Hard

International adoption is hard.

International adoption of an older child is even harder.

When you know little to nothing about your child's past, it is difficult to know how best to help them adjust and cope with all the changes in their life.

Many in the international adoption community adopt children with medical needs.  It is much easier for them to be open about the challenges they are facing with their child and get the help and support they need.

Many in the international adoption community adopt children with invisible needs.  It is much more difficult for them to be open about the challenges they are facing with their child and get the help and support they need.

It is fine line to walk - balancing the need to share in order to get the needed support with the need to maintain privacy for their child - especially when they are older.

We are fortunate that we have found a small online community of adoptive parents of kids who are dealing with many of these invisible needs.  We are EXTREMELY fortunate that we attend church with a family that has walked down the very road that we are now traversing.

We are dealing with some really big issues with one of our kiddos right now.  They are impacting our entire family. For now, please just keep us in your prayers.  That is the best thing you can do.  This is as much of a spiritual battle as it is a physical/emotional/mental battle.

Ephesians 6:12

New International Version (NIV)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.