Normal

Before starting our adoption journey and this quest we've found ourselves embracing, I never read blogs. I never contemplated starting one. Actually, I opposed the idea when Ben suggested it to me several years ago.

It's too complicated.

No one will ever look at it.

I wouldn't know where to start, if I were to set one up.

I would likely forget to post and therefore it would just be a waste of time to try even getting one going.

As this process continued I found more and more people referring me to their (adoption) blog. They are mildly addictive, aren't they?! A peek at a family's life, through this window seemed opportune. What a fabulous way to get a glimpse of what we'd be in for.

I have learned not only about other families' reasons for adopting but also their hearts. The first two questions the general public voice when one announces the decision to adoption are...

1. Why not just have another the same way you had the first two?
2. Why Ethiopia (or whatever the family's country of choice may be)?

While we all have our own reasons and they vary immensely, I have found a very common thread between all us adoptive families.

Though we adopt from all regions, countries, and continents of this planet there is one thing that links us.

Even if we don't have a common belief we are connected.

Regardless of the adoptive family's race, socio-economic status, or hometown, there's a shared phenomenon.

In spite of our roots...or maybe it is because of our roots...

...we all hold a great similarity.

We Are All Normal Average-Joe Folk.

Seriously.

Have you ever checked out adoption blogs?

Ever read up on families who have shared their story on an adoption agency website?

Honest to goodness, we are all just plain and simple normal.

Some of us have more money. Most of us have to scrimp and save. Some of us may have tempers. Others of us may find humour in the bumps of this journey. Many of us may find the injustice to the children we seek to be simply too much. Most of us cling to the hope and knowledge that our child was pre-destined to join our family and so now we simply hold our breath and wait...confidently, we wait.

You see? We're all normal.

We are normal, ordinary people following an extraordinary path. It's full of bumps, potholes, poison ivy, and wild flowers.

It's grueling somedays and breath-taking on others.

But we're all just people. No one better. No one less so.

We all get out of bed and put our pants on one foot at a time.

I Love Normal.