I am choosing in this post to focus on the negative, not the positive of this year. This year brought us many positives but, I use this blog mostly for adoption purposes. I want to be real with my fellow adoptive readers and let them know "you are not alone". I have watched many friends in the adoption community face situations similar to ours. I do not think this is mere coincidence rather a form of spiritual attack to those who have stepped out in faith. This is not to discourage but, rather to encourage.
Along with that, we suffered challenges to which I am happy to say goodbye. One do my mantras this year has been "God loves adoption. The devil hates adoption". This year, more than I can ever remember we have been challenged in our health, in our finances, in our family and marital relationships, in our resilience and in our faith.
In January we welcomed our precious daughter home.
In February our kids became sick with a terrible 7 day fever virus while Brad was out of town and I was learning to manage three kids.
In April I underwent test after test to see why I had recurrent vomiting and significant weight loss. We concluded after no answers it was a clear case of spiritual attack.
In July I spent a month on crutches again with no clear diagnosis of why I couldn't bear weight on my hip. Again, we said "the devil hates adoption"
In August after months of sickness and still in the new post adoption phase, Brad and I found ourselves more exhausted and depleted than we had ever felt and our family relations suffered along with it.
In September Brad underwent a typically routine surgical procedure that ended up being anything but routine or simple.
October and November were fairly smooth sailing but, December came and went with a bang.
Olivia underwent a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy which left her full of pain and all of us with little sleep. She took a huge back slide in the attachment department. Just as her tonsils started to heal she developed a UTI, fever and lower abdominal pain that left the doctors puzzled.
A week after Olivia started feeling better, we were all hit with a 5 day stomach bug then, to top off the year, just after arriving at our house to celebrate Christmas, Nana fell in some slippery mud. She was taken by ambulance uptown and it was determined she broke her ankle in 3 places and would need emergency surgery. I found myself at one of the scariest places I had ever been. I watched my mom suffer four times as they tried to reset her break. Then, witnessed her in the most vulnerable situation as she required assistance to breathe due to a bad mix of narcotic pain relievers. It was at this moment I truly realized how precious each moment is for in an instant there might not be a next.
As we say good bye to 2013 I pray for a healthier New Year however, I say good bye to this year knowing that through our trials and tribulations we have been made stronger.
"But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who, he has given us" Romans 5: 3-5
Greater is He Who is in us than he who rules the world...amen, Cait? We plead the Blood of Christ and persevere... You are and you will, for this was the LORD's idea and His name for you is "Mine." I stand with you guys, a Family of God, believing that no weapon formed against you guys shall prosper for you abide in Christ and He abides in you... each of you. Hear Hi, heed Him, trust Him, and follow. I stand with you, in faith, believing that He is working ALL things to good for those who love Him...
ReplyDeleteFunny, we adopted this year, too, and my year in review post ended up being rather grim as well. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog. You too have had a year of ups and downs. Excited to go check out your 2013 review post.
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