Adopted for Life

A few weeks ago, I was placing an order from Amazon. A dear friend and I try to save on shipping so she asked me to add ADOPTED FOR LIFE for her. As I read the summary, I was intrigued so I added one to my cart for me. Oh, I am so glad I did! It has been an incredible read. This is what I read this morning:

Think of the plight of the orphan somewhere right now out there in the world. It's not just that she's lonely. It's that she has no inheritance, no future. With every passing year, she's less "cute", less adoptable. In just a few years, on her eighteenth birthday (or 16th), she'll be expelled from the orphanage or from "the system". What will happen to her then? Maybe she'll join the military or find some job training. Maybe she'll stare at a tile on the ceiling above her as her body is violated by a man who's willing to pay her enough to eat for a day, alone in a back alley or in front of a camera crew of strangers. Maybe she'll place a revolver in her mouth or tie a rope around her neck, knowing no one will have to deal with her except, once again, the bureaucratic "authorities" who can clean up the mess she leaves behind. Can you feel the force of such desperation? Jesus can. She's his little sister.

Then my thoughts went to this could have been my daughter. What if my daughter faced this life? Look what I would have missed out on.

And hearing her say, "I love you, Mommy!" about a hundred times a day. I will never grow tired of those sweet words...

Or we would have missed the love these two have for one another. It is amazing, pure, and full of Jesus!

Everyone is called to recognize Jesus in the face of his little brothers and sisters when he decides to show up in their lives, even if it interrupts everything else.

I want to be interrupted for these little faces, these faces that NEED HIM.

Our Keenan is 10

Ten years ago, God blessed us with our second (and what we thought would be our last) child. He was only 17 months younger than Sydney and threw us for a spin. He has always brought so much joy to our lives and still does today. He came into this world smiling, laughing and trying so hard to make others laugh, too. What a blessing and treasure he is to our family!

We started the day off at Dunkin' Donuts...every kids favorite, right?

Sydney, Keenan and his friend, Eli

Aiden savoring every second of his donut

Then, we were off to church and home to open presents.

Tennessee football calendar - he's our "organized" kiddo

Then, the big gift came, but it wouldn't be so simple as opening a gift. :) Dad is way more creative than that. SCAVENGER HUNT!!!

Almost to the gift (hiding in the woods)

This is what makes me smile every day - the love these 2 have for one another. They have no idea they were ever apart. True brothers - real brothers...

The whole gang minus Daddy

"Dad, I don't see it. Is it up here?"

And he found it!!

This year, Daddy splurged as Keenan hit double digits and found him his very own gun. Obviously, lots of gun safety (always locked up and never used unless Dad is around) and the best part is it will become a part of Keenan's family as he grows older. He will pass it to his son, then to his grandson, and you get the picture. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEENAN GANNAWAY O'LEARY!

On Monday, we went to everyone's favorite indoor play place, Tatarus' Gym. The kids had so much fun and burned a lot of energy.

Helen swinging from the rings

Aiden teetering on the edge

Sydney hanging from the rope

Now, it's Keenan's turn

And the day wouldn't be complete without Mom swinging from the rope into the foam squares. Oh, how I love my kids and am so incredibly thankful for each one of them in their uniqueness.

Ps. Some of you may be wondering why Samuel isn't in more of the pics! I couldn't keep up with him because he was having so much fun. :)