A Dangerous Drive Last Thursday

Yes, you read that right. I had a really dangerous drive on Thursday afternoon. One of my fears is having Genevieve in the car with me and having a wasp, snake, bee, or some poisonous stinging creature in my car. I would love to say that I would calmly pull over or keep driving to a safe place, but I just cannot honestly say that! Please pray that NEVER happens! For those of you who have seen me around flying, stinging  bugs, you know how true that statement is.

Seriously.

We once had a wasp nest in our very first home’s window. When discovered, hundreds, literally hundreds (may be a slight exaggeration, but not much) of wasps flooded the room. Crying. Screaming. Wailing. I frantically called Josh. Couldn’t get him on the phone!!! He was coaching basketball at the time and was in the middle of practice.

I’ve never hated him, never, ever. Except for maybe that one moment.

Then, I get his best friend, Jason on the phone. Jason was over there in minutes with a “poison bomb”. I have never loved you more, Jason Hinton!!!

But, thankfully this post is not about a harmful bug in my car. Instead, it occurred Thursday afternoon when I went home on my lunch break to make some lunch. As I was pulling out of my driveway to head back to work, I decided to check our mailbox. I put all the mail on my lap. As I pulled to a stop light, I began to look through them, and noticed an envelope from our adoption attorney. I, of course, couldn’t wait to open it up, as I wasn’t sure what it was.

The light turned green as I caught a glimpse of what it looked like. GENEVIEVE’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE. I immediately started crying and realized I drifted into the other lane.

Get it together, Aly!!!!! I apologized through tears to the drivers around me with a smile and a wave and was able to drive another 1/2 mile to work. I just bawled in the parking lot, pulled myself together and went back to work with my students.

Major car accident avoided- Praise da Lort! (Madea style)

We have Genevieve’s original birth certificate and will forever keep it to show her and explain as best we can. But to see her new one— with our names on there, with her name on there—it just is unreal.

Her full name is Genevieve Elizabeth Rose Taylor. We call her Genevieve Rose, but her birth mother really wanted the name Elizabeth to be included, as it was her grandmother’s name. We, of course had to do that, as we love the birth mother dearly, and we think the name is beautiful.

Josh and I were talking yesterday about how we wonder if it will ever get more real that she is really ours. We know she was ours from the beginning of time, but everything that has been orchestrated for it to be completely official- wow. I remember another mom blessed by adoption telling me that every birth is a miracle. Life is a miracle. And I am no one to say whether one thing is more miraculous than another, but for everything to line up for an adoption to go through from beginning to end–and be official- MIRACULOUS.

I was naive when all of this started, and to an extent,  I think that was good. Just as I was naive to all things cancer. It gave me a faith some may call foolish. Some may call it ignorant or ill-advised. But, to me, it was an unshakable knowing that my God is bigger than anything.

Aly, repeat this: “I will not open letters or read or listen to things that could cause me to be emotional while driving. It ISNT safe!” I need to sign a contract for that, like they have others sign for no texting and driving:)

Rejoice with me that every part, literally every part of this adoption is done. Final. Closed. She is ours. We are hers. Forever and ever. Now, Oh Lord equip us as we have no clue what we’re doing as parents. Thank the Lord for his Holy Spirit and others who have walked this child rearing journey before us:)

She’s 7 months old, alive, and happy- Parent WIN!