Progress

We cannot say enough wonderful things about the family that loved on our boys for a year before they came to live with us.  They loved them through the hardest parts -- the court cases, visitations, first months away from their home, the night terrors and so, so much more.  I "borrowed" this picture from their foster mom...these were our boys when they first came into care. 

 It's still hard for me to look at.  I hate they ever had to feel scared, that they ever had to feel confused.  Then, there's this picture...this is what love, care, and nurturing can do.  These were our little guys after some time with their precious foster family.  I mean, seriously.  I'm so thankful for a God that offers healing, and so thankful for families that are willing to interrupt their lives to let God use them to provide that healing.  

After our boys came, we kept reassuring them that they were here forever.  They weren't going anywhere else.  We often laugh because, several times, B has said he wants to go to a new house, wants to go live with Bumblebee, or wants to go stay with his foster family.  We'll tell him that we would miss him terribly, and he always clarifies that, no, he wants all of us to go stay wherever he has mentioned.  I've warned Mom and Sheila that this crew may show up on their door steps.

Even with tremendous amounts of love and nurturing, both boys still struggled quite a bit when they came to us (we definitely view this as normal...they've been through trauma, it was yet another transition, they ultimately didn't know us from Adam, they're kids, they're people).  Bowden, even through last summer, would become easily discouraged, hung his head a lot, would list a lot of things he wasn't able to do.  Thankfully, the boys have been in a wonderful school this year where they've received great care academically and through various therapies.  To watch the transition in Bowden, especially, has been amazing!  Now he loves to show us everything he can do (at times, we relate him to Stuart from Mad TV).  To watch him yesterday at his Soccer match was nothing short of amazing.  It's amazing what love, stability, and therapy (as needed) will do for a person!  We are forever grateful.  

Wade has not struggled a lot with confidence issues that present themselves as such.  (He exhibits his in other ways).  However, this morning, he said, I'm a stinker.  We were like, you can be, yes.  Then he said, but Mommy and Daddy love me even when I'm a stinker.  I'm just thankful he knows that!  I hope he always knows how treasured he is, even when we're trying to temper some of the "Wade."

We are also so proud of our oldest, Gavin!  I cannot imagine being 12 years old and moving in with people I didn't know.  I would have been an absolute basket case.  I'm 37, and probably still would.  However, he has moved cities, homes, and schools with absolute grace.  He is in choir and absolutely loves it.  He comes home with papers that have scored well and hangs them on the refrigerator himself.  This nine weeks he made the A-B honor roll at school.  We are so proud of his progress and the way he has adapted.  We love him so. 

I'm so thankful for the love Jeff and I know we have received from our Father, and am so thankful for these three sweet souls we get to parent.  Transition is hard, and these boys have lived in pretty much constant transition for the last year.  I'm so thankful that His mercies are new every morning, that they seem to remember the "love" more than the difficulties,and for the peace that comes from knowing you are loved, even when you're being a "stinker." (This goes for the parents and the kids!)