Connections & Community

Through this wonderful thing we call a blog, I have been blessed to join so many on their journeys. Journeys of life ~ whether it was a medical crisis, a newborn baby, a recent marriage, friends' daily lives, funny stories & pictures, but many of the journeys involved infertility, foster care and adoption (all 3 very close to my heart). While each person's journey is different, there is still an instant connection with many...when you find someone that understands what you are going through. Maybe it's because they have walked the same path and they are leading the way for you or maybe now you've become the leader to someone new on their journey. Whatever it is, it's community. Common interests, common issues ~ a place to come together and know that you're not alone.

This weekend, I had the awesome privilege to finally sit down face to face with 2 great women within my community. The 3 of us are interconnected in so many ways. We know so many of the same people and yet only met because of our blogs and because of our journeys within the foster care system. When we finally got to hug each other on Saturday, it was if we'd always had those hugs. It was so neat to just be able to talk and share our experiences, each one very different, and yet still the same. You see, the foster care/ adoption community is small and we yearn to know those that know what it's like. It's not easy. People don't understand. It was so nice to be able to just talk and not have to explain what I mean...and to just know that they knew what I was saying.

Jocelyn has already had 6 little ones in her home in 2 1/2 years, Jess has just been licensed for foster care and we've gone the foster-to-adopt route with Maggie. Even though our journeys are different, we are connected.

To know you are not alone is a powerful gift. To know that you can share your deepest struggles with parenting a neglected & abused child & not feel ashamed or a horrible parent is priceless. It's wonderful to be able to let our guards down, to be honest, and to know that we understand.

Thank you, sweet sisters, for the time spent together on Saturday. I appreciate you both, more than words, and so thankful that the Lord brought us into each others' lives.