Annnnd I’m baaaaccccckkkkk……

As I expected, life is getting in the way of my blogging.  I think about it most every day but the day flies by with the everyday demands of life with my tribe and I fall into bed exhausted every night.  I keep wanting to set time aside to blog when it’s quiet and I can hear myself think, but that’s not the reality of my life right now.  So here it is – a blog post I’m writing on a Friday afternoon at 5pm when everyone is screaming, playing, making messes, etc around me as I attempt to write.  Because if I wait for it to be perfect timing I will never get my thoughts down and I have so many things ruminating around in my heart that I need to get out….edited to add that now it’s Sunday afternoon – Friday was a big fat fail –  Ryan is working and the same things as above are happening but I’m committed to getting this blog DONE….

So, back to the introductions with my precious ladies….

Ella Rose: I absolutely will not be able to write about her without crying.  After two boys in a row, God answered my heart’s cry for a princess to raise.  Ella is an absolute heaven-sent blessing of God to me, and she has been for her entire life.  At almost 14 years old and in 8th grade, she is in the most frustrating age/season of life but she is mostly handling it with grace and poise, with only the occasional weeping dramatic crying episode.  She is truly my right arm, being an amazingly kind and compassionate big sister to all the littles that look up to her worshipfully.  She’s learning to cook and bake, 100% capable at baby and child care, and is so incredibly helpful to me with the most precious heart about it(cue the tears).  I never want her to grow up.  Ella is beautiful and graceful.  She’s been a dancer for over ten years now and she is passionate and committed to her craft.  She’s an introvert until you see her on stage…where the sass and personality come out easily.  I love the paradox that she is and am so thrilled to be allowed a front row seat to witness her becoming all God intends for her to be.

 

Olivia Mae: This shy beauty just turned twelve – what?  My baby girl, the last child I physically bore, and my easiest baby by a long shot is now almost a teen, and in middle school.  So crazy.  Livy is painfully reserved, but if you can get past that quiet exterior, she is hilarious, sensitive, really smart, and passionate about a lot of things.  She is our athlete, playing soccer and participating on the archery team.  I know she feels awkward generally in life right now, but she is growing into an amazing woman who I am so very proud of.  I feel like parenting Liv continues to be a lesson in gentleness and perseverance.  I am forever trying to get her to open up and talk to me more – whether it’s about what’s going on in school or what’s brewing deep in the recesses of her heart, I SO love to hear what she is thinking about and feeling.  I am always worried I am going to hurt her and have her shut me out entirely, so I push forward with Liv with much softness and patience.  I adore her….call her my baby all the time (as she rolls her soulful blue eyes at me)….and …and….I don’t know how to end this description.  I love you Liv.

 

Hannah Grace: This tiny peanut will be six in just a few weeks.  Hannah came to us as a shy, painfully sad toddler of 18 months who had seen and experienced more than any of us should have in a lifetime.  It will likely take us her whole childhood for her to learn to trust us completely and understand how desperately we (and Jesus) love her, but we will keep at it, no matter what.  Every child deserves to know deep in their heart that they are adored.  Hannah is so much more than what meets the eye.  She can be snuggly and sweet, feisty and conniving….just depending on the day.  She loves her siblings, playing dress up, shopkins and house.  She and Bekkah are good buddies, sharing well and playing for hours in their own little world.  Hannah is in kindergarten and thriving in school.  She makes friends easily and is so thrilled to be learning to read.  Hannah is still very much a mystery to me, which I am unpacking and peeling off layers of each day.  I am still in awe that God entrusted us with this tiny soul, and know He will show us each day just what she needs to know how deep and wide His love is for her.

 

Rebekkah Hope: Annnnnnnnd rounding out the caboose of our family is my sweet little Bekkah-boo, the “baby” with the big personality.  This girl has had my heart from day one.  We were called to take placement of her for a weekend, which turned into long term and into forever.  We have called her velcro baby since the start since she is attached to my hip.  Even now as I’m typing this blog, she’s sitting on the arm of the recliner where I’m sitting.  She always needs to know where I am, what I’m doing and why she isn’t a part of it.  This girl loves to play with her sibs or whichever foster baby who happens to be staying with us, has something to say about everything, and charms every person she meets.  She used to be really reserved – not anymore! – she is happy to have her two cents heard about any topic, and she has an opinion about most everything.  Bekkah really is a true JOY to my heart.  I feel fiercely protective of this sweet munchkin and all that’s bubbling up out of her every day.  I’m so thankful she’s my caboose so I can slow down and enjoy every silly phrase and giggle.  I truly am enjoying every moment.

 

That’s all folks.  This blog took me three days to get out of my heart, and now it’s time to publish…next up I think I’ll share some thoughts about our why to foster care and where we are at with things wrapping up in that phase of our life. 🙂