Remembering the transition

We were pointed to a blog post today that made us reflect back on our transition period after Kim and Peter first came home.

In this post, the blogger reflects on what it is like when your adopted children haven't yet learned to trust, learned what it means to be in a family, and made peace with their past and future. It is exhausting, frightening, and overwhelming.  I can't do justice to her description, so I suggest you read it yourself.

For those going through that transitional stage, I have a word or two of encouragement.  You WILL get through it, you ARE strong enough, and your kids WILL make peace with their past and future.  Of course, you are going to struggle to get to that point, but it is a struggle worth going through.

As we approach 3 years post adoption, I look back and see where we were in that first 6 months and I cringe.  I look to where we were at one year and how much better it was than months 1-6.  I reflect on where we were at year 2 and see just how "normal" we had become (most of the time).  Now, approaching 3 years I can't believe how much further we have come in just the past 3 months.  Our kids are now mostly "normal".  Their ongoing issues and problems look a lot more like those of other kids.  We still have our moments, but they are no where near as often or severe, or exhausting.  Dare I say it... we have become just a regular old family.  Isn't God wonderful.