback, by their own emotions when they don't find it all just 100% precious and pure. There might be dark days, wishing to turn back the clock to before. Or perhaps things are happening so effortlessly, flawlessly, there is nothing much to say. But, I still always, always wonder.

This is why I'm telling you the truth about my experience, which may be entirely unique, or just like yours was or will be.

I'm going to continue to pound it out on my keyboard, as openly as I can exactly as I have from the beginning. It surely won't always be pretty, but I promise to be real.

I'll do it for me, and for you.

In case you care to know ☺