Unexpected Tears

I suppose there have been a thousand little moments where I have recognized again that the boys are finally "our boys."  Sweet relief and joy have begun to fall to more normal levels as I realize no one is going to pull the rug out from underneath our family.

Today I got the mail.  We received new medical cards with their legal names and I burst into unexpected tears of joy.

I love them so much.  I love our family.  My one little girl and her four  rowdy brothers.  I couldn't have asked for greater joy than than what God has given.  Now the state sends me these precious words of affirmation.  

Beautiful,  beautiful, day.  :)

You see?!

These faces illustrate perfectly why bedtime can be a wild affair in this house!

11 Years of Preparation.

May of 2003.  Diagnosis Infertility.  The idea of adoption is born.

Feb 2004 my first son is born.

June 2005 I know we are supposed to have another child. I tell Ryan to choose adoption or more infertility treatments.  I am truly  okay with either choice.

May 2006.  My baby girl is born.  One for each hand.  I am content.

February 2007 adoption and foster care is celebrated at our church.  We decide to become foster parents.

June 2008.  We move out of state.  Fostering is set aside.

January of 2010  I woke up from the first of 3 vivid dreams about having more babies.  These dreams plant a new seed of a dream.

April 2010.  We start the process for international adoption.  This plan falls through.

September 2011 we become licensed foster parents.

January 2012 our three little boys join our family as foster children.

May 2014.  Obadiah, Malachi, and Zebedee become our forever babies.

I am amazed as I look back at the journey that has brought us to this point.  There were times the dream seemed so far away and impossible but here we are.

Matthew 19:26 (New International Version)

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."