Blessed beyond measure...

 This week has been a crazy one for us. With the school year wrapping up, Rugby and soccer in full swing, two high schoolers graduating, an open house to plan on Sunday, and a bone marrow transplant looming...I can say that I have not often felt this overwhelmed. But, amidst the stuff that threatened to take away my joy...my contentment...God has reminded me of the blessings so precious in my life. Kaden turned 7 years old. A little baby, abandoned at the hospital, shaking and seizing from the drugs in his system...And now, that same little boy, just finishing up 1st grade and playing soccer for the first time. He is a joy..a delight. He gives us eyes of wonder to see the world as if it was the very first time. He delights in sharks and superheroes and God. He prays and believes that what he asked for will happen. He expects it. His God is big...sometimes I need to remember how big our God is. In the busyness of this week, I do not want to miss an opportunity to come before my God with a thankful heart for the abundant blessings in my life.

And today on our 21st Wedding anniversary, Isaac's adoption was finalized!! Interestingly, we met Aaron on our 5th anniversary 16 years ago...Aaron was our first adoption..and 16 years to the day, we finalized on our 9th adoption. What a busy 16 years it has been...what a wonderful 16 years it has been. After 15 long months waiting for the adoption to be final, we can now breathe easier and continue to enjoy this gift in our life. As I look back on the last 15 months since Isaac joined our family, I can only see God's compassionate care for him and for each of us. We have slept very little since the little guy came to our home...but when our head hits the pillow, we sleep well.


Despite all the struggles that Isaac has had with his health, there is miracle written all over him. A year ago, the doctors told us that they thought his body was shutting down. It didn't. For 10 long months, Isaac was given five times the amount of valium that was originally prescribed because of a pharmacy error.  He should have been knocked out by that amount. He wasn't. Doctors early on did not expect Isaac's development to increase beyond the newborn stage. It did.


Isaac listens from his crib..and waits for his Mom and Dad to come smile at him, talk to him, tell him how much they love him. The grin on his face is worth it all. Today, Isaac rolled over twice (with just a little help.) But, even if Isaac never made another bit of developmental progress, we would rejoice that he was given to us by God. How could God have looked upon us, already so blessed by amazing children, and graciously allowed us to be a part of this wonderful child's life? God's gifts will never cease to amaze me..gifts that may come to us in disguise...not the ones that we may be expecting..not in the shiny, well wrapped boxes...but the broken ones, the utterly dependent ones, the boxes marked.."fragile: handle with care." This one who loves old hymns, hugs and smiles more than anything else... This boy is a gift to us beyond what we could have imagined. Caring for him may cost us much...our sleep, our finances, our aching bodies, our naivety, our selfishness...but it is a price worth paying for something worth so much more. A glimpse into Jesus and the way he sees us..we are utterly dependent on him, we are broken, we are so needy. And yet he desires to save us...to care for us...to adopt us into His family.


I am blessed beyond measure...