Bringing Home Baby Norton!

When we realized adoption would be the means to build our family, we did an incredible amount of research on programs - domestic vs. international, then countries - many of which we were immediately eliminated from just by having a diagnosis of a health issue, and also agencies.  To be honest, we had not even considered Ethiopia and had decided to go the domestic route until we went to an orientation by an agency which we thought ran both domestic and international programs.  One of their largest programs was in Ethiopia, so they spent a good deal of time discussing that to many interested families.  Then, we heard about the conditions over there:  4 million orphans, projected to only increase, due to disease, starvation and quality of life, almost 300,000 of whom will not live to see their fifth birthday.  Seeing the pictures of these beautiful faces who so desperately need a loving family, and knowing that we have so much to give, it seemed an easy choice.  Both of us left the meeting feeling like this is the path we are meant to follow.  We know we will experience challenges completing an international, transracial adoption.  I am not worried at all about raising a child of another culture and ethnicity, but I do feel an enormous sense of responsibility to keep them connected to their heritage so that they will grow up to be well adjusted and confident adults.  We know that we will deal with ignorance and racism almost certainly, but we feel well prepared for this journey.  Thank you again to all of you who are so supportive of us in this endeavor, and we look forward to making many happy memories together.  Below are the lyrics to the song on our website, which is "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.  We feel it so perfectly captures how we feel about what lies ahead for us, and what has drawn us so magnetically to Ethiopia to begin our family.

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it 
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted 
I fell right through the cracks 
and now I'm trying to get back 
Before the cool done run out 
I'll be giving it my bestest 
Nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention 
I reckon its again my turn to win some or learn some 

I won't hesitate no more, no more 
It cannot wait, I'm Yours 

Well open up your mind and see like me 
Open up your plans and damn you're free 
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love 
Listen to the music of the moment maybe sing with me 
We're just one big family

It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love love 

So I won't hesitate no more, no more 
It cannot wait I'm sure 
There's no need to complicate 
Our time is short 
This is our fate, I'm yours 

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror 
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer 
But my breath fogged up the glass 
And so I drew a new face and I laughed 
I guess what I'm saying is there ain't no better reason 
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons 

It's what we aim to do 
Our name is our virtue 

I won't hesitate no more, no more 
It cannot wait I'm yours
There's no need to complicate 
Our time is short 
This is our fate, I'm yours 

Well no no, well open up your mind and see like me 
Open up your plans and damn you're free 
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love 
Listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me 
I like one big family (2nd time: I like happy family) 
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love love love 

I won't hesitate no more 
Oh no more no more no more 
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved, I'm sure 
Theres no need to complicate 
Our time is short 
This is our fate, I'm yours 

No I won't hesitate no more, no more 
This cannot wait I'm sure 
There's no need to complicate 
Our time is short 

This is our fate, I'm yours, I'm yours