Age updates and quirky kiddos

Well good news about Martin’s age. We still don’t know for SURE what his age is in actuality but we did discover some government documentation stating that he turned 7 in May, 2011 which would make him JUST now 8 years old. This may not actually be accurate but it is awesome to have documentation showing he should be around 8 years old. This was a huge relief to us. Not only for legal reasons, since one of us needs to be 21 years older than him and Brad turns 31 in November, but also because 8 (ish) seems so much better to me than 10 as a mom who is only 27 years old. Silas just turned 6 so Martin is just 2 years ahead, which I think is a good age-gap. We recently met with a sweet couple from our church who has adopted 2 kids from Russia and when I told the mom that I had originally wanted to adopt a baby girl, she reminded me that it is always best to let God structure your family. Amen to that! His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. That has given me so much peace throughout this decision-making process. It is so funny to see God working in our lives. I remember having a conversation with Brad before we went on our missions trip to Uganda about how I think we could be done having kids. Life could be more simple….maybe I could even find a way to make some extra income when Ellie gets older and we can have lots of SAVINGS and live “COMFORTABLY” and sit on the back porch and sip tea while our older kids peacefully go to bed…haha! I don’t think that comfortable world exists even with 3 older kids and I don’t think this kind of comfort is truly as comforting as I dream it to be. I think God has a much greater adventure in store for our entire family. It will surely be messy at times, it will surely require much sacrifice as it already has, we may lose sleep and wonder why we considered something so nuts as adoption, but I know it will be for God’s glory and our joy. We are so early in the process and already I have seen my kids want to sacrifice their belongings in order to adopt Martin, I have heard our kids praying for him and the other orphans daily, I have seen a hunger for prayer and God’s word increase in our lives, I have seen God give us energy for all of the things on our plate, I have felt God grow our love for a little boy half-way around the world more than I could have ever imagined, and I have seen God graciously confirm to me over and over that this is will is for us. We finally completed our 10 hours of online training and now we wait for the results of our home study from our social worker which should take around 2 weeks.

This week God was giving me a great appreciate for my quirky gang of kids here at the house. We are loud and opinionated and a bit scary at times, but we sure know how to have fun. 

 Silas and Noah are 19 months apart. We did not intend to have children so close in age. That was completely God's idea. The early days and months and even years with these boys and their opposite personalities were INTENSE to say the least. The growing that God did in Brad and I during those early months and years were so hard on our flesh, and so good for our souls. I see how much God uses Noah in Silas' life and Silas' in Noah's life. Boys are strong and they are exhausting and messy and destructive and yet I LOVE them to pieces. Wouldn't trade them for anything.

Ellie figured out last week how to be a diva. This is her "life is too boring so I need add some drama" face. There is really no reason for this. She does this face in her high chair all the time....but the face doesn't ever last for long....Its as if she knows that the drama is ridiculous.

Superheroes are a pretty big part of our lives. We wear costumes year round and we take the characters very seriously.

 My word for Silas is "EXTREME." Everything he does is extreme. Notice his costume wasn't extreme enough so he had to add a little bling to it for effect. I have many memories with this boy...we've scared many mothers in public. Silas is often seen don't flips off of random ledges, roaring, speaking his mind to strangers, and using objects and equipment in more creative ways than most... ya...that's a nice way to put it. :o)

 One more aspect of my quirky crazies that I love so much is that they have a deep appreciate for "COZINESS." Last night before bed, Silas decided to help Noah set up camp in a tiny corner while sitting on about 10 pillows and blankets and surrounded by their favorite toys and books just so they could be COZY!!! I love it.

I would like to leave you with a verse I read this morning that has stuck with me: "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 19:24

Thank you for all your love and support!