When I sit down to write a list like this, I always get overwhelmed with the possibilities. They are endless. How global and world peacey 
should I go, how much navel gazing is allowed? I can easily survey my list and feel self centered and petty. Who am I to be wishing for _______, when there are people dying from war and famine in ___________. I want this list to be specific to those of us touched by infertility and adoption, but first, for the record and to appease my guilt and self consciousness, let me say that I hope, wish and pray for peace and dialog between countries; for wisdom, support, and safety for our leaders; and for economic stability internationally, nationally, and personally.
Now here’s my list, in no particular order, for those of us in some way involved with adoption and infertility.
1. I hope all of you who desperately want a child will have one by the end of 2018, or at least one on the way.
2. I pray for wisdom for all of you in infertility treatment in making all the big and small treatment decisions.
3. I wish that more countries would actively promote adoption as one part of their child welfare system, since every child in the world deserves a permanent family.
4. I hope for major advancements in infertility treatment that will make it affordable for all. (See the great Dec. 10th Creating a Family show on this topic.)
5. I pray that more people will look to our foster care system when considering adoption.
6. I wish there would be more understanding and less competition between those who decide to continue in infertility treatment and those who decide on adoption.
7. I hope that parents through donor egg and sperm will be open to the hard-earned wisdom of the adoption community about the benefits of telling children early about their genetic history.
8. I pray that the truth that adoption works can overcome the negative publicity that seems to surround all forms of adoption.
9. I wish for wisdom of state legislators as they consider the impact of legislation that can affect the availability of infertility treatment in their state.
10. I hope, pray and wish for each of you the joy, worry, contentment, and sleep deprivation of parenthood.
Please join in and add your hopes and prayers for 2018.
Image credit: Larry Eiring
I am deeply moved when I read Deborah’s wishes and I connect to her writing about adoption in general. It’s refreshing to get a view that is both analytical and yet with humor as well.
Randi said it best for me. It is exactly what I have been asking for our path. Clarity for which way to turn next. We’ve been through a lot in the last 4 1/2 plus years and we know adoption is for us. I have to believe this is the year we will truly find the how and the where and to have the courage to go for it again, but this time successfully.
Great Post…..
I found your site on stumbleupon and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
Thanks for sharing….
My wish, prayer, and hope for 2009 is that my husband and I can finally come to a consensus about which treatment is right for us, and be able to move forward with it. More than anything, I wish for his inner peace and acceptance of his infertility so that he feels happy about the prospect of building our family together, however that may come about.
I pray that adoption would be more socially excepted as a normal way to create a family…particularly here in east Asia where ignorance is rife.
I pray that more people know about “HIV babies” that are up for adoption (most of which don’t have HIV, but their birth mothers do)
I think Dawn is right about that show, if not..that’s a good one too. It could also have been the one on egg donation http://www.blogtalkradio.com/creatingafamily/2007/12/19/Creating-a-Family-Having-a-Baby-Through-Egg-Donation
I’m glad my words could help you. I have sooo been there and know how low and hopeless it can feel. I was released from ‘infertility prison’ May 2008. I hope you get the keys, whatever they are, to be ‘released’ soon!
I pray that we can file our I600 and bring our daughter home from Vietnam SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joanna, your words meant more than you will probably know. Do you remember what Creating a Family show it was. I listen to most if not all the shows, and I don’t remember that. Of course, it may not have registed with me at the time.
Joanna, thanks for the thoughtful post. I remember the comment and thought it was right on target. I think it was during my interview with Dr. Diane Ehrensaft, a developmental psychologist on the Feb. 6, 2998 Creating a Family show. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/creatingafamily/2008/02/06/Parenting-children-conceived-through-Assisted-Reproduction
Am I right?
Jennifer, I too will hope and pray that this is the year for you!
Thanks for the great list Dawn.
Randi…I was in exact shoes not too long ago. We had done many treatments and we were deciding between egg donation and adoption. One of Dawn’s guests on her radio show sealed the deal for me. She said to think about what kind of story for your child you most comfortable telling. We had been leaning towards adoption but that was it for me. I knew that adoption
was the ‘story’ I was most comfortable telling my child.
We are expecting a referral from Korea in the next few months and I have total faith that it was the best decision for our family.
I hope you find peace with whatever decision you come to.
Boy, I understand about praying for a path to appear. It also wouldn’t hurt if there were a few neon signs pointing the “right” way. I hope 2009 brings you clarity.
I too wish, hope and pray for all the big stuff, but on a personal level, I pray for clarity of which way we should go to build our family. I wish a path would appear without so many obstacles and I would know the right way to go. Maybe 2009 will finally be the year.