In the aftermath of Team T-Rex (yes, our 3 1/2 year old daughter wanted to be a T-Rex dinosaur for Halloween so we all ended up in dinosaur costumes) and the sugar coma, we shift into November and a month full of significance. The obvious is Thanksgiving, featuring an extended weekend full of turkey and arguably some of the best leftovers, followed by the ever popular Black Friday and Cyber Monday. November is packed full of awareness initiatives for a number of worthy causes. Did you know National Peanut Butter Lovers Month is in November? It looks like we’ll be appreciating the Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins all month long. On a serious note, from Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, long-term health care, National Stress Awareness (November 1), World Diabetes (November 14) to “Movember” an initiative designed to create positive change for men’s health, there is a lot to take in this month. One cause that can often get overlooked is National Adoption Awareness Month. With a goal to increase national awareness and bring attention to the need for permanent families for children and youth in the U.S. foster care system, it can seem daunting to know where to begin. You can start by marking your calendar with a couple of dates - Sunday, November 12 is Orphan Sunday and Saturday, November 18 is National Adoption Day.  If the word adoption brings an immediate reservation or hesitation don't worry, you’re in good company. In November 2013 my wife and I were blessed to be a part of a group of people who stood beside us, prayed with us and believed we would soon be adding a new addition to our family. Little did we know at the time, our new addition would come through the adoption process. This post could easily be the first in a series of dozens (if not hundreds) about the incredible journey we have experienced by saying “yes” to adoption. Our little T-Rex is one of the most incredible blessings I’ve experienced and a beautiful reminder to me as a father what unconditional love is. As much as I love my daughter, it pales in comparison to the love my heavenly Father has for me. When you put that in perspective it changes everything. The fact that we were each chosen before the creation of the world and predestined for adoption by God is mind-blowing. Despite our flaws and imperfections, God loved us enough to give his son so that we could become his sons and daughters. The opportunity we have to extend the hand of adoption to a child in need of a forever family should cause us to pause - not react based on our emotions, but respond in a way to make a difference. The statistics are staggering and right now more than 100,000 children are waiting to be adopted. Every story is different. If you wait to figure out where your perfect fit is you will continue to wait. My prayer this month is you will open your eyes, ears and heart to see, hear and feel how you can become part of a child’s story.