One Chapter closes...

I love this photo... It was a great afternoon with the kids. This was taken a little before Christmas (Thanks to Tina Larcey) and I remember thinking next year there will be 5 of us.

Needless to say, a few months can make all the difference.

After a lot of prayer, and talks with some of our most valued friends... We signed our "exit" papers out of the adoption process last Monday. The social worker said it could be years from now until we got our child. For us 4 to 7 years is just too long to wait. Along with the time frame came other issues.

We want to be purposeful in our lives. For so long we thought this adoption process was what we were being called to do. And on some level, it was. We learned a lot, we are in a better place, and sometimes there is no price to say "I am better today, than two years ago". Even when that means paying a huge sacrifice along the way. With this season of life ending... we know God will lead us in the direction he has planned for us. It just might take some time in understanding what that is, and time to get there.

The past few months have been filled with confusion, sadness, and disappointment. It is harder than you think to get over the loss of an idea.... For us it was the idea of what we thought our family was going to look like in just a few short months. Again, God is good... and we will continue to listen and follow where he leads.

As hard as it was to come to a final decision... doors have already been opened that are bringing excitement and purpose into our lives. We have a great support of friends and two great kids that have made this just a little easier to go through.

To all of our friends that called, had lunch with me, or sent emails... thanks. Your words were kind, helpful and I was grateful to know we were loved by so many people. I am a person who needs close friends, and I think I have the perfect friends in my life right now. So thank you to so many of you, who have made this decision and process a little easier.

We look forward to these next few months, there is a lot to be thankful for and we are looking forward to so many BIG events soon to come!

As we end this chapter of our lives still as a family of four, we know we are blessed by each other and by those around us. We look forward to what is to come...