haven.

our family painting changed once again last week as we welcomed 4 siblings into our 

home on a temporary, emergency basis.  sometimes God grabs your heart with something

and you pray and pray for someone else to do something about it until you realize

the person He has for it is you.  and truly, that could only be God working in the

heart of each of us as we discussed and blind voted.  7 little hands went

up with a yes and joined Matt & my hands that were already there.

we didn't know what was ahead, but we just put our yes out on the table and 

trust that He is in all of it.  

we became 13 and now we are 12.  the exact thing we felt so called to--not splitting

siblings up--has happened.  all i know is that we can't always see the whole

picture, yet we can trust that God does.  i'm so proud of our kids.

their eyes and hearts are being opened in even bigger ways.  they are 

handling it so graciously.  as we talk through the hardest parts at

night--2 hours later than they normally ever go to bed--we come to

the conclusion together that saying yes was better than ignoring a need.

that sometimes, many times, the path God leads us on is hard, narrow

and untraveled.  yet, He leads us and won't leave now.

despite some deep grief and pain, there is so much joy and life added

to our home.  these little people are fun and resilient and smart and

such a joy.  it is a gift to see the friendships forming and the little 

firsts through their eyes.  they are learning about this person they

had sort of heard of before named Jesus and just beginning to

wrap their mind around what He did for them.  

are 3 more children more work?  sure.  

but, as i have been telling them every chance i get…

they are also loved, treasured and worth it. 

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our family is a Safe Family.  Safe Families are a movement of families 

giving hope to children and families in crisis.  learn more HERE.