Four and a half years ago we went to Hawaii as a family of FIVE. A couple weeks ago we went with all 8 of us ~ LOTS of life has happened in the last 4 1/2 years! About 4 months after our first Hawaii vacation we traveled to China and brought home our Kaylee Grace. We had no idea what was ahead of us. Jesus drew her out of darkness and into HIS glorious LIGHT!! We walked though trauma and grief we never could have imagined alongside her sweet little soul. Jesus did a deep and powerful work in and through her life. We still marvel everyday at the ways He has healed her.
Without Kaylee Grace our hearts never would have been broken in the ways His heart breaks for the orphan. We gave up our rights to our lives and the plans we had. His Ways are so much higher! Then He blessed us with Kaleb and Khloe :) As we were in the thick of Kaylee's healing He invited us on this wonderful journey of being their parents. In the earthly realm it looked as if there was no way we could handle more. But with God all things are possible and He made our lives so much MORE beautiful with them!!
He has taught us that our lives are not our own though Kaylee's adoption and difficult transition. He has taught us that we must LEARN to be content in any and every situation.....we can't just pray for contentment. We must be put in difficult circumstances in order to learn contentment. Living in Haiti was our season of learning to be content. Learning to rely on Him alone. One of our most difficult and beautiful seasons as a family ~ we say all the time how thankful we are that He invited us to live there for a while as Kaleb and Khloe transitioned into our family! We will never be the same
Through it all we have grown so much with Jesus. When we have to give up all control He is gracious to do that- to make us more like Him and show us His ways are better. I thank Him everyday for the ways He invites us to see His glory! What if we had been too scared to say yes to His invitations of adoption? Or living overseas? Our lives would be so empty. And we wouldn't have half the fun we do with these littles! Sure there has been sacrifice - which is beautiful in itself - so we wanted to get away somewhere where we could pour into each other and have sweet time away before we enter a new season with Kai. Truthfully we have no idea what his needs will be. Jesus does and that's all I need to know. But we don't know what's ahead so this pause, this breath together as a family was a precious gift.
We pretty much lived on the lazy river!
BFF's
Even got a date night in ;) 19 years ago we were in Hawaii for our honeymoon!!!
Kolson was always up for a swim with the littles whether in the ocean or pools
Glamimng it up for the beach ;)
The kiddie area was a favorite!
Family dinner celebrating Kaleb's birthday (early) :)
HAWAII 2017
