Would you consider...?

In looking at our homestudy date this week, I noticed that I've (we've) been paper pregnant for a year. Being paper pregnant has been different than being biologically pregnant. I feel quite honored to have had the opportunity to be both. One of the things that is noticeably different is the ability to make decisions about the child you would like to adopt. My bio girlios just came out and, boom, I get what I get and I don't throw a fit. When adopting, there are some hard questions to answer. And working to decide is difficult. Here are some thing to consider:

• Would you consider adopting a child?
• Would you consider sharing your life, your family and your resources?
• Would you consider the time, perhaps years or more, to create attachment?
• Would you consider adopting an older child?
• Would you consider adopting a younger child?
• Would you consider adopting out of birth order?
• Would you consider a child with a heart problem when you're not sure about the severity of the condition?
• Would you consider a child who is deaf or blind?
• Would you consider a child who has mobility issues?
• Would you consider a child with a genetic disorder?
• Would you consider a boy instead a girl or a girl instead a boy?
• Would you consider a child who has been in institutional care for some time and is delayed?
• Would you consider a child who has mental difficulties?
• Would you consider that your adoptive child may have issues that will not be manifested for years?
• Would you consider different parenting tactics to build attachment?
• Would you consider changing your mind?
• Would you consider being flexible?
• Would you consider changing your plans or putting your life on hold since you don't know when your child is coming or how old he/she is or what his/her issues are?
• Would you consider how much you have to open your heart and your life?

These are just a handful of the tough questions surrounding adoption. Decisions have to be made. It's almost too much control, or too much of a false sense of control, in a situation that has so many variables. We are thankful for all the people who have gone before us because our journey isn't over yet. Even after all the questions, we still feel that adoption is something to consider. Seriously consider.