From 6 to 7

And so it began.  Our little family has gone from 6 to 7 for the time being and we’re all in love.  Everyone has done great so far.  We even had 1 of my nieces and 2 of my nephews for the weekend bringing the kid total to 8 in our small house.  Welcome to crazy town people…Crazy.Town.  Truthfully, it was hard.  All you large families out there…kudos…I tip my hat.  Josh Kelley and I are tired.  By the grace of God Amon and the new little one are napping simultaneously right now.

I’ve cried a lot the past few days.  I’ve always said this about things like teaching and becoming a parent and adoption and other big life happenings…even though I’ve taken the classes and I feel like I’m prepared, nothing ever really prepares me until I’m right in the middle of it.  I thought I knew how I would feel when this all went down and then it actually happened and I was not prepared.  I have sobbed over this child and her family.  Our sins are the same in the eyes of Christ.  My junk is no better than theirs and God is madly in love with each of us, desiring only His best for all of our lives.

While we drove to church last night the kids asked a lot of questions and I did my best to answer them truthfully and to where they could understand.  They are already all in.  Harper is deeply in love.  We keep reminding them over and over again…we want her to be able to go home…back with her family…that is the goal.  We all need compassion and empathy so we are tying to place ourselves in other shoes.  Right now our role is to love love love this child and her family.  There is no room for judgment…there’s a giant plank in my own eye for goodness sakes.  Our role is to love and support and show everyone involved Jesus.  And to pray.  Hudson wanted to know, “What can we do?”  I told him to pray and I know he will and his prayers will delight God’s heart.  I keep reminding them that God’s plans are far better than we could ever imagine, we all make mistakes and sin and God loves every single one of us…no one more than the other.

I didn’t know how this would all go.  I didn’t know how we would feel.  Some people have told us “Congrats” and I take that as “Congrats on this honor and privilege you’ve been given” because that’s just what it is.  An honor and privilege to step in for a little bit and love.  Anything good or special about our family is because of Jesus.  He deserves all the praise and glory because without Him we are nothing.  He is mighty and loving and sovereign and He is everything that is good.  To say yes to Him is a gift.

So I may be a little absent here and there.  We’re all leaning into Jesus a little more because sometimes things seem so big and  we feel so small.  I was reminded last night at church we can do hard things because of Christ, nothing is impossible for Him and there is such power in His name.

11 Comments

  1. Sherry jones says:

    You are a wonderful example of a family with a servant’s heart. I find your posts to be very inspiring and encouraging. Keep up the good work!

  2. Laura, I’m so glad I got to meet you at Craft Weekend. I have really enjoyed following you on IG and Facebook and your blog is so refreshing. Thank you for sharing with all of us your everyday life. Praying for you and your family!

  3. Laura, There are days I cry myself to sleep when I think of my little man and his bio family. The only way we can walk this road is through the strength of our Lord and Savior! Every holiday, special day laugh, and cry that I get to be Mommy for is so bitterly beautiful. It is hard to explain to many not walking this road. My congrats was that the beginning of this journey you longed for has come. Praying that in the midst of the yucky hard stuff and the beautiful mess you will fill His presence and lean more fully on him!

    • It is so bizarre isn’t it?!?!?! I felt this anxiousness for it to start, but then I knew no news was good news and then it began and holy cow!!!! Oh the emotions. I think the range of emotions involved is what really have me so exhausted. Thank you for your words of wisdom…I could use all I can get.

  4. Stacey Roeber says:

    Wow! How very wonderful. We have been on the path to become foster parents and have still not yet finished. Miscarriages, life events, “can we do this”…..are just SOME of rocks we have stumbled over. I wish I could ask you so many questions. I wish I could ask you how you get through the scrutiny, the rules, the feeling of “what if they say we are not good enough”.
    I LOVE your attitude/thoughts with regard to the birth family, we are there, I think, I pray every day about it. I want to be a safe place not only for a child but for an adult who is hurting. UGH! All this “vomit” to say. YAY! congrats and blessings.

  5. Praying for you and your family as a foster/adoptive mama myself. 🙂 Oh how I remember those delicate first weeks! Special times. Praying also for sweet baby and her birth family. Nothing is impossible with God. HOPE ALWAYS. <3

  6. You and your family are so amazing. Such a lucky child to be in your care. This is going to be trial and error time, but I know God has already given you what you need to do this. Bless you all!

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