the peery house: grounded

i've attempted to write a post so many times over the past two months. every day is jam packed with new experiences and reflections and the idea of writing seems incredibly daunting. i want to communicate the world how foster care is one of the most beautiful expressions of the gospel. i want people to see the quirkiness of our girls, to know them and to love them. i want to convince everyone that this is something that is worth it... the fight, the exhaustion, the long days, it's all worth it. i want to convince myself also.

in doing so, i invite you to hear the truths i often have to remind myself through this process.

He is patient and gentle with her when there is nothing we can do to wake up our 15 year old in the morning and i lose my patience.

He is present when she cries "I just want to go home" and we cry that with her.

He hears her when she is belting "Our God is greater" lyrics on the first floor by herself.

He is opening our eyes to our sinful tendencies, when she says "I used to... and I know that doesn't work."

He loves us the same ALWAYS despite our major offense to Him, even when i get irritated by minor offenses like putting the dishes in the sink instead of the dishwasher and interrupting each other.

He is in control when our lives seem bombarded by details, appointments and phone calls and seem like they leave little room for actual living.

He also cares about those details, appointments and phone calls and sees them as an important way to love our girls.

He continually teaches us about grace and forgiveness and is evidenced through apologies and house meetings.

He gives us His word and community who remind of these truths when we so often forget.

He is sovereign over our lives and the lives of our girls.

our job is simple and yet so complex... to love like Jesus loves.

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this year, sam's family invited us to join them in their new year's traditions. one tradition is to pick a word for the year that you want to focus on and be about. my word is grounded. amidst the chaos, i want to be grounded on the only One who is able to keep me together.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19