One Year Ago Today.....

We boarded a plane to bring our son home. I can't believe that it has already been a year and yet in some ways it seems so far away. Here is the post and photo's of us on our way to Ethiopia....

January 8th, 2010

It is so hard for me to put into words what a blessing Johnny has been to our lives this year. He is amazing little boy that lights up our life in ways that we didn't realize were missing. I remember parents of multiple children telling us that your heart just grows to love each of your children as much as your first. When we left Emma behind with her grandparents to go get Johnny I remember thinking.....can we really love another as much as we love her? Is it possible to have enough love to go around? The answer is YES!! (I know all of you with multiple children know this but I think parents with one child just have to learn it for themselves before believing it)

As I reflect back on this past year my heart just swells. I feel so blessed to have been entrusted to raise and love Emma and Johnny. They are both very different yet have the same sweet soul. One of the best things about being a parent is watching your child grow into the person they are going to be. Each year reveals a bit more about who they are and gives glimpses into what they might become. With Johnny, our ability to watch him grow began at six months when we brought him home. We held and comforted him as he transitioned to his new home. We watched as each day he let his guard down a bit more and trusted us with more of who he was. He is now a running, laughing, curious, sweet little boy who loves with no reservation and trusts us fully.

I am so thankful that we made the choice to adopt. The choice that led us to board that plane one year ago and bring home such an amazing child. The choice that has taught us so much about who we are and who we want to be. The choice that gave us a son that has blessed us beyond words.