Wordless Wednesday: Bittersweet

April 8th

Today, April 8th, is a very special day. Twelve years ago, on April 8, 2002, after almost 2 years of starting the adoption process, our family finally got "the call" from our adoption agency telling us about my new baby sister. She was just over a year old and as cute as could be. That day, our lives were changed forever. I was no longer the only girl in my family and we were no longer a family of 8 but instead, a family of 9.This was the day, that we saw her face for the first time. And after months of praying for this little girl who we had no idea who she was, in that moment, we knew. She was forever ours. 

Today is extra special because not only because it has been 12 years since we first saw Kiah's face, but today, April 8, 2014, Handsome has left to join his forever family. He is no longer an orphan, but is now a son, a brother, and a grandson. We have loved him and provided the medial care he much needed and now the time has come for him to leave us and start the next chapter in his life. 

Yes, April 8th will continue to be a very special day to me. It's a day of redemption, new beginnings, and when forever families are formed. 

"He places the lonely in families."

Psalm 68:6

Loved

We recently took a trip to the hair salon for hair cuts. It's not quite so scary when you have one of your mama's holding your hand. 

Our kids are blessed to have so many nannies or "mama's" loving on them until their forever families come for them.

Wordless Wednesday: Boy & his Truck

Wordless Wednesday

Birthdays

Birthdays are special.

They are a day that is all about you.

A day to celebrate YOU!

For my kiddos, birthday's are indeed special but also make my heart ache.

Each of these children were abandoned.

I can not help but think of their birth mothers.

What is their story?

Why were they left?

Was that the last option?

I know that each of my kiddos birth mothers loved them so much that they were willing to let them go to give them hope.

And to me, my friends, that is a courageous act.

As we celebrated this little guy's 4th birthday today, I couldn't help but think of his birth mom.

I am so thankful that she gave him life and hope.

Happy 4th Birthday Handsome!

Know what will be even better? 

Your 5th birthday because that one will be spent with your forever family!

Wordless Wednesday

The Good

I feel like I have been writing a lot of "real" posts lately. And real is good, but also it's not always the most enjoyable. I feel like I have been writing a lot about the "hard."
The thing is that yes, there is hard and a lot of it! 

But there is also good. 

And God is doing so many good things in my life.

My mornings are wonderful.
And once I get myself out of bed, are probably my favorite part of the day!
After sitting out on my balcony with a cup of coffee listening to the sounds of nature while I have my quiet time with God (except for yesterday when I overslept.... oops!), I go to the foster home where I am greeted by numerous little hands reaching up to be picked up.

How is that not the most incredible thing in the world?

To be loved by so many little people.

Little ones who ache and crave for my attention and love. 

Just to be loved and snuggled and kissed.

*Sigh* I love it.
And honestly, it's something I often take for granted.
When I'm feeling sorry for myself and wallowing in what I DON'T Have, I often forget to look at at what I DO have.
Do I have children of my own yet?
Not exactly.
But I am "mam" to 11 precious little sweeties for the time being.
Will they be mine forever?
No.
Once their adoptive families come to bring them home, I have to let them go.
And let me tell you, that is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.
It's something that I feel almost guilty about because they are joining the families God has prepared for them.
But yet, I am left missing them and feeling like part of my heart left as well.

God has done a healing in my heart this last year. 

If many of you have followed my blog for a while, you know that 2011 was a hard year.
A very hard year. If I had allowed myself to be "diagnosed" I definitely would have been depressed.
But the God of mercy, grace, and healing, has brought me into a new place.
A place that honestly I never would have gotten to had I not gone through what I did in 2011. 

And 2012 was a year of continued healing and restoration but also moving forward.

I know God has big plans for this upcoming year, my second year in China (!).

Of course I have no idea what those plans will be.
All I know is that it will be good.
Very, very good.