Adoption is NO JOKE

It's only been one week and yet in some ways it already feels like a lifetime.  Some parts of me feel like "K" has always been with us and yet a part of me keeps looking at this little girl and wondering how she got here and why. 

Adoption is tough.  Adoption is hard work.  Adoption is uncomfortable. Adoption is NO JOKE!


We knew that things were going to change, for all of us.  We knew that it would take time to adjust to a new normal.  We knew a lot of things.  What we didn't understand was just how much this would require of us, physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually.   


What we also didn't understand was even through the extreme exhaustion and frustration God would be drawing our hearts to love a little girl, who for the first time in eight years may be able to see true love, God's love!


I won't dwell on the difficult details of this past week, but I will tell you the amazing things I have seen happen in me and my family so far.  Our boys, who normally pick at and irritate each other for no good reason, have bonded together (partly out of survival instinct) and become true friends this week.  They laugh and spend time together.  Our oldest son even cleaned his entire bedroom this week, WITHOUT being asked, laundry and all.  I have seen them become more servant hearted and helpful.  They offered to make lunch today for the "girls" and even made it a picnic on the back patio because they knew their sister would enjoy that.  They desire to see her happy and adjusted to our new family.  Although the rough moments have been REALLY rough this week, "K" has been able to settle down and accept the changes that are way beyond her control.  God has opened my eyes to show me just how weak and insignificant I am in the bigger picture.  I have become more dependent upon Him for grace and strength in each moment.   Daddy is the backbone of this operation.  Working all day and taking over for a tired Momma as he walks in the door.  He has been amazing and not once has he lost his patience with any of us, even when I forgot to buy him the only thing he asked for at the grocery store! 


While we are far from close to this adjustment being easier or normal, we are pausing to praise our amazing God for just how much He has shown himself to us already.  We are growing in hard ways, but with beautiful results. 


"...and I am sure of this, the He who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  Philippians 1:6


If you are inclined to pray for us, here are some specific ways:


Wednesday, April 2 - We go to court to sign our guardianship papers for legal custody.  This means that her former family will also be signing their surrender paperwork.  Please pray for them. While I do not understand their decision, I know that this cannot be easy for them either. 


 -- Continue to pray for "K" while she transitions to our family.  She is sweet and loving and wants to please, but so very confused on what true love is and what it means.  She asks hard questions that are beyond her ability to understand, but she needs answers. 


-- Continue to pray for our boys as they adjust to their lives and routines being affected by a new addition.  Pray for patience to deal with a sister and her imaginary world of amazement.  Pray for them as they are being molded into servants and leaders.  Pray that the bond they are forming as brothers will be everlasting.


-- Continue to pray for us as parents to all three of our children.  While "fairness" is not a true concept because they come from different places, we want to love them equally.  Pray for strength on the hard days and rest when things aren't so difficult.  Pray for strength in our marriage as our days our long and our time together is lessened right now. 


--Most of all, pray that God would be glorified in the story He is writing in our family --