Adoption Awareness

November is National Adoption Awareness Month.

I am so grateful that we live in a time where adoption is mostly accepted and embraced.

 

We love to talk about adoption with our kids because it's one of the things that makes our family unique and fun. And different. Adoption isn't a better or worse way of having a family, it's just different.

Sometimes people are surprised at how open we are about adoption. But we don't want any mystery or shame surrounding how Sami and Lucy came to us. Their story is just as fun as any other birth story, just different. Before Jonathan and I were married, I attended a seminar on adoption at BYU and the case worker said that adopted children should be told often and at a young age about their adoption. Sami's case worker encouraged us to do the same. So we talk about adoption and what it means (keeping it age and circumstance appropriate, of course).

 And sometimes I am surprised at people's responses to our story.

The other day I was talking to a woman that I have known for a few years. She asked about the kids and we talked about Lucy's adoption for a minute, then she said, referring to Janie, "well, at least you have one of your own."

I was shocked. But when I looked at her I realized that she had no idea how offensive her comment was. But there was NO WAY I was just going to let that comment pass without saying something! I realized she must not have had any experience with adoption. So in my nicest voice, I explained that we love all our children the same. We treat them the same. They are all "our own."  

And that's the miracle of adoption.

And I know it's not just a "fluke" with Sami. Because it has happened with Lucy too.

And it's been so great to see is how all my girls' treat each other and love each other. Janie and Sami adore Lucy. They have not been one bit jealous of sharing my time with a "new baby", but share their love with her without reservation. And Lucy loves them too. I hope they will grow up being best friends.

And we will continue to teach them the blessing of family, however it comes. And they will always know that we think adoption is a beautiful thing.

 



Family Pictures 2012

Tonight Sami and Jonathan had the funniest conversation. Jonathan is working nights and while he was getting ready to leave, the girls were eating dinner and this conversation happened:

Sami:  I'm so sad.

J:  I'm so sad too, I don't want to leave and go to work.

Sami:  No, I'm sad there's no more french fries.

J:  Oh, I thought you were sad daddy was going to work.

Sami: Oh, that too.

Halloween 2012

This year for Halloween we had a little pumpkin, a princess, and a witch. 

Sami and Janie's preschool teacher has lots of Halloween costumes that she lets people borrow. We went over there and Janie fell in love with the "princess" outfit right away. And Sami didn't know what she wanted to be so Mrs. Carole asked if she wanted to be a witch like her. Sami was so excited but there wasn't another witch hat, only a wizard hat, but we still called her a witch because that's what she wanted to be.

I really wanted to have a family Halloween experience. It was tricky because our ward didn't have a trunk or treat and J had to work on Halloween night. So we went to my sister-in-law's ward trunk or treat with her family. It was so fun! So fun that I took the girls back on Halloween night for trick or treating with their cousins.

I think Halloween is so fun, except when it gets too scary. Some people try to scare little kids, and it really does scare my kids. But I love seeing all the little kids running around in costumes. I love all the chocolate. :) I love all the fun things about it. But I am ready to pack it all away the day after Halloween. We have already moved on to Thanksgiving. Except for two big bags of candy on the fridge.