Louise and James adopted their two girls with Adoption Focus. This blog follows the ups and downs of their journey together through tears of laughter, joy and grief and takes you on a real journey through life as an adoptive family.
This is a car seat.
You may think this is just an old car seat... you would be... somewhat correct.
You see, THIS car seat 💺 signifies change.
This car seat signifies memories... I’m sure many can relate to a degree.
I cannot tell you the years of waiting and longing and praying. 🙏🏼
Waiting to be a mom. 👨👩👧👧
Longing to have a family of my own.
Praying for children in our lives. 👶🏻 👶🏻
How many times James and I sat looking in the rear view mirror just imagining what life would be like with a child in a car seat in the back. 🚗
We waited.
We longed.
We prayed.
And then we waited some more.
All the while, God 👑 was preparing our little family... 👨👩👧👧
The most wonderful social worker 🙋🏼♀️ 📚 was supporting our kids for the move of their lives and wondering who would love them as their own...
Who would accept them as they were?
Who would fight for them through life?
Who would be brave enough to tell them their painful story ... over and over and over again?
Who would hug them as they cried and suffered all the pain over and over again?
Who would help them heal?
Who would teach them to play?
Who would laugh with them?
Who would build them up and help them see their purpose in life?
Who would give them basic food, clothing and love like they never got before?
Well, the day finally arrived...after YEARS of waiting, longing and praying and many many assessments and essays and courses(!) our “babies” were to arrive.
We bought the car seats. We were excited.
We fitted them in and they were meant to last. We looked at them as they sat empty in the back seat... waiting... more waiting.
Finally the day came... OUR kiddies sat in the seat!!!
But the little happy faces we waited, longed and prayed for did not arrive.
That moment cannot be explained. The upset, the turmoil, the confusion, the panic, the scared and tearful little faces looked back at us in the mirror... if I stop and think about it for too long, I remember it like it was today(!) and I cry. 😢
But...
that was not the last journey in this car seat... that was the first. Oh the laughs and giggles that have since come from this car seat. The cheeky grins, the “I love yous” , the moaning (oh the constant moaning!!! 🤣) , the sleepy heads, the excited little faces...
The loved children.
Now, almost 6 years on and the car seat is needed no more.. (they are still going strong ... but no longer needed!)
The car seat will be with us no more, but those painful yet exciting memories remain strong... forever.
And that, is why this car seat signifies change for me!