Tag Archives: family

Forever Family

Uncategorized, , ,

In July of 2021, while I was 8 months pregnant, my husband and I accepted a six-week-old little boy into our home through foster care.  We brought him home from the NICU and were immediately entranced by his smile, his coos, his hair – he was the perfect little boy.  I mean, look at that face!

I don’t think we truly knew what we were doing when we brought our son home, but I knew one thing – he was ours, and I would fight for his well-being as long as I was able.  I would fight for him to be in a home where he was loved, where he was chosen, where he was cherished.  All I wanted to do was to protect this little boy from all of the pain he’d already been exposed to, from all of the loss he’d already experienced – I just wanted to love him. 

Six weeks after we brought my son home, we brought my daughter home from the hospital.  We now had two infants – 3 months apart in age – and I honestly wouldn’t have changed a thing.  One took bottles, the other was breastfed.  One loved to be held, the other preferred to explore on the floor.  One liked to be swaddled, the other hated it.  They are two very different kids, but they are also the happiest, sweetest, kindest kids I could ever have asked for.  They get along and enjoy playing with each other.  

Neither my son nor my daughter will remember the first two and half years of their lives – time in which we wondered where our son was going to end up, if we were going to be able to adopt him.  Every court date made me an anxious mess, wondering if his birth parents would show up or if they would have things together enough to take care of him.  When we finally got termination of parental rights from the court, I cried in relief. 

Adoption doesn’t come without loss.  He has lost his birth family and the connection with that part of his heritage.  But we have gained so much from having him in our family.  His laughter, his love, his energy – our home would not be full without it.  His sister will never know life without him.  He will never know life without her.  They will continue to grow up together under our roof – forever family. 

Foster care and the process of adoption were certainly not easy (neither was pregnancy or childbirth!), but they were things I would do again to have my two kids – both of them.  In this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas I am grateful for my forever family, my son, Jaxson, my daughter, Alyson, and my husband, Cody.  I hope my kids grow up knowing that no matter what biology says, they are family – forever. 

This post originally appeared on the Breathing Room Blog.

Immeasurably More

Faithful, Prayer, Testimony, Truth, , ,

By Kristen Entwistle

I was cleaning out my desk the other day and found something pretty amazing: God’s provision.

I’m packing up my apartment to move a few hours away, and so, naturally, I was cleaning out my desk – you know, throwing away old papers that I really shouldn’t have kept in the first place, getting rid of the things that I just threw in the drawer over the last four years…and I came across some old cards.

I tend to keep things…probably longer than I should. But be that as it may, I’m glad that I kept these.  They’re cards from very dear friends that were written as I was graduating college and moving to Michigan.  I opened them up and started reading them…smiling at the memories and laughing at the inside jokes from long ago.

And as I opened each card, the same thing kept staring me in the face.  Each of these people who were so dear to me had written similar things, among the jokes and stories and laughs.  Each of them had said that they were praying I would find a good, Godly church in Michigan.  That God would bring me good friends at all of the right turns in my life.  That God would provide.

13435322_10153665627501914_2045561123229563488_n

And He has provided – all of those things.  More than I could ever have imagined.

He brought me to a church, where I have been able to serve and love and grow, where I have been blessed with a family of God that is so dear to me.  It’s been a place where I have seen the kids I watch grow up and change and learn.  Where a Sunday doesn’t go by that I don’t get a hug from at least one of my little ones, brightening even the darkest week.  Where I have been encouraged to lead and to write and to serve.  Where I have been loved.  Where I have walked life with some amazing people – the hard times and the good times.

13418981_10153678380406914_3376606431445480225_n

God has not only brought me good friends – He has brought me great ones.  Friends that I am going to miss terribly, but who will remain friends for the rest of my life.  Friends who challenge me, encourage me – friends who have changed me for the better.  Friends who let me love their kids – and who love me.  Friends who share life with me – and I with them.  Friends who pray with me and for me and let me pray for them.  Friends who have shown me the love of Christ.

When I read those cards four years ago for the first time, I trusted that God would provide through the prayers of my friends.  But I didn’t know until now, reading them again, just how much He has provided.  So if you’re wondering if God is good – let me remind you.  He is.  If you’re doubting that He can provide what it is you need – let me remind you.  He can, and He will.  If you’re in the middle of a trying season, and you’re hanging on for dear life – let me encourage you.  He’s got you.  He’s not gonna let go.  He will provide – and He will do immeasurably more than you could ever ask or imagine.