Headcount

I just wanted to do a little post for our family. It's official that we WILL be adopting! Yay! Her name is Caroline and she's 5. She is the bravest person I know. This is a private adoption that just fell in our laps. She's a sweet gift to us and we are blessed to be her family. Everyone that meets her falls in love and can't believe how well she is adjusting. In the midst of this crazy situation, it is starting to somehow feel completely normal. God's grace is ABUNDANT and we have little bits of encouragement everywhere we turn. Just today, I met someone who had been through exactly what Caroline is going through and she said it had been the best thing for her. Things like that happen all the time. It just blows me away how sweet God is, to send us these little things. People we do not even know have heard the story and given her gifts. Our friends and family have been supportive and welcomed her with open arms. Knowing for sure that she will be part of our family really opens the door to build a relationship with her and help her feel settled. Things are good! They are also very pink, with many accessories and lip gloss. Girls are a whole different ball game! There is so much more to say about this journey but it will wait for another day. God is good. :)

Moving on. Harris and Caroline started swim lessons. Harris has been in numerous different swim programs and was basically making zero progress. It's difficult to swim when you do not want one droplet of water anywhere above your shoulders. Caroline had never even played in the sprinkler, much less swam in a pool. So the swim teacher we tried out had her work cut out for her.

 

I had little to no confidence in anything happening but was willing to give it a shot. This teacher is AMAZING. In just a few lessons (maybe 3?) they were both swimming for a few feet. Neither one has any fear and they're willing to do absolutely anything she tells them. Walker asked to take swim lessons and she's even got him cooperating and making progress. I wish she lived with us.

Harris has a little swagger now that he's lost teeth and is confident in the water. Notice the foot crossed.

Walker's lips were basically turning blue because the water was so cold. He was unconcerned.

 

 

 

Hayes is into EVERYTHING. He understands anything that you tell him and generally cooperates, but he's just so busy it's hard to stay one step ahead of him. Here he is helping me fix dinner.

 

 

 Once he pulled it off the counter, he was doing his best to help clean up. Sweet boy.

I don't even know which part of him to kiss first.

 We hit the zoo. This was the only picture I took because there was really no time. I just kept counting heads and reminding myself that I had FOUR to keep track of.

We hit the splash pad.

Hayes in his little get-up is just too much. I can't even handle it.

Walker is in a superhero phase that I ADORE.

And both boys have been into dressing up  lately, for some reason. This was what I took to Costco the other day.

Life is sweet! I am overwhelmed DAILY with God's grace. He shows up in some unexpected way all the time. This is a process with different stages for everyone to go through, I think, and He's in all of them. I am excited to share more of our story and for everyone to get to know the newest (soon-to-be) Goolsby.

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19

Father's Day

There is so much to say about the man I married and the father that he is but on this Father's Day, I'll just tell one story.  He heard about a need right in his community. There were children that needed a home, immediately. Less than 12 hours later, one of those children was in our home. Simple and straightforward as that.

We are in the process of adopting this child now and when people have heard our story, several have said that it's great that Tom was supportive. Tom wasn't supportive; Tom was the leader. He saw a need, made a decision and is living it out every single day. After years of wanting to adopt, I was paralyzed with fear and what-ifs when it came to actually doing something RIGHT THEN. Not Tom. We're making it work and he is the one holding it all together. He is loving everyone and making sure all needs are met.

I know people will have lots of questions. I can't really answer them. It's still an uncertain situation and nothing is settled at this point. What we know right know is we have a 5 year old little girl in our home that needs lots of love so we're just focusing on that. The more the situation unfolds, the more I see God has been preparing all of our hearts in different ways for this. We are so happy to be a part of her life in whatever way God has planned. If it works out that she is adoptable, we will be blessed and humbled to be her family.

This is a very special Father's day for Tom, his first as a father to four. Please help make it extra special by giving him lots of love today! I'm constantly in awe of the way he leads our family and how he rises to the occasion every single time. I'm so thankful to be his wife and that my children have him for their father. He exemplifies servant leadership and my boys couldn't have a better role model. Our daughter, for however long she is our daughter, is being loved well by her daddy. Tom, you are the real deal and I STILL maintain that marrying you is the only good decision I made in my 20's. I love you! Thank you for all you do and even more importantly, who you are.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8