Adjusting

Our primary computer is in the room where K. sleeps, so it has been a while since I've been able to update. These past couple of weeks with baby K. have gone so much more smoothly - amazing what an attitude change combined with a healthier kid and getting everyone over the adjustment hump can do! K. is the sweetest little (big) baby and is a joy to have in our home.

It has also been a joy to watch Javen step into the big brother role (after one terrible week of resistance to sharing mommy) and to see how this is already molding his little character as he learns to love and share. When Javen wakes up in the morning, he immediately starts saying "baby" and can't wait to go to K's room to get him out of his crib, and whenever we are in public and someone new approaches them in their stroller, Javen imediately points proudly to K. to make sure that that new person has noticed "his" baby. It is very cute. Sadly, it is likely that K. may be leaving us in the next week or two, so we may be saying good bye to him and starting all over again with yet another new baby before long.

Although things have improved drastically from that first very rough week with baby K., there have in these last few weeks been days or moments that are intensely frustrating/exhausting/discouraging/etc., and I have been grateful for some sweet friends who have blessed me with words/notes/e-mails/blog comments/calls of encouragement. Some have reminded us to serve as if serving the Lord, and others have reminded us to let this extra child in our home be a humble reminder of the Gospel - of all that Christ has done for us in adopting us as sons into His family. I even received a very sweet annonymous note in the mail with a Target gift card enclosed to help with some of the baby expenses, so if that thoughtful someone is reading this, thank you for blessing me with that, and know that your encouragement could not have come on a better day!

Not everyone has been approving of our decision to foster and/or adopt, and experiencing the discouragement of a negative response as well as the boost from a kind word spoken in the right moment has been a reminder to me to be an encourager- to be careful that the words I speak are words that build up and not words that tear down and to intentionally be more generous with giving encouraging words to others.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ~I Thessalonians 5:11

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. ~Philemon 1:7

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ~Ephesians 4:29


In other family news . . .

We are STILL waiting to get our USCIS approval before we can move forward with getting our paperwork to Rwanda, and we just officially joined Covenant Life Church in Tampa and are LOVING this church and being a part of this wonderful church family. Other than that, nothing else new around here!:)