Officially Official!

Yesterday we received in the mail Elijah's Certificate of Citizenship. He is officially official! Elijah became a citizen on January 30 but his Certificate wasn't issued until April 6. Much like the rest of our adoption journey, the paperwork takes forever!

It's amazing how much we love this little guy. We can look back at pictures from Gotcha Day and see Elijah's wide-eyed shock. But we can also see his adorable smile as he quickly warmed up to us. Many people question whether they could love someone else's child as their own. That's crazy talk because adoptive parents (and step parents) do it everyday. It's not growing a baby in your belly that makes you love your baby, but the time spent dreaming of, thinking about, and preparing for him. Then you love the child so much before you even meet him for the first time!

The one hard lesson we learned on this journey, which we knew about but still weren't really prepared for, is how hard it is to love someone who doesn't return that love. We loved Elijah before we were matched with him and even more once we finally saw his sweet face. We knew it can be hard for orphans to attach and show affection to new parents. And quite frankly we had it way easier than most adoptive parents (thanks for all the prayers!). But those few times we wanted to hold, help, calm, or support Elijah and he wouldn't let us, were really difficult. Our human hearts are so fickle that is hard to maintain tremendous love when we don't receive it back. We are definitely happy that Elijah is very attached now. 

Thinking about this makes me incredibly grateful for a loving God that pursues me no matter how I behave in return. Even if I run, hide, hate, or even become apathetic, my God continues to love me. He wants nothing more than to hold, help, calm, and support me, if I will just let Him.

Whatever you need this evening, turn to your Heavenly Father and allow Him to bless you. Allow Him to envelope you in His arms, smother you with His love, and demonstrate mercy beyond measure. 

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Matthew 7:11

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

Psalm 34:8

"How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world."

Psalm 31:19