Well, Christmas 2008 has come and we are (still) a family of five. A year ago, we had hopes that our family would have grown by now in number, but it didn't. That certainly doesn't mean we haven't "grown" though. Our girls become more beautiful each year. Ellie will be a teenager in just a few days and she is so much like her mom that I am scared to death!!! Our little 'monkey in the middle' wakes up every morning with a smile on her face ready to take on the world. (She is just like her Daddy!) And our 'baby' is now a Kindergartner who loves going to big girl school.
Todd had a great year on the farm and with the shift from less cotton to more corn, he has been able to do things with us this fall that were not possible in the past. I'm all about 'going green'! He definitely knows how to grow corn!!
We've had two new babies in our family this year. My big brother had his first daughter, Shelton and my sister had her baby this week. Baby Aiden is 5 days old and will have surgery on Monday to correct a serious heart defect. My God is good and I have no doubts that He will heal Aiden's body on Monday.
We have spent the last year pursuing foster care and are actually licensed foster care parents with the Alabama Baptist Children's Home. Things moved pretty slowly for a while (the foster care program is relatively new at the Decatur campus). We have had several calls for potential placements, but none of them were meant to be. Basically, we are on 'standby' for children who need a temporary home. We have come to realize that we have to make ourselves available for God to use us as HE SEES FIT. He has blessed us with three beautiful children and we could never thank Him enough or even find words to tell you how important they are to us.
I have a peace today that I didn't have a year ago. I have more patience, more tolerance, more understanding, and more love. I have peace that God IS taking care of orphans in their distress and He IS choosing people to be a part of that. I don't feel like I am running after God anymore begging for Him to let me in on the plan. I feel like we are open (and ready) and when GOD is ready for our family to serve, He will let us know.
We hope your family has a Holiday season full of blessings! Thank you for your friendship!!!
Love,
The Isbells
