12/6/10 - Adoption is such an amazing option....

So for some of you that do know me, you are well aware that I was adopted as a child. My story is a very interesting one due to the fact that my life began in Seoul, South Korea in the late 70's. My biological parents were going to keep me but my biological Mother passed away shortly after I was born. My Father kept me for a few months and then made what I would assume was a tough decision by giving me up for adoption. He advised the orphanage he wanted me to be adopted by an American family. Thankfully, his wishes were granted and I was adopted to an awesome American family. I only state biological versus my adopted parents so that some of you not familiar with my story can follow who is who.

I was given an amazing life because of a sacrificial decision made by my biological Father. Adoption one either side of the experience is complicated. For the parent(s) giving a child up for whatever reasons they have is painful, and difficult. For the parent(s) adopting the child its full of legal paperwork, high costs, stressful waiting periods, and emotional ups and downs from all the different hoops one must jump through to adopt a child. However, when all is said and done usually in most cases the child adopted has a wonderful and fulfilling life being given an amazing new family to love and be loved by. I know for me, I feel amazingly blessed by the parents God chose for me. I know I would not be the person I am or be where I am had it not been for my Mom and Dad (Margie and Clayton Kardell). Their love for me gave me opportunities and blessings I could never have asked for or hoped for.

As I write this blog one of my oldest sisters is overseas in China waiting to be given her new daughter that my brother-in-law and her adopted. They have been waiting for almost 5 years to meet this little girl and now their dreams are finally coming true. They also adopted a little girl 17 yrs ago from South Korea. I was there when her plane landed in Des Moines, IA. It was such a blessed day when we met Karissa for the first time. She was the cutest little baby and I loved her immediately just as everyone in our whole family did, especially, my sister and brother-in-law. She and my brother-in-law had two sons naturally before adopting. So, their reasoning for adopting was not for lack of ability to have children naturally. They, just like my parents had natural children and then adopted later. I have often thought of this option for Sean and I do to do as well. Being adopted myself, it is difficult for me to live the rest of my life without giving a child the same wonderful life I was given as a child by two loving parents. However, as my family grows naturally, I'm not sure of the timing, the cost, and my own physical limitations as a Mother. Raising children is a hard job and any parent will agree exhausting. I want to make sure that if and when we were to adopt that we would be able to give a child everything they deserve. God will make it clear to Sean and I if and when the time is right.

Some people reading this may know of someone who is unable to conceive naturally. I would not say to tell them to adopt because this is a personal decision that has to be "I believed" God inspired. I can relate to a woman wanting to experience pregnancy and child labor. The bond this experience creates is very special and momentous. However, God chooses to answer our prayers with yes's and no's. I wish the answers to our deepest desires for our lives could always be yes, but in order for God's will to be done in our lives sometimes we are destined to experience pain or hardship to help develop our faith and dependance on Him. However, I have to say that adoption is truly an invaluable gift you can give to yourself and a child because the "bond" is one that can not be explained or contained based on one's biology. I may not look like my Mom or Dad but I certainly "love" like them.

If you don't know how you feel about adopting I hope that after reading this you have a positive opinion on it knowing how one decision can make a new life for a child who desperately needs it.