A HUSBANDS/FATHERS PERSPECTIVE

ADOPTION WAS SOMETHING VERY FAMALIER TO ME, THAT IS DOMESTIC ADOPTION. JODY AND I HAVE ADOPTED FOUR CHILDREN THRU THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND THEY ARE THE APPLES OF MY EYE, BUT WHEN THE SUBJECT OF INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION CAME UP I WAS VERY UNSURE OF THE WHOLE IDEA. WHAT STARTED OUT AS AN IDEA WITH JODY TURNED INTO SERIOUSLY LOOKING INTO THIS AS A WAY TO ADD TO OUR FAMILY. AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND SHOWING ME HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS OF CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD SHE FINALLY MADE ME REALIZE THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING I REALLY WANTED TO DO. THRU HER SEARCHES SHE FOUND REECE'S RAINBOW AND ALL OF THE CHILDREN WAITING FOR FAMALIES AND THEN CAME THE TIME TO CHOOSE A CHILD AND MAKE AN OFFICIAL COMMITMENT TO BRING THIS CHILD HOME TO BE PART OF OUR FOREVER FAMILY. WE CHOSE A VERY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL WITH DS WHO WAS IN A BABY HOUSE IN EUROPE. THE PAPERWORK WAS STARTED AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND THANK GOD FOR JODY WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO GET IT ALL COMPLETE AND IN ORDER WE WERE FINALLY READY TO SUBMIT IT TO THE OFFICIALS OF OUR CHILD'S COUNTRY. AFTER THE PAPERWORK WAS SENT OFF I STILL WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO TRAVELING TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR TWO WEEKS AND LEAVING OUR OTHER CHILDREN AT HOME, BUT WHEN WE HAD A CONFIRMED TRAVEL DATE ALL FEARS AND DOUBTS DISAPPEARED, THIS WAS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN. ONCE WE GOT TO MEET OUR BELLA AND I GOT TO HOLD HER FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT MADE ALL THE WORK AND WAITING WORTH WHILE. SHE IS VERY ADJUSTED TO OUR FAMILY NOW AND TO WALK IN THE DOOR AFTER WORK AND SEE THE SMILE ON HER BEAUTIFUL FACE , MY HEART JUST MELTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO EACH NEW DAY WITH ALL THE KIDDOS AND THE ADVENTURES THEY BRING TO MY LIFE, AND IF YOU ASK IF I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER , MY REPLY WOULD BE YES IN A HEART BEAT. I LOVE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WITH ALL MY HEART AND THEY ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS AND SPECIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO ME. AS FAR AS ADOPTION ,EITHER DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL THING THAT CAN HAPPEN FOR FAMALIES AND I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO ADOPT OUR CHILDREN.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT A BIG PART OF MY DECISION TO ADOPT INTERNATIONALLY WAS BECAUSE OF THE URBAN'S ADOPTION OF BABY AVA AND JOHN'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR HER FOR WHO SHE IS NOT FOR WHAT SHE CAN OR CANNOT DO. I STILL VISIT THE URBAN'S BLOG EVERY DAY TO WATCH AVA'S PROGRESS AND HOW SHE BLOSSOMS ALL THE TIME.