Monday, before the madness.

Got some hallelujah calls last week for respite babies!! Respite 2 is coming back for 3 weekends over the next couple of months. He's an adorable 1yr old who was just freed and will be adopted by his Mom very soon! We did our MAPP training with her, and are so happy for them.His first weekend starts on Friday. We are also meeting Respite 6 & 7 on Thursday, and they will be staying for 4 days.

The matcher called me for 6 & 7 after I had agreed to take 2 this weekend. I told her I probably shouldn't bring in 3 respite kids at the same time, but she disagreed. 6&7 are siblings who were injured very similarly to Baby 4 about a year and a half ago. Their story was spread all over the news even more than our son's. They have scars like Baby 4 and since Respite 6 is a 4yr old boy (same age as Baby 4), the matcher thought it would be therapeutic for them to play together. Additionally, I thought it would be therapeutic for me to see a child who has been in care and recovering from this condition for almost 2yrs. Respite 7 is a 2yr old girl who is also recovering like Baby 4. The final sell for me was that they have an all day Saturday visit, so I can spend a lot of time with Respite 2 still.

So for the first time we're going to need all our beds in both kid rooms. This means spring cleaning, some time-management planning, and pre-respite meals prep to make this go smooth. Plan for the worst and hope for the best, right?

Right now though, it's Monday morning, we have no therapy or nurse visits today, it's 70 degrees outside, all the windows are open, and I'm loving life with Baby 4. After doing some work on our computers, we're headed out to play!

Cantaloupe and Emails

 "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you" 1Peter 5:10 (NKJV)

I'm definitely feeling settled today after a very trying week. My God keeps His promises. Nothing we've done in our love story has been in our own strength, but through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.

^"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." Colossians 1:10-12 (ESV)