Sandra Bullock's adoption ... and ME!

I would love to tell you "Sandy" and I are BFFs... but the real story of how we are connected is through the beauty of domestic adoption! MomLogic.com asked me MY opinion of domestic adoption... CHECK IT OUT HERE!

And while you are brimming in feel good stories...

Here is OUR adoption story! Makes me tear up EVERYTIME I re-live it! :)

The attorney turned to me and said, “Please tell the judge why you want to adopt Izaiah.” How could I possibly sum up how the size of my heart had grown over the past two years to make room for one more set of first steps, one more first word and millions more hugs and kisses? We started our foster care journey almost four years ago. My husband couldn’t understand what made me think we needed to have another child. Matthew (8) and Emily (7) were finally at the age where we could take them anywhere and it was easy. No U-Haul of paraphernalia followed our minivan anymore. The only way I could put into words the ache in my heart for another child was a visual that had flashed through my head from time to time for over a year. I explained to him that when I thought of the proverbial “where do you see yourself in five years” question, I could clearly see Ken, myself, Matthew and Emily but there is one more joining. A small child on my lap; I just couldn’t see a face. God was saying, “I have one more.” When we were starting our journey with the Child Welfare system my friends would ask me, “How are you going to give the children back?” They knew that my love for all children is embedded in my fingerprints. It is a huge part of who I am. I had no answer. I didn’t want to think about it. I couldn’t explain it. But I had an unexplainable peace about it and I trusted God. During this time I had one of those dreams that stick with you for days. The ones you just can’t shake? There was a baby, a strawberry blonde, tiny little boy. The dream lasted only a few scenes before I awoke but for days I would get a jolt only a mother could get, “Gasp. Who’s got the baby?” It was almost as though I had been given a divine responsibility to that child. Recently I was looking through my journal when I came across an entry about that dream. I did the math. I had that dream right around the time Izaiah was conceived. April 25, 2006 our third child came into our lives as a scared, very tiny, strawberry blond 9 month old; a child that would nervously visit his birthparents at the courthouse weekly. A child who we were told would go back home soon. Because God works miracles, on April 9, 2008, twenty of his biggest fans filed into a courtroom and witnessed Izaiah’s adoption day. And then there were three. The past two years of first words, scraped knees and other childhood milestones was summed up in four words. The judge declared our adoption final and our five best friends held up an Izaiah-sized t-shirt with the words, “FINALLY A BROWNLOW.” Izaiah reached for the shirt and squealed, “ME!” And then there were five.

Peace. And love to all the children who will go to bed tonight without a Mommy and Daddy!