Watching Toddlers

When our family went into adoption, I think we had every fear that anyone would have. Will they be normal? How will they adjust to us? How will we adjust to them? What kind of personality will they have? What kind of intelligence will they have? Of course one prepares for whatever the outcome. Adoption does not come with a set of standards. The child is a gift from God just as a birthed child. There is no order turned in for a certain make or model. When the child is placed in your arms there is no judgment cast upon that child, you just know that you would lay down your life for that tiny gift. Watching Chloe and Chi grow and develop over the past year has been a miraculous unfolding of God’s love. No doubt Chloe was named according to God’s prompting. Her birth name meant “Bitter Rose” and we changed it to mean “Blooming Rose on God’s Heavenly Alter of Grace”. That is exactly what we have seen in her over the past year. She radiates God’s love to us and through her we see joy. Just last night, Chi got a guitar strap wrapped around his neck while they were playing in the back room. Chloe led him to me knowing full well he was in trouble. She tried in her very best baby talk to let me know his situation and to help him. It was then that it just washed over me the amazing love and gift Chloe is to our family. Of course, I didn’t overlook God’s blessing of using her to watch over Chi and that guitar strap is in the trash where it belongs. Chi’s birth name meant “God will Increase”. Though we changed his name, we knew that he would be a blessing as well and that God WOULD increase in our lives. His name now means “Messenger of God’s Salvation”. We believe he will fulfill his calling in the meaning of his name. Just watching my toddlers I am amazed at what God has done in their lives and how he blessed our family with children that are so awesome! They are so much like my own three children, I have started calling Chloe, Kelissa half the time and I call Chi, Kade or Cason the other half. I don’t know anything about the argument of Nature VS. Nurture, but I do know God doesn’t care if they are birthed or adopted they are equal and wonderful in His sight, and He makes all things right. I am so thankful during this holiday season for the gift of watching my toddlers grow and develop in His grace.