Every Heart Deserves a Home

What a special day today is...our 3rd wedding anniversary.  

But, travel back with me to March 20, 2015.  

Three years ago I was getting up early to go and decorate the Garten Verein in Galveston, TX.  I was singing "Going to the Chapel" that my mom forced my bridesmaids to play on the way to the church.  I was getting my hair and make-up done my one of my  Cleveland youthies(yes I know that is not a word...that is what I called affectionately called them). I was putting on the white dress that I dreamt of wearing for years.  I was taking pictures.  I was calm, cool, and collected.  I was ready to get married.  

Three years ago today Matthew was swimming.  Matthew was eating lunch with hos groomsmen fro The Original Mexican Cafe. Matthew and the groomsmen were being rushed to the church by Patrick so they weren't late(thanks P-Diddy).  Matthew was taking pictures.  Matthew was calm, cool, and collected.  He was ready to get married...at least that is what they have all told me.  

 I was standing at the doors with Jay and Dave and Joanna started playing Trumpet Voluntary on the amazing organ at Moody Methodist Church(see below). It hit me I am about to be a Neff.  You can listen to the song here.  Can you imagine the part in the song where the doors fly open and the doves are released?  No, we didn't have doves, but in my head we did.  It was the longest aisle to walk down. No, seriously long....

Photo credit: Chris Hardy

  

Then we had the best party ever!!

photo credit:Alyssa Beach

Fast forward three years....

We are not doing anything special for our anniversary.  In fact, we will be sitting at home waiting for our new couch to be delivered.  But, I do have to say I am excited about this couch. 

I love this quote that I found.  Love isn't perfect.  Marriage isn't perfect.  It can be messy and irrational. Let's face it...marriage is hard! But if you have picked the right person it is the best thing in the world.  I adore my husband.  

If you have made it this far, congratulations!!! 

You shall be rewarded!!!

You see, when I first saw this quote, I only thought about Matthew and I.  We are doing "life" together.  All of it together.  The obstacles, the fighting,  the mini vacations, the good, the bad, and the ugly...together.  

And together we have decided to explore the possibilities of adoption. 

No, not of another dog, an actual human being. 

We went to an informational meeting last night to hear all of the ins and outs of adopting, fostering to adopt, and everything else in between.  We are not sure were God will lead but for now, we are listening and following.

So that is where the title of this post came from, "Every Heart Deserves a Home."  

Matthew and I got married three years ago today and our hearts together made our home.  And we want to do that for a child.  So now if I go back and reread the quote about love it says something different to me when thinking about adopting a child.  

When we think of adoption it scares the bejesus out of us.  There are so many scenarios that are going through our heads.   If you watch "This is Us", I taught Matthew the worse case scenario game.  

Adoption isn't perfect.  

It isn't a fairytale or a storybook 

and it doesn't  always come easy.  

Adoption is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, 

fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go.  

Adoption is work, but most of all, adoption is realizing that every 

hour, every minute, every second of it was worth it

because we did it together.  

• Adoption isn't going to be perfect- the child that is up for adoption did not ask to be in "the system"  We wouldn't wish that upon any child. 
• It isn't a fairytale or a storybook-If it was a fairytale we would walk in and pick up our child and live happily ever after.  But we do hope we can have that fairytale ending.
• It won't come easy-the home visits make us nervous.  
• Adoption is overcoming obstacles and facing challenges-the amount of paperwork alone is crazy.
• Fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go-The biggest fear for both of us is falling in love with a child and then having to let go.  
• Adoption is work, but most of all, adoption is realizing that every hour, every minute, every second of it was worth it because we did it together. -WHEN we get to "Gotcha Day" every second of this whole process will be worth it to give that little heart a home that it deserves.  ***Gotcha Day what a lot of people call adoption day

So you may be thinking, "Good for them. Way to go. But why are they making this all so public?"  Many times, adoptions happen because someone knows someone.  So, if you hear of or know of someone that, for whatever reason, wants to give their child up for adoption, please think of us.  

Please pray for us, our family, and our friends.  We are going to need support, emotionally and physically.  Please pray that God has a special plan for us in this adoption process.  

Thank you for your love and support!!

This post is long enough for today.  

We will share our story of how we made the choice to adopt next time.  

  Love,