We have left all we had to follow you! Luke 18:28

We have left all we had to follow you! Luke 18:28
This verse is Chad and I's hearts cry. That we left everything out on the line to follow Christ. That all things temporary have remained below all things Heavenly. Chad and I seek to fervently obey the Lord. Somewhat like Chad's carpentry skills- we measure twice (pray) and cut once (obey). We aren't afraid to say no, so we listen quietly for a "yes" and then charge ahead...

So last Tuesday when I received a call about an 18 month old Hispanic boy we sought the Lord and called on our dearest friends to petition for us. The urgency that is required by cps can be frustrating to say the least, they needed to place the boy by 5:30. The phone call came in a few minutes shy of 4.

With peace, and practically thinking this boy was within our "range" we said yes... I don't say it out loud enough, but I am so grateful that the Lord has put my brother and sweet family in town with us. He was able to come help shift some furniture around and help Chad put up the crib. I love that I knew Crista was at home praying for us as we prepared...

The little one showed up at 5:40 and my heart swelled seeing our sweet boys love on him. They don't see color, background, family history. JD and Kade saw a playmate, a companion. I saw Jesus in my boys.

Shortly after signing papers and dinner I began to have a familiar unsettling feeling very similar to how I felt with Skylar those 3 months. Chad and I talked and prayed and prayed and prayed... well, you get the picture... We finally felt the Lord saying "no."

That is a difficult thing. Satan wants us to believe the lies "you must not have heard God"; "you are just gonna mess this one up more if you give him back"; "oh sure, add to his number of homes"; "you are being so selfish"... Pride wants to rise up and push you to "grin and bare it."

I am so grateful for friends who prayed peace over us all. We all slept well and Chad and I were able to clearly know that God said yes on Tuesday and no on Wednesday morning. This is one of those things I'll always want to understand and probably never will... But what I long for most in this is that our hearts displayed to God and the world that 'we have left all we had to follow you!'

2 great years, 2 fantastic boys, 1 amazing God

2 great years, 2 fantastic boys, 1 amazing God
Yep, this day 2 years ago was the day two precious little boys came into our home. We'd met them a week prior and spent possibly the longest week of our lives preparing for this day. How can it seem like they've been with me all along, as if I gave birth to them, and yet I remember so vividly the day I met them? God can do that-fade the lines between earthly sense and Heavenly blessings.

How we've all evolved since those moments. Laughter, tears, fits (and I'm not just talking about the preschoolers), building trust, creating a new legacy for us all.

So frequently Chad and I are told that we did such a wonderful thing blessing the boys with a home. But what really happened is the Holy ONE blessed us all, kept HIS word, and fulfilled the longings of each of our hearts.

If you know us, if you know our story, take a brief moment with us today and send praise up to the Heavens for a God that thinks outside of the box. A King worthy of praise for setting up the perfect trail to lead us together. To a Heavenly Father that longs to satisfy our hearts cry.

After several seasons, Chad and I feel called to pursue expanding our family. We have NO idea what that looks like or how it will come to play. We are just as clueless as we were the last time- when two spectacular little boys walked into our lives! YES, I have journaled how we got here, and YES I imagine at some point that will be posted but as of now I am waiting on the Lord as to when to share. Chad and I are in the process of getting all of our ducks in a row to be re certified with CPS. Again we are seeing God provide opportunities that are efficient when it comes to the training/certification process. We believe God is in control and has a plan. Chad and I are striving to have open ears and be joyfully obedient!

The future of My heart, our life, God's plan.

I feel that I have completed the task of documenting this journey as of now. I of course will be listening to God's call for the future... I am very excited to see the blog books I've ordered for the boys to have at a later date for this journey. I've had several inquiries regarding who I used.

Its Blog2print or http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html

I pray that the Lord uses this blog in a special way to all its readers. If there are unanswered questions please feel free to email me at keri.hoes@yahoo.com.

In God's hands.
Keri