Remember When....

...two months ago we had a full night's sleep?  That's what I said to Jack two nights ago.   And we busted out laughing.  At 3:00 am.

We occasionally laugh (and cry) about the few hours of sleep we now get a night.  Please forgive me if I never had sympathy for you when your newborns were not sleeping through the night.

I.Did.Not.Understand.What.You.Were.Going.Through.  I do now.  Really, I do.  I am so, so sorry.

I am sorry if you were cranky and I didn't understand why.
I am sorry if you wore two different flip-flops...to church.
I am sorry if you cried in Costco because you couldn't find the bananas.
I am sorry if you sent me a text that was meant for your mother.
I am sorry if you walked out of the house without underpants on.
I am sorry if you didn't brush your teeth until noon.
I am sorry if you drove past your house because you couldn't remember what road you lived on...four times.
I am sorry if you made your child's bottle with the wrong formula at 2:00 in the morning.
I am sorry if you drove two hours in the middle of the night to get your child to sleep...and ended up in Myrtle Beach.
I am sorry if you missed doctor appointments because you still had the calendar set to June...in July.

I am sorry you were tired. I totally get it.

Friends, you know there's gotta be a BUT to this.

Yes, we are tired BUT having Joseph home has changed us in ways we never imagined.  He has changed in ways we never imagined.   He is an incredible little boy and we are blessed to be his parents.

How has he changed?   He's calmer, he's content, and he can be soothed and loved.   He wasn't taking steps, he's now walking.  He wasn't eating a variety of foods, he's now open to eating every variety of pureed food offered.

How have we changed?  We are a family that has united like never before.  When Joseph needs attention, there are 7 people in his family to love him, hold him, or play with him.  We've learned what it is like to have a special needs family member.  We've learned how to answer questions from family, friends or strangers that at first seem awkward.  Together, we are Joseph's advocates.

Almost two years ago, Jack and I felt led to adopt a little boy whose name we believed to be "Jeremaiah."  We weren't looking to adopt and we certainly weren't looking to adopt a special needs child.   I think back to that time when we first saw his picture and profile.   It was like a punch in the stomach. He was meant to be in our family.  No questions asked, no answers given.  He was a Townsend.   Period.  We didn't understand at the time WHY we were supposed to adopt him.  We still don't understand it 100% but slowly God is revealing His plan for the 8 of us.  We are grateful, we are humbled, we are in awe of His great plan.

So today we celebrate Joseph's anniversary of being home two months.  We will watch him smile, listen to his low tone, rumbly laugh and thank God for the past two months.  Sleep or no sleep.  We are family.