For Everything There Is A Season

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

A time to give birth and a time to   die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.  

A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.  

A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.  

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.  

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.  

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.  

A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

My mother referenced this verse at our adoption shower. It was very appropriate. We've gone through a season of weeping, mourning, and death. We've had seasons of healing, laughing, and embracing. We've run the gamut, and I'm not even 30 yet. What a rich, crazy, grace filled life! 

November is our season to celebrate!!

We celebrate my mom's birthday. She is by far one of my favorite people to celebrate. She doesn't think she's worth the fuss, which makes me absolutely crazy. And so we will celebrate her to the full extend, whether she likes it or not.

We celebrate our first daughter who was stillborn November 24th two years ago. I say it again and again- She was important, a blessing, a miracle, a gift, and I will be eternally grateful to have felt her growth, and know her heartbeat. I will always miss her and I will always celebrate her.

We celebrate Thanksgiving, and we celebrate it well. Yes, there will be turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, but more importantly, there will be family, laughter, and the acknowledgement that God is on His throne. We are blessed. 

We celebrate adoption and beyond. November is National Adoption Awareness month, and like I said last year, our family doesn't require a "month" to celebrate adoption. We sing it's praises all year long. Many seasons brought us to adoption. Squeaks is a daily...moment by moment...reminder of the overwhelming beauty that resulted. The fact that November has been deemed the time to be aware seems very fitting because of all the other things we celebrate this month as well. It's all connected to everything we are through Christ. Adoption isn't just this thing that you should be aware of. It's life, it's a gift, it's a calling, it's beyond anything I've ever experienced. 

Be aware, adoption is God's love played out on earth.