Blessed in ways we would have never guessed

I have come to realize in the last few days how truly blessed we are, especially because of adopting our girls. I take for granted the incredible families that we have, until I hear stories of families who disown or no longer speak to family members because of their decision to adopt (especially transracially). I can't imagine how that feels because we have been so fully supported by our families that we couldn't ask for more. It's a blessing I don't realize, because it's always there. It's a blessing we are so thankful for and don't ever want to take for granted.

But, the most incredible blessing is the people we've met. Because of the road that we have chosed to travel, we have been introduced and have come to meet people I know we would not have otherwise met. And, each one of those people are part of who we are now, and the journey that we have taken to become a family. I think of how different our lives would be without the friendships and commonality and I don't want to imagine that life. Here's an example of what I mean: We went to dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant in the cities that we go to 6 or 7 times a year. The same young Ethiopian woman is usually working and has become a familiar acquaintance to us. She has watched Makenna grow up and has always been incredibly sweet to us. When she found out that we were travelling this week, she instantly offered to give us her parents ph # in ET so that we could call them if we needed anything. She said they would take us around, pick us up from the airport, help us, etc if we just called them. It was an incredibly kind offer, and we were taken aback. This young woman was willing to put this offer on the table, not because of us, but because of Makenna and Abaynesh. They are Ethiopian, so they are family to her. She never flinched. Incredible

Another standout experience for us is having been welcomed into a family of Ethiopian and Eritrean people wholeheartedly. We met them last summer just briefly, and then earlier this summer. We invited them to our house for dinner, and 15 family members drove 1 1/2 hours to our house to come and spend time with us. We were blown away! At one point I walked into my living room, full of beautiful people, and heard 3 different languages being spoken. And, it was funny, because it didn't seem strange to me--I felt so happy and really peaceful. This family has a lot in common with us, so we truly are like family. They adore Makenna and can't wait to meet Abaynesh. They want to have us over when we all get home. Would we have met and become the friends we are now? Maybe, but I doubt it.

It is strange to have gained so much, when already adoption is a selfish act. We just wanted to be parents, and knew that there were kids who needed to be loved. Why have we been blessed by so many? How did we get so lucky? I just hope that I can give back to my kiddos in a way similar to the ways that we have been blessed. I want them to grow with an appreciation for the people who love them unconditionally, and for the people who want them to have pride and knowledge of who they are and where they come from. And, I can't wait to continue watching those two worlds mold into one! It's already happening in our family.