Adoption Update – 4/19/2021

This is one of those issues that I am hesitant to talk about here (it is supposed to be about gaming, mostly, after all, right?). Sure, I have written about our family going through the adoption process. But what does that look like 2 years in? What challenges are we facing as a family?

We took our classes to adopt through the State of Texas in May of 2019. Since then, besides being a part of a few broadcasts–social workers are sent emails with prospective adoptees–, nothing. With COVID settling in this past year it has seemed like everything has shut down and hasn’t awakened… yet.

Without access to broadcasts (have heard nothing from our caseworker), we’ve been stuck. Adoption has gone from a dream, to what felt like a reality, to a thing we only whisper about.

Q: So what does it look like 2 years in?

  • Quiet. Absolute silence. Is our caseworker not doing her job? Is this normal when going through the State? Are we supposed to become foster parents with hopes of adopting later on?

Q: What challenges are we facing as a family?

  • Dealing with the silence. Deciding whether we continue on the adoption journey.

COVID was a really big deal and still is for some. I don’t want to diminish that feeling of helplessness we all felt in March of last year. I also know that it feels like time is ticking for myself. Do we play the State’s game? Do we close our house and give up the adoption dream?

Something says not yet.

Not yet.

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

Two weeks ago, I was on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE). I came across a young man who I thought would be a good addition to our family. So I emailed our caseworker and asked that she make inquiries. Beyond a simple email back asking for some more information, nothing yet.

And so we wait.

The Crown – All Things Bright and Beautiful

With none of our usual shows to watch–hey, it was only Monday–, Tabitha and I sat down and watched The Crown. We are on Season 3 Episode 3: “Aberfan”. Should make for night of light television viewing, no?

The methodical way this episode began should have been our first clue. The shots of school children going about their day in school; the lingering shots of a little girl practicing for her school assembly, her dad coming home from work only to lovingly listen to her.

As an American… as a History-Political Science degree holder… I had no idea.

In the end, 116 children, 5 teachers, and 23 locals died.

Got me thinking about how our American Presidents respond to disaster. Roosevelt with his speech after Pearl Harbor; Bush traveling to the 9/11 site and making a speech as well. Moments where we put down our differences and unite as a country. Our President’s words speaking as if for all of us.

Aberfan wasn’t one of those moments. It took the Queen eight days to visit the disaster site. Reportedly, this is one of the Queens biggest regrets.

But “Aberfan” made for some solid performances on The Crown. I especially enjoyed the gentleman who plays Prince Phillip, and his response to the aftermath.

Thankful that “Aberfan” also helped me understand a moment in history.

No one will care

There is a lie that is whispered to me that goes something like this:

“If you leave, no one will notice you left.”

That lie becomes a nagging thought, played on repeat, at different volumes throughout the day.

Even just now, that lie was whispered to me in a different form:

“If you quit blogging, no one will care.”

Writing that, I almost believe it.

“No one will care.”

Thankfully, I’m stronger than the lies today. Able to push back against the whispers of deceit.

  • To the lie of “If you leave, no one will notice you left”, that may be little true. But, eventually, someone is going to call and reach out.
  • To the lie of “If you quit blogging, no one will care”, that may be a little true too. Ultimately, I write for myself first. If I don’t have anything to write, I’m not going to write. That’s okay.

The best lies are laced with truth.

For the days where I am weaker… I need to remember that someone does care.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started