Our Family

We were at a Christian concert earlier this week with our junior highers.  Nothin' like making a mama feel old then putting her in an auditorium with music that is blaring words that she cannot understand.  After three artists in a row that I couldn't understand I texted my husband to tell him how old I felt.  Yes - I texted him sitting two seats down from me because it was too loud to talk to the man I love who was sitting with his ear plugs in to help muffle the noise.  Point taken - we are not the concert goers that we used to be!  Thankfully Newsong came on next and the night carried on with artists that I could relate to and worship with.  The highlight of the night, as always, was raising my voice alongside my teens and thousands of other people in glory to God.  As always they have a pastor speak and share the good news of the gospel.  They pass the buckets for a love offering and they have tables and tables of pictures of little children who need sponsored all over the world.  At intermission, close to the end of the night, my husband turned to me and said how coming to these events always makes him want to take another little one home with us.  He quickly clarified - - I don't mean like home-home with us...I mean like sponsor one...not like adopting again...I just mean the flyers.  Haha!!!  Who has to clarify something like that???  I love that we do!

(We did get to bring home a sweet one with us this week - a new sponsorship for a little boy in India)

I love that we were obedient to God's call when He asked us to adopt.  I love how God orchestrated each and every child that has come into our home.  I love that Josh and I can have conversations that lead to life changing decisions through God's direction and guidance.

The blog has been pretty quiet over the last year and there are a lot of reasons why - - seven main reasons (as you can imagine life with seven kids keeps this mama pretty busy!).  I hope to be on more often and keep everyone up to date with how things are going and what God is laying on my heart to share.  The more dynamic our family gets I am acutely aware that there are lots of layers to our family.  There are many stories to share and be inspired by - but also many stories that aren't mine to share.  There are pasts that are precious and messy - - There are presents that are full of struggles and progress - - There are futures that are unknown and scary and hopeful.  I am learning to see where the fine line is - between my story and theirs - - Between giving God the glory in what He is doing and giving my children a voice in their own story.  For now - I want to update and introduce you to the newest Krohn members.

Over five years ago a conversation started that has taken our family on this journey that has almost doubled our family.  Across oceans and state lines.  Through blood and sweat and tears and a WHOLE lot of paperwork.  There have been times of turmoil and times of elation.  This last year has been an abundance of all of the above.  This coming week will be one year from when we had our conference call with the case workers to interview us and see if we would be a good fit.  The call went well and we felt SURE that our hearts would be heart broken if we weren't chosen.  God placed them on our hearts when we first saw their pictures and we told the committee just that when they asked us "Why these kids when you already have five at home?"  You see - it has never been about how many kids we do or do not have.  It was never about wanting a fuller table or more mouths to feed.  It has always been about being obedient to what God was asking us to do.  It has always been about us being blessed by the kids that God has put in our family.  It has always been about having enough room - - in our home and our hearts!

We started this adoption conversation almost two years ago.  We prayerfully moved forward with a hope and a prayer.  The timeline from the start was not what we had hoped for.  It seemed like delay after delay and I was quickly reminded of the adoption reminders that God always gives me.  I am NOT in CONTROL (how could I have forgotten this lesson learned from our first adoptions).  We had to petition to be approved for more than one kid and we had to build another bedroom just to prove to them that we were all in.  God laid on our hearts the desire to keep siblings together and we knew in our hearts that He would see us through to just the right ones.  We sent out 90 inquiries over a six month time frame before we heard the words in mid-December that we were chosen for the kids who had already stolen our hearts.

We got to spend a few days with them in January and then they joined our home in March and legally became ours in September - rounding out our kid count to SEVEN!!!  It's been a great few months - full of highs and lows and unknowns and firsts!  We are so thankful to be where we are - surrounded by the kids we are!  God knew - - all along - with all of them - He's known!

Welcome to Our Family!!

RICHARD is seven and crazy and busy and tender-hearted and helpful and a boys boy!!

TIANA is five and sassy and smart and silly and loves to sing!

Family is about learning to love and be loved!  It's about being there for each other and mentoring and showing grace.  It's about looking outside yourself and having playmates!  Siblings are what makes a family a family!

Our Family - Better Together - For His glory!