Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

a beautiful gift.

One more homecoming post because I just can’t help myself. 🙂

Our ridiculously talented friend {who created this amazing video for us last year for Pure Charity}, offered to film our airport homecoming. I could not be more grateful. What a beautiful capture of an incredible day!!

{Random tip: I advise against having a microphone on when you are nervous/anxious/excited. You may forget all about it and say “holy cow” entirely too many times. I’m just saying, it’s a possibility}.

Click HERE for the video. And be prepared to cry, or maybe that’s just me…

Thank you, Zach, for this incredible gift!!!

week one.

The moment he saw his long-awaited little sister for the first time.

Wow. What a week! My head is still spinning from being blown away by God’s faithfulness to our family.

The fact that Dr. Laure was able to bring our daughter home and help with the first few days of transition is just a blessing beyond what any words could describe. She helped Sylvie feel safe and know that this is her new home. She left yesterday morning and I was prepared for a major meltdown but it didn’t happen.

In fact, yesterday was a sweet, sweet day. I know we were being covered in prayer and I absolutely felt them. We experienced so many moments that were just beautiful and holy. Dancing together in the kitchen when the song “beautiful things” came on… eating cake together to celebrate the birthdays we spent apart… snuggled up with both of her brothers and her sister and daddy and I in Nate’s bed for bedtime stories…

I have so much to share from this past week but I only have a few brief moments while Sylvie and Charlotte are both napping and the boys are down at the pond fishing with Nana. So, I will just say this: life is busy.

It’s busier than I ever remember it. Busier than it was with newborn twins.

Yet, slowly, moment by moment, we are starting to find a rhythm and have little glimpses each day that we will make it through this season and find our new normal. Sylvie is adjusting so much better than I had anticipated. The boys are doing so well with all of the changes. Ben is so, so sweet and patient with her. Nathan is having a harder time – he is craving more of my attention and affection. At the end of the day, I am completely worn out from pouring into these four little ones all day. I want them all to feel loved and safe and secure. Yet, I know that I can entrust them all to Jesus. He will protect and shepherd their hearts. I do not need to do this alone. He is right here beside me.

We are being loved on so well by our community. We are well fed and errands are being taken care of. The blessing of a meal prepared and delivered each evening is beyond words. I have no time to even think about food preparation so this seemingly simple act of cooking for our family is just an immense gift right now.

I have so many memories and photos to share from our first week together. Everything is a first and things are new and exciting {and sometimes new and scary} for Sylvie. It’s been such a joy watching this new world unfold before her eyes.

One of my close friends who has walked this long road with us step by step was there at the airport last week taking photos. I had to share a few. What an incredible night this was. Surrounded by the very people who have been on their knees beside us praying our girl home. God was in that airport and everyone there witnessed His glory and His victory.

The boys were so excited and nervous. Everyone told me Nate was fidgeting with his hands the whole time he waited for us…

Dave and I met Laure and Sylvie at the gate and the rest of our family waited at the top of the escalators for us… 

This was the moment they first spotted us!

Friends and loved ones welcoming her home!

The adoption community is such a beautifully, tight-knit, encouraging and loving community … friends that I’ve made during this journey have become some of my closest confidants. Only another adoptive momma can fully understand the heartaches and the joys. My dear friend, Suzanne, drove seven hours in a day to be here to welcome Sylvie home. I started bawling when I saw her. I still can’t believe she made the trip just to give me a hug on this long-awaited day. Incredible!
I have never noticed this sign hanging in the airport before.
“No matter where you’re from… You’re home now.”
Wow.  

Crazy family of SIX!!!!! 

She was so scared and overwhelmed after making the long journey home. 
It has been an absolute joy watching her personality emerge over this past week as she has started to feel comfortable and safe here. We are overwhelmed at the honor it is to have a front-row seat to God’s redemptive and healing power at work. 
Thank you all for the prayers, words of support and encouragement and love. We are grateful beyond words!!!!

She is HOME!!!!

