Pomp and Circumstance...

I love music.  I know this is no real shocker to most of you reading this, but just in case you didn't know:-)  However, I do have to confess there is one song that I've heard enough of for this year: Pomp and Circumstance.  It's like the classical version of "This is the song that never ends..." because literally, " it goes on and on..." lol:)  It's funny to me, because it's SUCH a short song and we use it as a processional for (often) HUNDREDS of students to walk into, one by one.  Wouldn't a longer song have been more appropriate?  Like maybe "Total Eclipse of the Heart" or something like that--it's at least 7 minutes long!  Well...OK, maybe that wouldn't be the best choice for an academic ceremony, but you get my point, right?;-)

At any rate, we have just left the month of May and entered into June which means we are surrounded by a land flowing with caps and gowns.  Yes, I poke fun at the never-ending processional, but Pomp and Circumstance signifies a very special and important milestone in life: graduation.  I'll never forget the feeling of walking across the stage to receive my college diploma...well, maybe I've forgotten how my feet felt because they were numb from being so cold outside!  (The difference between Illinois and Texas in May!)  Seriously though, it was a very special day for me.  I worked so hard to receive that degree--so many sleepless nights of studying, long hours of practicing, and stress-filled tests and performances--but as my shoes clicked across that graduation stage as I heard my name called, even the most difficult times I endured in college (and believe me, my college years were full of LOTS of drama!) became so very worth it all.  There was a sweetness that pushed its way through the bitterness and made everything worth it all.  God had allowed me to persevere; it was really an amazing moment for me.

So why do I bring all of that up on our adoption blog?  Well, as we were attending DH's cousin's high school graduation this past weekend (Chris-we are SO proud of the young man you've become and the way you strive to please God with your life! It was so special to be there to help you celebrate such a great accomplishment!) I found myself thinking of the parallels between graduation and adoption.  I know it's stretching things just a bit, but I'm finding that everything in life is starting to all mesh together these days (can you tell it's on my mind much?;-)  It takes a lot of time and energy to graduate from any stage in life.  Among other things, you face difficulties, make priorities in your time management, and anxiously wait for the day to come when it's all over.  And, when that day does arrives, all of that hard work is accounted for and you have something to show for it that you're very proud of.  Adoption is like that, too--We've faced difficulty in TTC, committed lots of our time to finishing paperwork, made the requirements a priority in our lives, and now we are anxiously awaiting the day when we will hold our bab(ies) in our arms and realize it was truly all worth the wait.  I truly just cannot wait for that moment!  In the mean time, it kind of feels like we're stuck in the processional of that "song that never ends," but I do know that eventually the last note will sound and we will "graduate" from this stage in our lives...  *smiles*  I can't even imagine what it's going to be like, but it's exciting to try:)  Just remind me to bring a copy of "Pomp and Circumstance" with me to the hospital when it does happen--maybe I'll have them play that over the loudspeaker at the hospital instead of Brahms's Lullaby!:-)

.....................................................
Worth the Wait
Such a long road lay ahead
Never thought this day would come and bring it to an end
But now hear you are
In my arms
So many tears I had cried
But now they're tears of happiness I can leave the pain behind
Because now here you are
In my arms

And you've filled our hearts with such hope
and our lives with such joy
You're the one that ours hearts were yearning for
And with every breath that you take
And every smile that you make
Please know that you were surely worth the wait
So welcome to our world...