Why We Blog

I've been thinking about this one for awhile:  why do we blog and continue to blog?  When we started up the blog it was to 1) share our adoption journey on the way to adopting Kayleigh and Michael with our family, friends and supporters, and 2) to create a journal or diary of the experience so we would remember it long after it was done and have a record of our experience to share with the kids so they knew what it was like on our end of it. 

However, most blogs on adoptions usually end when the adoption has been finalized and the kids are home.  For us we view the finalization of the adoption as "the end of the beginning".  I had likened this before to Dylan and I recently earning our black belts in martial arts.  We've chugged along for 4+ years working through the colored belt ranks, did the year of candidacy for black belt and tested and earned our black belts.  In that process as you're putting on that black belt, you realize that as much as you think you've learned over that 4+ years, that there is so much more to you that you have yet to learn, so much more to martial arts that you have yet to learn, and that you really have only begun the journey as a true student of martial arts and life.

The same is true of adoption.  For us, our walk to adopt began a long time ago, we found the kids God intended for us, went through all the paperwork and preparation, had our 47 day Ukranian adventure.  But for Kayleigh and Michael and our newly enlarged nuclear family, our journey has really only begun.  Our family is different than it now was.  We have a new son and daughter, brother and sister.  This is a whole new family and world for them, a whole new life.  For a family adopting this is really the beginning!  We have always felt it would be important to share our journey so that other families who are considering adopting would get a look inside and that may help in their own adoption. 

So far our time back in the states has gone great, this coming Monday will mark 2 months since our return.  We know things will come up as each day passes but so far have been in awe of God's work in Kayleigh and Michaels life, and that of our family.  We will continue to share all of the great days, and the problem ones that will undoubtedly come (as will happen with teenagers....).  We love to hear all the comments and feedback from our readers, we glad you enjoy the blog and are excited to share!