The Five

Famous is home.

That is one sentence that packs a lot of reality and a lot of God work in three words.

He and Chris arrived one week ago tomorrow, and it has been both lightening fast and incredibly slow all at once.

We are learning life as a family of five.  It is hard, and it is beautiful.

We are learning more about the Lord's redemption each moment of every day--in Famous but mostly in our own hearts.  I can only imagine how that will grow as the days continue to pass.

We are settling in, and all five of us are adjusting into a new normal.

Before I move on completely, the homecoming was one for the books.  It was emotional, raw, and real.  I never want to forget Beckett running to the car and yelling "Famous" repeatedly.  I never want to forget Micah grabbing Famous's hand to introduce him to his grandparents and then to excitedly show him his room and his toys and his soccer goal.  I never want to forget Beckett trailing behind and Famous stopping to take his hand and watching all three of my children holding hands in our house.  I hope those memories are etched into my brain and my heart forever.

Our dear friend, Gretchen, came over to silently capture some of these moments for us, and I've made a short video of them.  We will treasure these days always. 

3 1/2

Almost 2 months ago, a certain little lady in this house turned 3 1/2.  I know that half birthdays aren't a big deal to many people. We never necessarily celebrated them growing up, but I do remember my parents always acknowledging it when it came around.  With my kids, I find myself a little extra sentimental when their half birthdays roll around, and I think I always wonder how in the world 6 more months has passed.  The blink of an eye, people.  It is true.

Just like that, this precious one is 3 1/2.

Here is a little bit about Micah Elisabeth Field right now, interview style.

How old are you?  3

What is your favorite color?  pink

What is your favorite animal?  leopard

What is your favorite book?  I don't know. 

(I believe it because she almost never picks the same one over and over again these days.)

What is your favorite TV show?  My Little Pony

What is your favorite movie?  Tangled

What is your favorite song?  "When Will My Life Begin" from Tangled and the Girls Song (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)

What is your favorite food?  fruit snacks

What is your favorite drink?  Gatorade

What is your favorite breakfast food?  Popsicles

What is your favorite snack?  fruit snacks

What is your favorite outfit?  dresses

What is your favorite game?  ????

What is your favorite toy?  Lalaloopsy

Who is your best friend?  Emma

What is your favorite thing to do?  play with markers

What is your favorite thing to do outside?  play with flowers

What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Lalaloopsy

Where is your favorite place to go?  Freebirds

What is your favorite restaurant?  Freebirds

Where do you want to go on vacation?  Schlitterbahn

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Firewoman

Micah girl,

We are so proud of who you are and thankful to be your parents.  You are a gift and a ray of bright sunshine.  Your passion, love for life, and fiery personality have seared themselves on our hearts for forever.  We love you to the moon and back.

He Is Coming Home.

It feels really surreal and strange to speak (and type) these words, but Famous will be here, in this home, in 5 days.

I've longed to type those words for 11 months, and now it is finally here.

I am awestruck at the faithfulness of the Lord.

I wrote this post two and a half months ago, and I could not have fathomed the way the Lord will so directly answer our pleas.

He has, in every possible direction, made a way.

We got the paperwork we needed as well as 2 family members from each of Famous's parents plus the chief of the village where they died to a village many hours away in a matter of days.

We submitted those additional affidavits and got an approval in a matter of weeks.

We got a visa interview appointment on the exact day we needed it to work out with Chris's crazy summer schedule.

We passed that interview without question, even though there were many things that could have caused them to deny our initial petition without additional investigation.

I almost cannot even think about all of it without falling on my knees in thanksgiving.

Several people made their way to my home on Monday evening (the night before the visa interview) to pray that the Lord would, again, make a way.  I soaked in their words and tucked them away in my heart.  When my phone rang at 4:55am on Tuesday morning and Chris excitedly told me that we had passed, I was giddy.  As he began to explain how the interview had gone, I got chills as I heard so many of the specific prayers from the night before directly answered.

Since then, I have been reeling.  Excited. Nervous. Anxious. Overwhelmed.

Mostly, I cannot stop being thankful.  For people who love us and support us so completely.

For a God who will never let us go and who will always make a way.

I will never forget the day I met my son, Famous.

Cannot wait to open my door and see that kid standing on my front porch.

What a glorious day next Wednesday will be.

******

Will you be praying for our little family?  For Famous as he encounters a whole new culture and grieves the one he is leaving?  For Chris and I to learn how to love him through the changes and grief?  For our children as their world is about to change?  Thanks!

Summer So Far

I think I have rediscovered my love for summer this year.  I always loved it as a kid because who doesn't love no school for 3 months?!  As an adult, I was kind of over the hot temperatures and sweating just walking to your car.

This summer, I will take the sweat and the heat just to play outside with my kids.

We are taking advantage of a lot of water play outside in our little pool, friends' and neighbor's pools, sprinklers, etc.  

The sun stays up longer (and rises earlier which is a good thing in a house with a super early riser), and the days just feel more free.

Sweet, sweet summertime.