There is a family miles away who has been a big influence on me. In the Spring of 2006, I first began looking at blogs. I came across the blog of a family in Georgia who brought home their children from Kazakhstan. I was immediately drawn to their daughter because there was something about her that reminded me of my 5 year old daughter. I even printed out the photo to show to my husband.
Months later, this past September, I went back to blog searching, hoping to read more stories that would convince me this was the path for us (or not). I was able to find this family’s email address. We have since exchanged many emails and my husband and I had a phone call with them where they shared all of their experiences with us. They now have three beautiful children from different regions in Kazakhstan.
They have listened to our worries and our fears. Have offered practical insight and offered encouragement and faith. As part of a recent email exchange the dad wrote this to me:
“Don’t ever hesitate to share with me. We have been there. I will be nonjudgmental even if you decide not to adopt. It is a totally subjective thing, as it boils down to it. You and your husband are the only ones making this decision, because if you left it up to everyone else you will never reach consensus! I’m proud to be a resource! And one day hopefully I will meet the child that perhaps I played a very small role in bringing to his or her “forever family.”
I honestly think that should this come to pass, their role in this will be much bigger than just a small part. I tried contacting other families before and it was a quick information exchange or phone tag that never happened. With them, it was different. Definitely a connection, and one that has been so inspiring and uplifting, that I’m sure that this is one of the powerful ways that only prove that the doors are opening for me, should I choose to acknowledge them.
Another email said this today “When you get a referral it will all become real… so real that you will no longer hear the critics, and you will only see the path that you take to bring that little one home.”
Since I haven’t given out any information about myself just yet (I’m a newbie to this blog thing and so reluctant to share my business yet) I am not going to name this family. You definitely know who you are. And again, as we are not yet sure what the future may hold, I want to let you know that you have played an instrumental part in one of the biggest and most life changing decisions of our lives. Whatever the outcome, the time you shared with us, the insight and care you provided have been priceless. Our appreciation knows no bounds. Thank you.
