Many More Yeses

I write.  I share.
I attempt to put words to God's love and His hand in our family.
So, you hear from me.
But you don't get to hear as much from the beautiful heart next to me.
The heart that holds me and works alongside me.
The heart that lifts me.
The heart that balances me.
The heart that puts up with me.

I have always and will always love Kevin and his heart.
I am so thankful for Kevin and for how God has blessed me and our family through him.

This adoption journey began in a moment when God spoke to Kevin's heart, and Kevin said yes.
Kevin said yes; I said yes with him.
God was faithful.

Kevin penned the beginning of the blog to explain - How It Began
Kevin chose the verse and the prayer:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2
 - Transforming Love

Kevin puts his family first in so many ways, big and small.
He has ALWAYS made time for our kids and arranged his schedule for them.  He even stepped down from a career coaching position this year - just for his kids.
God has honored Kevin's choices and sacrifices, and God has helped us and continues to help us.

Now, with four kids, our teamwork has really ramped up.  We're double-teamed on every play, so our game has changed. 
* Kevin always plays best under pressure - so we got this :)

Some people assume marriage pulls you away from ministry, like a distraction from God.
I guess anything can do that if you let it, but I believe . . .
When God is in the midst of your marriage,
When both are striving to give life to Him,
Two yeses are stronger than one.
Two hearts are stronger than one.
No marriage gets it right all the time.  Kevin offers me big grace
every day. 
But when we give it to God, He fills in the gaps.
The unity and strength He created to be in marriage is an amazing gift.

I love that Kevin is on my team, and I am so thankful for every day.
May God bless us with many more yeses.

Drew, Kate, Sofi, and Luke have a very special Daddy.

One Month

Today marks one month.
One month ago we made the journey HOME with Sofi.
It seems so short.  She spent 3 years without a real home and family, but her forever has begun.

I can't even put into words how breathtaking it all is.

This month has been very full.  Full of love.  Full of emotions.  Full of changes.
Some of it has been shockingly smooth, and some of it is still really hard.
The changes have been drastic for all of our kids, and it tugs at all our emotions.
Some of the stresses are confusing for little ones, but God is helping each of us work through it.

No tear or meltdown could compare, though, with the beauty of this transformation.

"Transforming Love" was chosen very intentionally.  It was a hope, but mostly it was a prayer.
A prayer for the change we knew love could bring for a little girl, but even more the change we wanted to see take over in our own hearts.
You can't experience God without it changing you - deep, to-the-core, heart change.
We wanted God to work in us, around us, through us.

Transformation is never easy.  We knew that from day one.
This entire journey has taken us through different kinds of change, but these most recent moments are sincerely intense.
 
Intense in very good ways, but also tough.
Because it's real, and because God doesn't share space.  As our relationship with God grows, we have to whittle away - or rip away - things that shift our priorities.

The transformation we have prayed for Sofi is truly outrageous to witness.  Some things have literally proven to be miracles, and some have revealed God's Providence in her life since the beginning.

So, one month:
"porridge diet" to best eater in the house
milk from a dropper to cup chugger
hip hugger to runner
diapers to pull-ups
no voice to chatter
fear to laughter

Her whole world is new, and I love seeing her love it.

Sofi is sweet, loving, smart, silly, sassy, and hilarious.
She fits in to this bunch so perfectly, and I just love all four of my babies so much!

  

Jesus - our Saviour. . . and brother

This post:  The Father's Love has prove to be very true.
So, as I look to grow closer to my God, I am reminded to learn from Jesus.

I am so thankful for my children and the gift they are to me and each other.
And, I am so thankful for the gift of Jesus!