NO Longer MIA

It’s July. Yes, I realized that the last time I blogged was in February. 
I needed to take a break to walk the new road that the LORD was calling me and my family too.   

In a nutshell:

In January, we pulled Isaiah from public school.   It was a very fast decision.  In the middle of the 1^st week back after Christmas break, we prayerfully decided he needed to be home.  Friday was his last day.  No curriculums ordered…no clue what I was going to do…just trusting the LORD to guide us in regards to Isaiah. 

Shortly after that, Brian left a 17 year career with his construction company.  After a year of praying, researching, praying, testing, praying, reasoning with God and then finally submitting, he resigned to start a non-profit.  (More info to come on this later.) 

And then to top it off, like icing on a cake that you are too full to eat, we adopted a dog.  Why?  Because that’s what it looks like when you are fighting for the heart of a grieving child.  Did I want one?  NOT.AT.ALL!   But to see your adopted son curling up to your adopted dog and saying, “Ginger, I’ll love you forever because you and me, we are both adopted.  You are going to love it here because it’s the best family ever.  I’m going to play with you and feed you and tell you about Jesus so we can be together forever!” was worth every muddy paw and chewed up pillow we’ve had in the last 6 months. 

All of this going on while I was still healing from a surgery I’m not convinced I needed, and health concerns I still didn’t have answers to. 

I’m not going to lie.  Some days were very difficult.  This was all unchartered territory for me.  And keeping up with 3 at a school while trying to figure out how to home school one with some learning difficulties was…AHEM…difficult to say the least.

But you know the verse about the LORD’s strength made perfect in your weakness?  Well yeah, that’s how I survived – every moment of every day.  And when I finally relinquinshed and gave it ALL over to the LORD, my days got easier, my joy lingered and my hope returned.  I am treasuring those moments of laughter and celebrating the victories.  Why?   Because there is ALWAYS "rejoicing in the morning." 

Here are a few moments that are worthy of celebrating:

Though it happened before January, it’s too important not to go back to.  Jaxon had made the decision to follow Christ a few years ago, but every time we discussed baptism, he would say he wanted to wait for his brother to be home.  So on 9/11 at 9:11, 5 ½ months after Isaiah came home, our 10 year old sons, brothers who will carry the same last name forever, were baptized together.  

(I'm so sad but I can't get the pictures to download. :(  Just trust me, it was beautiful!)

In the spring, Jaxon received the Award of Excellence in Writing from the State of Texas for a piece he wrote on Diversity.  It was for the PTA Reflections contest.  He usually doesn’t show the initiative for writing, but he saw the topic and came home one night and said, “Mom, I think if anyone knows diversity, it’s our family.”  So he sat down and wrote about our family.  It was beautiful to see his heart so vulnerable and tender.   Very Proud Momma Moment!!

On March 18^th, we celebrated our Gotcha day!!  I found a Caribbean restaurant downtown so we got all fancied up and had an amazing dinner that Isaiah LOVED!  Ruth just wanted chicken from Chick-Fil-A. J 

Our precious baby girl, whose name should be Joy, turned 7 in May. And she got a full, invite-the-class, kind of birthday party.  I have never let the kids invite more than 5-10 kids, but Ruth’s face just lit up at the mention of all her “best friends” in her Kinder class playing with her at her party. Obviously I couldn’t say “No.” J But I couldn't say "Yes" to 25 kids either, so we compromised - she could invite all the girls in her class.   She insisted on a swim party!

Ruth with two of her favorite friends from school.

Oh, how I treasure this little girl! 

The last few months have brought a shift in the relationship between Chloe and Ruth. They got along from the moment they met, but it’s become something deeper lately. And it’s absolutely beautiful to watch. So much so, that I find myself saying yes to things that I would never have condoned prior to adopting. For example, sleeping together on school nights.  Even when I say, “Not tonight,” I find them like this… 

They have their own secret sister dance that is adorable. Their baths take over an hour because they can’t stop talking and playing long enough to wash. Chloe will sneak snacks to Ruth when she senses a meltdown is on its way. They have a formed a bond that brings tears to my eyes just typing this. This is Jesus…plain and simple. And it’s humbling and inspiring and its beautiful.

And then May came and our summer league swim season started. For the next 2 months, I loved on and coached 182 swimmers, including all my 4!! This was an amazing season and I couldn’t be more proud of each and every swimmer. And once again, I’m left with tan lines that someone my age shouldn’t be sporting. J Isaiah finished the season with the Most Improved award in his age group. YEAH!!

Brothers

Me and the other coaches, after winning the coaches relay. :)

Blessings!
Jen

"But I will sing of your strength,

in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress,

my refue in times of trouble.

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely." Psalm 59:16-17