November Meeting

Happy National Adoption Month!!!

We celebrated by going to an adoption fireside in the Kansas City area. It was held at the stake center next to the temple and I was able to capture the last of the days sun before the meeting. It was such a beautiful night to stand in this holy place. 

The fireside itself was incredible. We've been to a few meetings like this before so we kind of knew what to expect. We knew there would be singing, speaking, talking, and snacks. Then we would get back on the road to complete our 6 hour drive for a 1.5 hour meeting. But what we weren't expecting, and this is what compels us to make such sacrifices to attend the meetings and participate, was the Spirit being so strong. Of it testifying to us individually that God has a plan for us. That each adoption is unique- tailored for each family. There were speakers on international adoption, infant LDS services adoption, foster care and teen adoption, a 5 year old boy was recently adopted... all these stories touched us in different ways. One birthmother came to speak whom we had seen before. She's pretty incredible and although we had heard her story before, she mentioned things she hadn't previously and we sat there in awe of the Lords hand in every step of the way. Specifically, she spoke after we sang the hymn Families Can be Together Forever. When she got up to speak she said that was the number one reason she decided to place her son for adoption. Not because she was too young (being in her early thirties) or not financially stable (she had a great, steady job) or an unsupportive birthfather or extended family. She had all of those things. 

She placed her son for adoption so that he could be sealed to his family forever in the temple. 

This was such an important gift to her and she was willing to sacrifice so that he could have that irreplaceable blessing. It's funny because every time we feel our testimonies growing about adoption we think ok! we've got it now! And then someone will say something, as she did, and we just sit back and realize we will always be growing and expanding our perspectives for the rest of our lives.

We are so grateful we are not baby-hungry or depressed that we're not parents yet. Right now, we simply feel grateful to be the students of the Creator and to be apart of His plan.