Simple Treasures

Bear Lake 2011
Do you see the joy on these two faces?  They have come a long way from those weary frowns worn years ago.  The time before our children found us.  These are the kinda smiles that you feel deep down in your soul.  The ones that you longed to feel for so long.  Nowadays, luckily they come quite easy with our four adopted children in our lives.  

While still trying to recover from my auto accident, going on family vacations has been a struggle.  The family was really needing a getaway.  Something fun, but something that I could do without being miserable.  So, we went "Up North", as we like to call it around here. 

We were minutes from Lake Michigan. Beautiful beaches, campfires, roasting marshmallows, catching fireflies, and even saw a movie at The Cherrybowl Drive-In. We slowed life down for just a little while. 


 
Not once did the kids complain that the vacation was going to be boring.  Our first day there poured buckets.  Thunder was rolling, and there wasn't much to do.

 

Being the optimist that I am, I suggested that we sit out on the back porch and listen to some music and look out over the 55 acres.  So, the "mini  boom  box" was blaring out in to the countryside, I think the song was, SWEET Home Alabama,  and the kids jumped off the deck and started dancing in the rain.   The mud was not an issue.  The muddier the better.  They had a blast.  We had a blast watching them.  I couldn't be prouder.



It is in these moments when Jerry and I realize just how lucky that we are to have this amazing family.  A reminder of what we struggled so long for.



There is nothing like the sound
of pure joy in your children's laughter.



Fireflies and Cricket Catching

When we dreamed of a family, of course we thought about all of the things that we would do with them if we got the chance.  Living the dream and finding the joy in each moment that you share with them is what grounds Jerry and I in all of the difficult parts of raising an adopted child.  No, we cannot change how they came into the world, and ultimately we cannot control how they feel about all of it.  What we can do it LOVE them. Listen to them.  Hold their hand as they walk through their journey, whatever it may be.  That is what an adoptive parent can do. 



As the week progressed, I found moment after moment, where I just stood looking in awe at this incredible bunch that I call my family.  I realized that my family doesn't need Disneyworld, or Cabo for a vacation.  We found so much joy in the simple treasures that God gave us.


My Forever Family




Standing on the shore, in awe of my blessings, I sigh, with great joy.

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