It's Our Life...

I will be the first to admit that our life is crazy!  When you ask me how we are I try to be as honest as possible - I will often say we are "Good...busy" or maybe "Busy...tired".  I get a LOT of comments on how crazy we are and how people don't know how we do it!  People with awe in their voice tell me they admire me for what our life entails and say often that they couldn't do it.  BUT there is nothing miraculous about what we do - there is no recipe to success or magic App on the smart phone that helps us be in 3 places at once or an extra patience pill to help us through the hard days.  The reality is that when people say they don't know how we do it they are absolutely right - I don't know how we do it either!  I don't know how we did Indoor soccer, basketball, wrestling, outdoor soccer, and baseball for FIVE kids ALL within the last SIX months!  I don't know how we got the kids bathed, clothed, fed, and to school with homework in hand among our crazy schedule of extracurricular activities.  I am still not sure how we make it through the day without someone killing someone else - we've had a few attempts but at the end of the day we always seem to come out united.  I'm not sure how I keep my sanity when we are in the ER every other week with some new injury.  I am not sure how we have enough strength and energy in a day to guide and direct our children to make choices that they are proud of.  The only explanation I have is that we are not in charge (THANK GOODNESS) but GOD walks and guides and directs us each and every step.

I don't know HOW we do it - but you know what - I do know WHY we do it!  When people tell me they couldn't do it I don't believe them - I don't believe them because they WOULD do it.  They are your kids - you love them and care for them - you help guide them and protect them - you lose your temper with them and you model grace - you cheer for them on the sidelines and help them with their math.  You talk deep with them and you admire them for who they are becoming.  You play with them and belly laugh with them.  You teach them the fine art of camping and smore making!  Our life gets crazy because we have FIVE blessings to consume our lives but it does not make us heroic - it just makes us that much more blessed!

A year ago this week we were in Ethiopia meeting our boys for the first time.  It was our first time all together as a family of seven.  We have had a lot of amazing times this year but we have had a lot of hard times too!  There are days full of sunshine and happiness and there are days full of heartache and tears - and you know what - that is OKAY!  Everyone is still getting used to what family looks like and how OUR family dynamic works.  Everyone is still working on finding their place and where they belong.  The amazing thing is that they DO all belong!  They are OURS - all FIVE of them - and our life is more crazy because of it but It's OUR Life and we wouldn't have it any other way!

I hope when people look at my family they see our love for our kids.  I hope they see a family striving to love God and His people.  I hope when people see us they can see through the crazy to our hearts and lives - all of us walking hand-in-hand, side-by-side to grow and love together!  I hope people can see "what we are and what our hearts beat for!"

This is OUR LIFE and the World is WATCHING!