Happy 4th Birthday Jordan!

On days like today - my youngest son's 4th birthday - I often think of his birth mother and how she must be feeling today. Our greatest blessings, our children, came at the intense loss and sacrifice of others. Adoption has been a tremendous and humbling blessing - it gave me a chance to be a mommy twice - the greatest calling in the world, the most rewarding, the thing that brings me the greatest joy (despite the frustrations that comes with parenting a toddler and a teenager at the same time - LOL). I can't even imagine life without my boys. I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to be their mom - I'm thankful to God, but I'm most thankful to the women that carried these beautiful souls in their wombs. You both gave me something I could not give myself and for that, I am forever in your debt. I hope I am doing a good job, I hope "our" children are happy and that they are turning into men who will make a positive difference in this world. To our son's birth mother, I have this to say to you - thank you for entrusting me with the life you created. Adoption is awkward because we, as adoptive parents, have no idea what to say to our birth mother at that moment she places that baby into our arms. We have no idea what she is going through because we could never imagine giving up what we've wanted so intensely for so long. The sense of loss must be staggering. Know that we are grateful, that we love you for your bravery and understand that you feel loss, guilt, sadness and that you might even have second thoughts. Please know that our hearts and our doors are always open to you no matter how much time has passed. We know you love our children as much as we do. Also, if you are woman who is contemplating adoption, I have some advice for you too. Do it. I know that the road to adoption can be paved with work, aggravation, fear and even disappointment. But once you have adopted a child, you realize that those emotions are nothing that you wouldn't experience if you were giving birth to a child. Plus, the love you feel and the rewards you get from parenting an adopted child are the same. There are so many children out there that need loving parents (or even a single parent like I was when I adopted my first child). There are so many out there who are just like my sons. I wish I could adopt them all. If you have questions, ask me, I love to talk about adoption. If you need a shoulder to lean, I'm here. But please, if you want to adopt, don't give up - there is a child out there who was born in your heart and he or she is waiting for you just like my boys were waiting for me.  Happy Birthday Jordan.  Daddy and I love you more than you will ever understand.