Three years ago in November 2011, I wrote this post, sharing how in 2010, I had longed for a little boy in our family picture. I didn’t know it, but at the time, Jac0b was 5 years old.
I have a secret to tell about this picture, taken last November. When I first saw this picture I thought about how beautiful the leaves were and how I love the sun streaming through the trees. I love that my family is all holding hands and that if you look hard enough, you can see a smidge of my big smile. But I never told anyone all I could think about is how I thought a little boy would fit between me and Lexi. He would even us out, fit perfectly.
And looking back, I love that this picture looks like we’re headed off together on a journey, with God’s warm presence over our path. We didn’t decide and announce we’d adopt until late January this year but this shows he’s been in the picture for much longer.
We have last year’s family picture on a canvas in our living room. Last year’s picture was also special because I knew God was telling me to enjoy our year. Our family was in a very sweet time and I was so grateful, although I mentioned I felt like we perhaps we had some hard years coming up.
For whatever reason God decided to let me be a part of this beautiful family and it is such a gift. We’re far from perfect but we’re healthy. We’re happy. We love Jesus. He is SO good to us.
I don’t know if that means we have some hard years coming up. Maybe. But maybe they’ll all be good years.
You can imagine that planning this year’s family picture was a big deal for us. When we began talking about family pictures and where it would be, Jac0b piped up and pointed at the picture and said, I want our picture in the same place as that one. Thankfully, that’s exactly where we had it planned with the same photographer.
Once again, his desires and our desires meshed. And so with that, I’m sharing a few proofs from our family pictures this year (I’m saving the one I’m using for our Christmas card).
I can’t think of a better time than Thanksgiving to say that yes, this year has been hard but it also has fulfilled so many longings and we are so, so grateful.
Although I was so happy with our family of four, I just knew there was a little boy that was supposed to be with us.
And now he is.
God is so good. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all. He’s worthy of our praise!