16 years of being a mama-celebrating, and humbled

I know it has been over 1 1/2 years since I posted. I know I should be giving lots of updates,

posting lots of pics, and telling you all how wonderful life is with our 7 treasures.

I have often wondered, would I keep writing? Would I just let it hang out there in cyberspace for years, like so many long-lost adoption blogs?

Our life has become more than just adopting orphans and loving the fatherless.

Its become a REAL, fulltime job, mothering, discipling, training and loving 7 unique, wonderufully created, not easily meshed together, children who were lovingly placed in our home by an all-wise, all-knowing loving Father.

Lets just say, 16 years ago, when we celebrated our first Mother's Day with Kendell, and she was a petite, busy 2 yr old, and we were in process for our 2 1/2 yr old, super-busy Nick, that I never knew parenting could be SOOOOOO hard, yet so rewarding, so heart-breaking at times, yet so soul-stretching.

Life was about loving on our toddlers, enjoying all their antics, spending lots of time with the grandparents and extended family, and lots of friends also loving on them.

Life was pretty simple, and we knew it was what we had been waiting for for 10 long years.

But, life changed.

They grow up-and we added a few more children, some not quite so easy to bond with, and love on, and life became a game of "I'm not sure I can do this", and "I'm really not sure I am getting this thing right".

And you know what? 

I found out I'm not getting it all right, and I'm not winning "Mom of the Year" award any time soon.

I sometimes wonder if they even know how much they are loved, when there seems to be constant contention and strife, and who ever knew parenting teens meant rewriting your parenting ideas completely? And, I'm not a really quick learner. I tend to want to keep dong the things I did when they were little, and hugs and kisses and a story at bedtime were all they needed to feel loved and cherished.

I do love being a mom.

I do love my children, fiercely.

Each one of them, in their own way, is such a blessing to my mama's heart.

and I guess the old adage, "no pain, no gain" certainly applies to raising children.

They expose my weaknesses, I learn how to lean hard into Jesus, and draw strength and wisdom from Him, and quit trying to do it all on my own.

But, it does hurt, and sometimes, it really isn't fun.

BUT, it is all profitable, and necessary, and humbling, and stretching and growing.

SO, as I look back over the last 16 years of parenting, I am thankful.

And I want to look ahead to the next year, a little smarter, a lot more humble, and a lot stronger in the Lord.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas out there, whether through adoption, or by birth-this parenting thing isn't for cowards, or quitters, is it???

We used to say adoption is not for the faint of heart-

well, in truth, LIFE is not for the faint of heart-

Blessings

Chris