Jumping on very quickly while she is napping (and she fell asleep in my arms holding my hand… Magical…) to say thank you. Thank you for the outpouring of love for this precious child. I am humbled and honored to be given the gift of being her momma. I haven’t had a chance to catch up on all of the texts, Facebook posts, phone calls and emails… (The virtual airport party on Facebook made me weep)! This has been the most incredible experience. Knowing that God is receiving every ounce of Glory for the miracle He performed to bring her home, is an answered prayer in itself.

I will share more soon …

In her own bed- finally!!
For now, this sweet video of our reunion. The births of my boys and Charlotte and this moment are the most emotional of my life. What a ride. I still can’t believe this is real. 
Click Here for the news story and video. 

He is FAITHFUL.

My hands are trembling as they hover above my computer’s keyboard. The words won’t come. There simply are no words to describe the emotions I’m feeling today. The fact that I am typing this post is an absolute miracle orchestrated by a Mighty, Faithful, Merciful, Powerful and so very GOOD God.

Our daughter, SYLVIE {I can finally type her name!!!}, is COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

God has carried us through every single moment over the past 602 days since we said “yes” to our precious daughter. Every, single one. The mountain top moments, the dark steps through the valley, the tears of joy and the gripping tears of despair… He has been right there.

He has whispered His promises over me, He has carried me when I was too worn and weary to lift my eyes, He has covered me and protected me. He has provided for my every need: every single dime spent on our adoption has come from His hand, He has surrounded us with a faith community of prayer warriors who have battled beside us for our daughter, He physically removed our girl from a place of darkness into a home filled with His love and His light. He moved me to get on a plane last August and visit our sweet one even when we thought the trip seemed untimely… now, looking back, I can see His hand and His beautiful timing.

I have clung to a truth on this journey: my God never authors pain. I believe this with every fiber of my being. It is the nature of who He is. For this reason, I will not ever say that the long journey was His perfect timing. I don’t believe He wanted her away from my aching arms and heart for 602 long days. I will never believe that, no matter what theology is used to argue this point.

What I do believe is this: He will turn everything {everything!} for our good and His glory. He will use a dark, hard, intense spiritual battle keeping our family separated over two continents and He will transform the tears of sorrow into tears of complete and utter joy. He will give grace in abundance, He will move hearts to give in order to care for His precious children, He will use this war that satan meant for destruction and turn it into a love song for His beloved. He will do it in a way that causes us to shout His praises. As my dear friend, Rory, said today: “We have SEEN victory with our own eyes! Let us never forget that.”

The fact that she is coming home is a miracle. An absolute miracle.

The fact that I wrote these words just four days before we heard the incredible news that my Sylvie-girl will be IN MY ARMS again, is a love song from my Abba Father.

The fact that we sang this song for the first time ever during worship on this past Sunday morning, is a reminder that He is in every detail.

The fact that He gave us this verse as His promise for this journey, makes me fall to my knees in awe.

Y’all, she isn’t just coming home at some point in the near future. She will be home TOMORROW. She is getting on a plane as I type these words. Her foster momma was given permission to fly her home. If that doesn’t shout God’s goodness, I don’t know what does. Her foster mom will stay with us for several days to help with the transition and immediate medical appointments. I am blown away by His ability to accomplish more than I ever thought possible.

The battle is not over yet. Hundreds of children and families still await this incredible day. I will continue to plead on their behalf and I ask that you continue to, as well. She is leaving behind many, many friends that need to be reunited with their mamas and daddies and brothers and sisters. I am praying that this is the beginning of the mountains crumbling into the sea!!!!

I cannot possibly express my deep, deep gratitude to every single prayer warrior reading these words. So many of you have prayed for our Sylvie alongside us. Your words of encouragement here on this blog, your cards in the mail, your texts, your emails, your flowers, your surprise dinners, your necklaces, your photos, your voicemails… you have carried us with each word and prayer and outpouring of love. I am forever grateful and would love to hug each and every one of you the next time our paths cross, whichever side of eternity that may be.

Oh, and, I promise to post a ridiculous amount of photos and videos. Don’t worry one second about that. 🙂

In the meantime, you can finally watch the video I made from our trip last summer… enjoy the overload of adorableness!!!!!