Rinn Reflections

Since we turned in our paperwork to Adoption Network, we've been anxiously waiting for a match.  But, at our homestudy on February 5, our social worker said that most families waiting for a second baby wait much longer than families waiting for a first baby.  He knew of five Texas families who had all been waiting over a year for a second baby.  Even though this wasn't quite the news we were expecting to hear, we kept praying that God would give us peace as we waited.  And, while we were excited about a placement, we also wondered what would happen if our next adoption was as heart wrenching as Isaac's had been.  The verse that God gave us during this time of waiting was Isaiah 46:3-4:



Wearing Grandpa Kal's hat & checking out the statues at Tom Thumb.

There's always something to clean at Grandma's house!

And, Isaac really likes riding in Grandma Missy's car because her carseat is forward facing!  He loves looking around!





 
 
 
 
 
 

My driver for the afternoon :)

Dave discovered that the far end of the island wasn't completely empty, though.  He found the maintenance area of the island (hidden behind a lot of trees and several signs that said "No Guests Allowed"). Of course, there was a backhoe. I guess some things never change, even when you're on vacation. :)




 

Four years ago today, we miscarried our first baby.  I still think of our first baby often & wonder what our life would be like today with a preschooler.  The loss of our first baby has taken on a different kind of hurt in the past year.  Before Isaac joined our family, I always imagined our first baby as a newborn, and my pain was borne from the fact that I'd never hold that baby in my arms.  But, parenting Isaac from a newborn into a child with his own distinct personality makes me wonder what kind of personality our first baby would have had.  That makes me hurt for him or her even more, because I realize that we've missed out on knowing that baby whom God made completely unique unto himself or herself. 

I'm never one to say that the loss of our first baby was "worth" it because of all the good things that happened as a result of our miscarriage and subsequent infertility.  But, I can say that I am thankful for the good God has brought from our pain.  God has flooded our lives with friends that we likely wouldn't be as close to if it weren't for our shared experiences of loss.  I've been privileged to be a part of an incredible group of women at Keystone Church, Threads of Hope, that I wouldn't otherwise be in if it weren't for this hard part of our life.  And we never would have explored adoption, which eventually led us to Isaac.  These blessings in our life are the "good things" that God has grown from very tough times.  And even though I now have a baby in my arms, there are still days that I hurt.  But, God is taking these ashes of my life and making them into something beautiful....He is not done yet, but day by day, He is making all things new. 

It was so beautiful outside this afternoon that we just couldn't stay inside, so we decided to wash the car.  I had no idea what a big hit this would be with Isaac!   He loves both being outside and water, so it was a winning combination! 



I gave him his own rag, & he scrubbed a few doors right beside me.  But, all the puddles, the bucket of water, & the hose soon became much more interesting. 


Why can't we do this every day, Mom?