He Gave Us a New Name

A lot can change in a year.

A brokenhearted, angry little boy can begin to heal. He can finally understand what family is. And that he has one.

A little girl who'd already blown the lid off of my expectations can reach milestones I wasn't sure she'd ever see.

A perfectly sweet 17 year old girl can reach her one year milestone living in our home, loving and being loved, and selflessly serving our family as if it were her own.

A mama who'd seen enough sadness to last a lifetime (or so I'd like to think), feeling overwhelmed and in over her head can reach the light at the end of the tunnel. She can begin to smile again. And breathe. And occasionally shower.

And after 33 years of waiting and dreaming and cautiously hoping, God can ever so swiftly and unexpectedly answer every prayer, spoken and whispered. He can answer the prayers I wouldn't have even known to pray. He can bring our family the gift of a godly, selfless, humble, strong, compassionate husband and father. He can show me a love I've never known on earth. So far beyond my expectations it's almost too much to take in.

He's here. The one we've waited for.

He's given us a new name.

And with that new name we've also been afforded yet another new start. A reimagined idea of what family can be. A safe haven from the storms of life. A warm, soft place to land at the end of a long day. Smiles and laughs, hard work and new expectations. A brighter future for each of us.

Yes, God gave us Chris. Very possibly the only man who could have taken us on, this crazy little family of ours. This man who God has quite obviously been preparing for this role, for this family for years.

He's given us a new name. And for every last thing it stands for, the sound of it is so sweet