The Healing Adoption

By Melissa Albertson

then a couple of dead ends on domestic adoption, I learned to take a very realistic view of how the best laid plans come to a grinding halt. When we decided to adopt a little boy from Russia to complete our family, I was very worried and on some level told myself to be careful - nothing was for sure.

It was impossible to stay detached as we gathered our documents and worked our way through the wait. Similar to the time before the birth of my biological daughter, I dreamed of who my adopted son would be.

We first met him in April 2005 and I instantly knew he was the one God meant for our family; no doubts no worries. The day in court when our Lucas was entrusted to us was amazing. I cried because I was so happy and relieved that he was officially ours. We are so thankful to Children’s Hope for how much work and effort went into making sure all our adoption business in Russia went smooth as silk. I am so glad they were our agency.

The thing I didn’t expect, once we were home as a family, was how healed I felt. I certainly never thought I needed healing. But it was the gift of our son who completed our family that made every one of those past painful experiences part of a blessing in our journey. It is ironic that I now feel so happy and thankful for those trials-those years of doubt and frustration.

Lucas came home at 20-months-old and has been learning non-stop. He learned a new word almost daily and understood everything we would say to him within the first two months. He is a bright, active, healthy little boy. I can’t wait to rock him to sleep every night and then to see his smile every morning. He plays with outlet covers, has tantrums and thinks food should appear instantly when he is hungry. For a boy who is almost two, it is exactly as it should be. I couldn’t dream or imagine a more perfect son.