Mike and I looked at each other and shook our heads. We had no answer.
When our son was five, we took him to the orthodontist for an initial checkup--it was pretty obvious he would have issues when his permanent teeth arrived. "Your son has an exact bite. It's genetic; which one of your families did he get that from?"
Mike and I looked at each other and shook our heads. We had no answer.
When our son was six, I heard his voice from the backseat of the van: "Mom, am I a little person?"
That question was one for which I did have an answer--no. But, I could not explain to that small boy, whose dad is 6'3" and mom 5'6", why he was so short. I couldn't tell him that Mike and I constantly eyeballed him and his younger sister, seeing if she was now the taller child.
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| created by my very talented friend, Jenny, to use on my website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Can I tell you something? Having biological children as well as adopted children is the most amazing, wonderful, eye-opening, God-moving, tears-flowing, strength-lacking, mistake-making, redemption-asking, Jesus take the wheel, I'm filled up, I am undone area of my life.
I always knew I'd be a mom; I just knew. Perhaps it's because I'm the oldest of four. Maybe it's because I have an amazing mom who led with authoritative calmness as my dad travel a ton throughout my childhood. Maybe it's because I began babysitting at a young age, or because God gave me a nurturing (bossy?) demeanor. I didn't know how, or when, but I knew.
What I didn't know was the way that God would SHOW UP within every aspect and create such a cool journey. The journey has rocked my world a few times, and it's very safe to say God isn't done working through me as He works within my kids. I try my best to not fear the future, and constantly ask God to give me strength, wisdom, and guidance. Oh, and forgiveness--that's the thing I ask God the most!
God, in His intricate way, did the following with our six children:
- An even split; three are biological, three are adopted.
- Pairs; Connor & Charlie, Kaitlin & Kolbie, Kylie & Brynlee.
- Boys who are funny, thoughtful, adventurous, unafraid, and incredibly honest.
- Brown-eyed girls who are confident, kind, sassy, social and independent.
- Blue-eyed girls who are sweet, tenderhearted, quiet, and witty.
- Four have had their tonsils removed; two biological, two adopted.
- Two have not had their tonsils removed; one biological, one adopted.
- Three wear glasses; two biological, one adopted.
For all my kids' similarities and differences, I am SO thankful God has blended it all in such a way that truly makes us one family; a hodgepodge of unique, common, minute details that piece us together in the most perfect way.
And the boy, for whom we didn't have answers in regards to his genetic traits? Well, that part is my favorite, because that boy was Connor. My second-born. The one I can still recall the specific night I became pregnant with him (sorry, bud). The one whose birth is so deeply etched in my mind due to all the events that took place within the Labor & Delivery room, including the nurse who saved the day when she realized Connor was making his appearance RIGHT NOW.
Mike and I still don't have any answers regarding Connor's inherited traits. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I sometimes wonder: Did God create Connor in such a way that our adopted children would never feel isolated due to traits for which we have no explanation?" As the older brother nearly passed up in size by Kylie, did God make Connor a shorter child so that he and Charlie (who is extremely small for his age) could have a special connection?
Within my biological & adoptive mix of brown-eyed, blue-eyed, kiddos, only one is odd-man out: a 'green-eyed-with-the-slightest-touch-of-golden-hazel' boy.
Connor; the sole kid who has his mama's eyes. Pretty sure God did that on purpose, too.
