The Sweetest Sound

For those of you who do not believe that there is a God, here is proof...He takes a little boy and a little girl who have no one to call their own. He (God) finds them a mom and a dad (and another brother and sister) on the other side of the world. He orchestrates people, time, places, and finances and brings them together and a new family is born. But wait, it doesn't stop there. The real proof is still to come...God takes two broken, hurt children and unites them with two parents, prone to sin and selfishness; how can that possibly work? This is where I know there is a God and He does exist...He gives so much grace to this family that it literally takes one's breath away. He forgives the mistakes, heals the hurts and grows LOVE.
Three weeks ago, I had my "meltdown." I started to think we had made a mistake. The kids were NOT getting along, I didn't feel love towards everyone in my family, Phil and I were tired, Kathryn and Isaac were naughty. I wanted to turn back the hands of time and make a different decision. I was sad, felt like a failure, was guilt-ridden, and truthfully, was not very nice to live with.
And then, God.
He heard my cries, my hurt, and my despair. He looked down with love, not condemnation for the mess I had made and He forgave me and began a work that can ONLY be accredited to Him. As I look back on the last two weeks, I stand in utter amazement. God worked a real-life miracle...and I not only got to see it, I got to live it! Kathryn and Evalin are learning to love each other. They play together, they giggle like sisters do, and they hug and kiss each other because, in their words "they are best sisters." Lukas has relaxed and can deal with the chaos and change in his house. He told Kathryn she was "beautiful" the other day because she was feeling sad about her short hair. Isaac is, well... still Isaac (Ha). And what God has done in my heart is the real miracle. I love ALL my children. I can give hugs and kisses, not out of obligation, but because I WANT to give them. Two days ago, as I was leaving the house, Kathryn yelled "Goodbye mom...I love you" That was the FIRST time I had heard those words from her. After a moment the thought occured to me, "that may be the first time she has ever said those words to anyone" ...and I, because God exists, got to hear it.