Habichuelas al Estilo Cubano (Puerto Rico, for real:)

Last night, I inadvertently opened a can of black beans that was not on the menu, which changed out meal plan for tonight to...something with black beans. This unexpected turn in culinary events led me to Habichuelas al Estilo Cubano, Cuban-style black beans, a recipe originating in Cuba, but much loved in Puerto Rico. This ended up being a delightful surprise of a dish with a dash of oregano and more than a splash of vinegar. I used up some of the last of my frozen peppers from last year's garden as well, and my palate felt truely satisfied.

There have been a lot of unexpected moments in our life. I think they call that parenting;) But even our journey to building our family, becoming parents, was full of surprises. We assumed that our children would come to us biologically. When this was not the case, our minds and hearts were open to the alternatives before us, and adoption led us to the delightful unions with our boys. We would not change one moment of the journey that led us to these precious children that so delight us with their bright smiles, vivid imaginations and endless sense of adventure. We are a family that embraces the deep well of uniqueness and joy that comes from adoption, even as we work through the challenges it brings.

So imagine my shock to read that the Archdiocese of Minnesota recently announced to a group of teenagers that adopted children are "sociologically unstable" (whatever that even means). Some of those students were adopted themselves. There were also other inaccurate, ignorant and offensive statements made about families with single mothers or two parents of the same sex. It doesn't matter the source, a stranger, a coworker, a religious organization, or an elected official. Attacking families built on love, respect, affection and joy as something wrong, unstable or immoral is what really erodes the fabric of family systems in America. Not me loving my children or you loving yours.

I have the family I never thought to imagine and am fulfilled in ways I never thought possible. I only wish that those who would judge my choices and my children could know a fraction of this truth, because it could just change the world. It certainly changed mine.