I heart open adoption.

Rebekah (our birth mother, if you're just tuning in) and I (also Rebekah) are both back to work and have full schedules right now. Gone are the days of talking weekly, blogging regularly, and sharing pictures and videos back and forth, often. We do the best we can, but it seems that weeks go by before we have a block of time to call and catch up.

I headed to bed early last night, in hopes to gear up for this coming week of work, but I was missing Rebekah and decided to call her instead. The time difference makes it difficult and although I set out to only talk an hour, we chatted well past two.

Friends come in a variety. Some are needy, some are high-maintenance, some walk in and out over time, some are there everyday/through every mundane detail, and some are glued to your heart, unfettered by time or distance. Rebekah is the latter. It doesn't matter how much time passes, we always pick up right where we left off, sharing about work and kids and life.

It will never get old.

She is my son's mother. I've said it before; there is something so unique that happens when two mothers love one son. We're able to laugh and cry and enjoy Ty together as he experiences all his firsts. It's as natural as life. It's not weird or awkward or strained. I don't have to hold back my true feelings in fear of hers and there's a mutual respect in what we've done for each other. I know everyone doesn't get this. I know it looks too good to be true. I've had haters write subsequent posts about me and our relationship and they question the authenticity. It doesn't bother me. I know what we have - what we are experiencing - and it's only made possible through God's grace.

Last night, we laughed over Ty's tendency to throw premature temper tantrums and agreed on the importance of reading to him. We gushed over his cuteness and were thankful for the closeness he shares with his daddy. We talked about his early rising pattern, which Rebekah admitted was a trend in her other kids. To that I jokingly exclaimed, "So, you're responsible for this!?"

Like all moms, we think he's the smartest, cutest, most advanced baby of his time and think he has the perfect blend of biology and family.

The three of us are flying out to reunite with Rebekah and her family, this April. I was so excited last night, I had a hard time falling asleep. The Bible talks about talents and the importance of using and sharing them versus burying them away to be hidden forever. That's sort of how we (Ben and I) view Tyrus. Apart from Christ, he is the greatest treasure we've been given. We don't want to keep him close to home in fear of what may happen. We want to share him and expose him to the world. We want him to be bonded with his first family and are joy-filled that he has the opportunity to know them. We can't wait for our trip and to show everyone how much he's grown!

Because there are so many instances in which God seems absent or his presence hard to find, it's important to make a raucous when we can undeniably see his hand of goodness. When I look at the revolution that has taken place in my heart, the connections that God made to bring us our son, the relationship we have with Rebekah and her kids and extended family, and the ever present smiles on that crazy-haired little boy of mine, I say - GOD, YOU ARE GOOD.

And I say it rather loud.