Our Little Man

Although it is something that is common knowledge in my "real" world, I realize that there is something I have never shared with you about Mr. Will. He is African American. When I first wrote about being chosen as Will's parents, it crossed my mind to share it with you immediately. And yet I decided not to. Why? Because I didn't want it to be the "main focus" of his adoption story. The real focus should be his arrival into our family, not the color of his skin.

In every way, this is reflective of the way I want to raise my son. I want to teach him that his race is a part of who he is, but it is not who he is. I want him to find his identity in Christ, in our family, his friends, and in the things he loves to do.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I am not saying that I think race is unimportant, or that I will choose to pretend it doesn't exist. I have already spent many hours in my head trying to figure out how to balance teaching Will to be proud of his history and heritage as an African American with the idea that his race isn't an ultimate definer of who he is. Not sure that definer is a word...but I like it. But...since he's not even here yet I figuring we have plenty of time to figure that one out.

So, for now, we are doing our best to prepare for Will's arrival. Mostly, that means washing his clothes and putting together the crib. But we are also praying and preparing to become a transracial family. Do I know exactly what this means and everything that is ahead of us? No. But I know what is. Great love.