There are lots of good things - and lots of hard things - about adoption. But I think my favorite thing about it is how it brings "the village" together. Our Adoption Yard Sale Fundraiser has me feeling all the "feels". I've had it on my mind since last week. It's also brought back all the emotions and memories of our first adoption journey.
Selah and Judah's adoptions were 5 years ago, but there are super vivid memories and moments that are forever etched into my mind about their adoption journeys and the people who were a part of it. Those people are a part of our family's story... forever... because of the eternal impact they had on our family - people who got down in the trenches with us emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
I was admittedly anxious about our "village" when we began this journey because so much has changed since the first one. We are not at the same church, we are not in the same neighborhood, and COVID is "a thing" this time around. I wasn't sure how much "village" there would actually be, so I tried to prepare myself to ride the adoption roller coaster with just the four of us and our immediate families. However, as things have progressed with our journey, I realized I was wrong.
Adoption takes a village... it just does. There is 100% no getting around it or trying to ride it out on your own. The financial aspect is only a piece of it (granted, a very overwhelming piece at times). While we started preparing for the yard sale, I started questioning and worrying (I'm definitely one who has to renew my mind and focus daily to keep anxiety/worry in check)... would we have enough stuff to sell, would anybody show up, how would all the logistics work, what would I put all the stuff on in the driveway, and blah, blah, blah. Then, one of the miracles of adoption started to happen, and I had the greatest blessing and joy to watch it unfold before my eyes. The village started to form. People from church started bringing donated items for us to sell, friends from college reached out and donated literally boxes of items, our family let us borrow a truck and trailer to go pick up larger furniture donations from other family members, and we were able to borrow tables from church too. While we started setting things up on Friday, neighbors started bringing donations as well. Some of the images that will forever be etched onto my mind from this adoption journey so far include:
- One of our neighbors with his little girl walking up the sidewalk with a heavy headboard and other items for us to sell. They made several trips back and forth from their house to ours with more things.
- A friend from college sending us pictures of boxes piled high beside her front door ready for us to come pickup. Her family was also a part of Selah and Judah's adoptions, which just made it even more special for us.
- Our next door neighbors helping us so much with the kids and donating beautiful furniture pieces for us to sell.
- People driving from 40 minutes away to come to the sale because they saw it on Facebook and had been touched by adoption - several shared their stories and were adoptees or had adopted family members.
- Our parents sacrificially donating soooo much of their things and time.
It has been overwhelming (in the best way) to process it all. God is so faithful - I just can't even put into words. And while the donated items and all those physical tangible things above were awesome and such a financial blessing, the bigger gift was the encouragement that it was to us. Adoption is emotional, and there have been some gut-wrenching decisions made. The waiting is HARD. But seeing the village come together, it just does something... it gets me fired up about how God is moving and working. It makes it real somehow that I'm going to be a mommy again! Yes, I'm a little overwhelmed with all the "stuff" right now and am definitely scatter-brained, BUT I also have so much joy and peace because I know God is the one holding the pen and writing this story. He has surrounded us with a village, when I didn't think we'd have one. I cannot wait to see what He writes next!!!
