The Lord has truly blessed us with our 4 beautiful children. Just a few short years ago, we could never have imagined ourselves as parents of a large family. Since that time, however, God has truly opened our eyes to the fact that children are a reward and a blessing, directly from God, and created in His own image. The fact that He has entrusted us to raise these children is often an overwhelming and humbling concept to think about. Nonetheless, we are trying to do the job He has called us to do.
Introducing:
JR is our oldest. He was the baby I never dreamed I would have. Born in 2004, he had a pretty rough start. While God healed his health issues, those same issues were the start of our journey toward an organic, self-sufficient lifestyle. Today, JR is a happy-go-lucky, compassionate child, and everyone falls in love with him within moments of meeting him. He is an awesome big-brother, very protective of his younger siblings, and loves to be our big helper. He also has his list of animals and chores that he wants when we get to the farm.
M is second-born, and she is our strong-willed child! Born in 2006, she was introduced to military life immediately since we had to move across the country when she was only 6 weeks old. She is full girl, with a passion for wearing dresses, caring for her dolls, and nurturing her baby brothers. She has a tomboy side, though, that shows in her love of bug-collecting, rock-climbing, and getting as dirty as possible. She adores her big brother, and tries to copy everything he does. She is also left-handed, which could add a level of difficulty when I begin teaching her to write in a couple of years.
A is our flirt! Born in 2008, A was the first baby that came to us through adoption. We met his birthmother while she was still pregnant, and arrived at the hospital to meet A just hours after his birth. He has been ours ever since. We were extremely blessed to have the opportunity to get to know A’s birthmom so we have some stories to tell him as he grows. Everyone who meets A describes him as “bubbly.” His personality and happy spirit just pour out. He loves everyone, loves to play and explore, and adores his older siblings. He wants to do everything they do, and just can’t figure out why we won’t always allow him to join their activities. He is also a tank! He can out-eat everyone except his daddy.
N is our most recent addition. Born in 2009, he was our surprise baby, of sorts! We were matched with his birthmother the same day our homestudy was completed. N was born just 10 days later, a month earlier than expected, and I got the call to pick him up when he was 4 days old. Of course, we were thrilled. We were blessed again shortly after N’s birth, when we experienced God’s healing power once again. N was born with a leg issue that miraculously healed with no explanation. Despite the fact he is only 9 months younger than A, N has proven to be our easiest baby by far. He is always happy, thrives easily, loves to watch his older siblings, and yes, he already sleeps through the night!
We truly enjoy being parents, spending time as a family, watching them grow and develop, and we look forward to what the future holds!
