The Secret is OUT!!!!!!

I am writing this today (Monday), but I will probably not be posting this until tomorrow. I have been keeping a VERY BIG secret for a long time and finally, I can share. We are adopting!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to be adopting 2 beautiful little girls ages 7 and 5, and they are joining our family this week. Our court order came out on November 24th while we were on furlough, and now that we are back, we get to be a family. I have been having a hard time not talking about it, so I feel like that may be one reason for less blog posts lately.


We have talked about adoption for many years, and after our last furlough, we spent more time praying about God's timing and plan. God surprised us with His answer and we are thrilled about opening our hearts and our home to two precious little girls. My kids are thrilled and one of the best parts is that they are already good friends because they live at Beautiful Gate.

We moved off campus last year to finalize things for our home study because we may not live on campus and adopt because it would cause too much confusion for the girls (I completely understand that rule). So we are going to be spending a lot of quality time together as a family of 7 for the next month in hopes of helping them feel welcome and loved by their new forever family. It is crazy to be writing that about myself this time instead of everyone else who has come through Beautiful Gate!


Elijah, Faith and Mercy have been amazing through this process, and we have had some amazing heart to heart conversations. We all know that there are good and hard things that will be coming our way as we get to know our daughters/sisters, and their hearts are very open. When asked about their biggest fears they have been saying things like being afraid of not being a good example or worrying about the girls not knowing God. At their age, I may have worried about not having my own space or having to share with siblings who might break my stuff :) They have been praying for their sisters for awhile now and the things they say brings tears to my eyes (I should write them down for the days when the 5 of them are making each other crazy, hahaha). I am so humbled that the Lord would allow me to be the mother of 5 kids (and honestly, a little afraid too), and I am looking forward to this next step in our family.
I remember rejoicing when a child was adopted because it was their last night as an orphan and I am rejoicing with my whole heart that I can make that dream come true for two children. I will get to tuck them in, sing them songs, play countless games of duck -duck -goose (their favorite currently), hold them when they cry because they miss their moms (biological and BG mom), teach them to swim, teach them to know God, hold their hand when they are scared, give them space when they push me away, but be there when they need me back, and so much more. God willing, these two precious girls will never be orphans again! This is the best, most exciting, and most terrifying week because this is when all the dreaming and imagining go away, and the real begins. Thank you friends and family for your faithful support, and for your continued prayers for us all as we transition into a family of 7!