Foster Family Celebration! (Thankful Thursday #155)

"'For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my request which I asked of Him.  Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.' So they worshipped the Lord there."  ~1 Samuel 1:27

Happy Thursday, friends!  Today, I am thankful for...

1.  Getting to celebrate with the Foster family this morning on their official Adoption Day! ❤

2.  Thankful that we all found the right building and made it on time!  (There was some confusion and we all went to the Tulsa County Courthouse before realizing it would be at the Juvenile Center.)

3.  Seeing them so genuinely happy was fantastic and good for the soul!!

4.  Top left = Janet, the woman who connected them with these kids.  Thankful for the part she played in this!  Also, I LOVE all the adoption-themed shirts!!

5.  Thankful that Judge Doss was great, and the courtroom was kid-friendly, and the kids got to pick out fun gifts after the hearing! =)

6.  Thankful for getting to chat with Kristin and Bridget over lunch at Baxter's... and for Jon and Kristin talking a bit about their journey to this moment and their gratitude for their friends and family!

7.  Thankful that they are officially and legally a family of four now!!

8.  Thankful for loving grandparents!  And for Bridget, their DHS caseworker (bottom right) -- I've talked with her several times on the phone as a reference for them, and was happy to meet her in person today!

9.  Super thankful for 15+ years of friendship with Kristin Renee!!  ❤

10.  This has been a long and winding road for over a decade for Jon and Kristin.  (Hope deferred, emotional and physical suffering, confusion, trying multiple routes toward adoption, etc.)   It is clear to me that their faithfulness and obedience over the past decade mattered -- it was not without God-ordained purpose in their lives and in every life they influence.  I'm encouraged by the reminder that God knows what He is doing even when we feel confused about it.  I am so thankful that Jon and Kristin have been an excellent example of waiting well as they have repeatedly chosen to be faithful to God and trusted His goodness and faithfulness to them!  They love and honor God and each other in a way that shines and glorifies Him.  I am sincerely honored to be their friend and thrilled to celebrate this huge milestone with them today!! ❤ 

11.  I'm thankful that I can finally post pictures without worrying about breaking any DHS rules! lol  These two are from my lunch with them way back in July... it makes me smile that the kids look so much like Jon and Kristin! =)

12.  I'm thankful for the myriad of ways God's goodness is evident in their lives, and for this reminder to keep walking in faith and hope!!  (These pics are from April, July, and November.  The kids have been calling them "Mom and Dad" for a while, but it's lovely to know it's official now!)

Yay, God!!  Yay, Fosters!!  Today was wonderful.  I'm praying God continues to bless them abundantly with daily grace and wisdom, a growing support system, and moments of pure joy and fun that strengthen them as they run this unique race God has marked out for them! ❤