The quest for the aquisition of 3

Justin and I were just itty bitties when I remember having the conversation about our future family plans.  I remember driving around with that newly licensed 17 year old boy discussing our dream jobs, where we wanted to live, and how many kids we each wanted.  (What can I say?...we were always very mature and goal-oriented I suppose.)  The answer for the number of kids for both of us was three.  Always three.  I grew up with two sisters, he grew up with two brothers (and a much-older sister who was off to college before he was in kindergarten).  The family of 5 dynamic was something we were both comfortable with and understood how it worked.  And if you know us at all... you know we stick to our plans.

1999 I believe?  This was us on a missions trip to the Czech Republic between our junior and senior year of high school.  We had been dating for 2 1/2 years at this point.  *sigh* young love. 

 

While the dream education, dream marriage, dream jobs, dream house, dream town all fell into place by God's grace and what seemed like His perfect timing, it was our quest for our three children that lead us down a road of joy, heartbreak, victory, sorrow, and an understanding of God's Greatness and Goodness- far beyond what we could ever imagine.  

If we had the three I had prayed for so fervently for, my family would look so incredibly different than it does now- and I'm glad God has taught me to trust in His plans and not my own when it comes to building a family.  After seven pregnancies, two foster sons, and two beautiful girls of our own, we're almost there.  The finish line (and in some ways the starting line) seems ever so close, and I just wanted to take a minute to exhale, to thank God for bringing us through the completion of our family, and praise God for allowing my heart to heal so completely before we prepare to meet our son for the first time.  

Josiah came when I was 5 months pregnant.  

     The call for Nino came when I was 7 months pregnant with Molly.  

By 8 1/2 months we were down to one again...  

  And then quickly up to 2...

Those two were brother and sister for almost 2 years

And then God saw fit to have us parent just one again for a little while...  

Until her sister came...

 

And got to stay...

We've gone from 1 to 2, 

to 1, 

to 2, 

to 1,

to 2...  

And now we're finally moving in the right direction.   

And it feels good.  And I'm ready.  Hear that little man?  I'm READY!!!!  Please come soon!!!!


And also coming soon....  the reveal of our new baby's nursery!!!  And how God prepared both my heart and my home to get me ready to be a mommy of a boy again.   

And sorry for the blog neglect.  I've been a tad busy.  But I feel the need to process and this is how I do that :)