Happy Adoption Day!!!

Gabby is 6 months old! I can't believe it was 6 months ago that we were standing in that hospital room waiting on her to make her entrance into this world. I can remember all the excitement, anticipation, the nerves.....now here we are and I just can't remember what life was like without her. She is such a joy to our lives. She just looks like love......

With the 6 month birthday also comes the date we have had lingering in the back of our minds since the day we found out about this precious little girl - the "finalization date". This is the day that the state of Ohio will "finalize" our adoption of Gabrielle and our names will go on her birth certificate as her parents. It is what many adoptive parents call the "adoption day" and is a very celebrated day - obviously! :) Gabby has been part of our family from the moment I held her in my arms just seconds after she was born. I was so blessed to be able to have that experience. But this day will be the day that makes it all final - the day that seals her as a Tye forever. We only have a few more days to wait and we will enjoy our adoption day! While this is more of a legal formality than anything, it is still very very meaningful to our family and for our baby girl.

Last Sunday Auntie M (Gabby's birth mom) attended church with us again. She has been 4 or 5 times now. It is always so nice to have her there. I just feel the spirit moving around her - us. I have never been such a direct part of such an amazing thing in my life. To not only witness the miracle and such a life changing event, but to actually be a living breathing part of it. It often leaves me in such awe of God and his infinite wisdom. As I sit there with her it's like I can feel God's arms wrapping around her....like when you are sitting next to someone and a person comes up behind the person next to you and wraps their arms around their shoulders for a hug. I literally feel that same feeling - it's that same presence. I believe that God just wants her to know how loved she is and how much he knows and loves her. Loves her despite anything that may make her feel as if she is not worthy or good enough to be loved by God or anyone else. She is no different than me or anyone else sitting in our church or any church to God. He loves her so much and wants her to feel it, to know it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”

There is nothing I want more than for Gabrielle to know her Auntie M in a positive way. For her to know that she is very much a part of her forever family and that she is so loved. I never want Gabby to feel as if she was "given up", but that rather she was blessed and is a blessing. I want Gabby to know her half brother and sister and have a positive relationship with them. Could there be any better gift to give your child, but to have them grow up loving unconditionally and understanding that they are loved unconditionally. She didn't have to do anything to be loved by our family. Our family didn't have to do anything to be loved by her.

As a matter of fact, the addition of Gabby to our family has really shown a supernatural love in the flesh to all of our children. The boys have not just talked about the addition of a baby sister, but are now living it. They see how we are integrating our family and Gabby's birth family and they have to make adjustments and open their hearts to these new people that they never knew before. It is amazing how they are so accepting of Gabby's half siblings (who we refer to as "cousins"). The entire process of adding Gabby to our family has been such an incredible blessing to us... beyond the obvious one of adding this incredibly sweet and precious little girl to our home and hearts!

This entire experience has been such unknown territory. We have no idea how we are "supposed” to do this while adoption thing. We rely 100% on God to lead the way and all we can do is put one foot in front of the other and hope that we are on the right path. I have no doubt that we will stumble and trip up along the way, but I know that God will steady us and lead us on so there is no fear only excitement for what the future holds!

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

There have been relationships restored, new friendships made, moves into new ministries and a new closeness in our home and family. As is God's way. When he works a miracle he has plans that we can't begin to imagine or realize. He looks beyond the immediate impacts that we see. I am certain that the miracle of Gabby and the way she has come to our family will be a blessing to many many people and situations that we may never know.